Unidentified man on sidelines taunts Redblacks, incenses Dyce, in wild tie with ‘Riders

Article content

One of the more wild and crazy games in CFL history had a potentially dangerous ending at TD Place on Thursday night.

It involved an unidentified man (recognized by some witnesses) standing on the sidelines near the Redblacks bench, allegedly taunting players and allegedly directing a racial slur towards head coach Bob Dyce, moments before Lewis Ward’s 14-yard field goal ended the Ottawa-Saskatchewan game, this time definitively, in a 22-22 deadlock that marked the league’s first tie since 2017.

Article content

Dyce had to be held back by assistant coaches, players and GM Shawn Burke, who was also incensed and screaming bloody murder.

“There was someone talking to our players in a way I didn’t feel was appropriate,” Dyce explained afterwards, adding that the man, who was dressed in “camo jacket, a beard and (wearing) a nose ring”, did not appear to have credentials. “I’m not gonna let anybody talk to our players like that, and then he’s talking to me, and I’m certainly not gonna let him talk to myself like that. So I asked who he was (and he) didn’t answer.”

Asked about the language the man was using, Dyce chose not to be specific.

“He shouldn’t have been there, and he shouldn’t have been talking to our players, and he certainly seemed like he felt like he had the authority,” replied Dyce. “Like I said, I’m not gonna let anybody talk to our players like that, and I’m not gonna let anybody talk to me …. I’m not gonna let anybody use terms that I feel are disrespectful. And that’s that.”

A league official contacted by Postmedia Friday morning said the CFL is investigating the incident.

“If you ask anybody in here, we know that Dyce has got everybody’s back,” said Ward. “No matter what it is.”

Article content

With Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown suffering a second quarter injury when Roughriders tackle Miles Brown rolled over his right ankle, the game itself, played in a persistent if not always heavy rain, was dominated by the defences through most of the night.

Nary a touchdown was scored until there was 1:54 left the fourth quarter, when Saskatchewan erased a 10-3 Ottawa lead that had been built on three field goals by Ward (who had two other attempts blocked) and a booming, 80-yard single off the toe of punter Richie Leone.

Overtime went to two rounds that included both teams thinking they had the game won until the command centre in Toronto ruled otherwise.

At the conclusion of the initial OT drives, it looked like the Redblacks had become the first Ottawa CFL team to go 5-0 at home since 1969 – when Russ Jackson led the Rough Riders to a 7-0 record at Lansdowne and then a Grey Cup victory in the last season of his illustrious career – until a Saskatchewan challenge was carefully dissected until it found Ottawa corner Alijah McGhee guilty of pass interference and gave the visitors a new life.

Article content

On the next round, the Roughriders appeared to have the game wrapped up with a sack of Dustin Crum that sent fans to the exit signs and the coaching staffs that make calls from the press box headed to the elevators.

Somehow, the officials on the field didn’t notice that Crum was hit low (an automatic penalty) and the command centre again stepped in to throw a flag from four hours away, interrupt the players’ hugs-and-handshakes line and ultimately giving Ottawa the opportunity to earn a point.

“I was in the locker room, so I thought it was over.,” said Crum. “They came running in and told me they called roughing the passer and that we’re playing, and I said all right, well, blow the whistle and let’s play ball I guess, let’s go.

“But yeah, I guess I’ve never been part of anything like that. It was pretty crazy that the game was over twice and it just somehow kept going. I would have loved to have a third overtime there. I think all of us would have, both sides. Just a roller coaster of a game.”

McGhee, who had five tackles, an interception he returned 43 yards and a pass knockdown, also thought the game was over before it officially was.

Article content

“I was literally sitting on the bench pouting, and then I just heard everybody say, ‘we’re back on the field’,” he said. “So I was just confused as everyone else .”

Dyce said the initial feeling about Brown’s injury was that it’s  “nothing structural”, but the team will have a clearer picture of how long the starting quarterback will be out of action after tests on Friday.

If, as expected, he’s unable to play the next game, Thursday in Calgary, Dyce will have a not-so-cut-and-dry decision to make.

Crum’s nine carries for 72 yards included a desperation dash of 11 for an overtime touchdown, the Redblacks only trip to the endzone all night.

But his passing numbers – 21-of-32 for 211 yards and an interception – are actually flattering for the way he threw the ball on this wet night.

While there was a couple of drops, Crum was way off the mark a couple of times, including an overthrow of an open Kalil Pimpleton that should have been an easy touchdown.

He also should have been picked off a second time, in OT, but his pass bounced off the jersey numbers of Roughriders DB that otherwise would have ended the game with an Ottawa loss.

Article content

Dyce answered abruptly when asked if he considered turning to Jeremiah Masoli (“No, I didn’t”) and that’s understandable, as injuries have limited the 35-year old veteran to just five games since the start of the 2022 season and he’s only been back practicing in full for a a couple of weeks.

But does Dyce give him his first start since July 8, 2023 in Calgary?

The answer to that question will unfold during the upcoming week of practice, which starts Sunday.

In the meantime, the Redblacks and Montreal are the only CFL teams who have two or fewer losses, while heading into Saturday’s action Ottawa and Saskatchewan are tied for second in the overall standings, with the Roughriders having played one more game.

Even on their worst nights the Redblacks aren’t leaving the stadium empty-handed.

“That was two of the top defences in the CFL,” said Ottawa linebacker Adarius Pickett, who was once again outstanding with eight defensive tackles, a sack and three special teams tackles. “That was on display tonight.”

In a game that started off slowly and, at one point, looked like it would go to whoever managed to score a point, there sure turned out to be a lot to watch.

Article content

“In 23, 24 years in the league, I’ve never been through anything like that,” Dyce said. “Obviously not our best game of the season, but I’m always going to be proud of my guys. They battle back through challenging situations …. Dustin getting into the game to replace Dru and making the drive to allow us to get to overtime.

“Our defence, I can’t say enough about those cats. They’re just doing an outstanding job. That’s three weeks in a row where they’ve just been playing outstanding football.

“We thrive on playing complimentary football and I don’t know that we did that tonight.”

GOING DEEP:  Kalil (The Thrill) Pimpleton left the game with a dislocated finger suffered while diving for a Crum pass in the third quarter, but did return later in the night.

Article content