The Saskatchewan Roughriders improved their CFL-best record to 11-4 by defeating the host Ottawa REDBLACKS 20-13 on Friday.<\/p>\n
Saskatchewan will clinch a home playoff game if the B.C. Lions (8-7) lose to the visiting Calgary Stampeders (8-6) on Saturday.<\/p>\n
However, a Lions victory would move the Roughriders one step closer to securing first place in the West Division.<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s loss eliminated Ottawa (4-11) from playoff contention.<\/p>\n
The Roughriders enjoyed a robust start on offence, marching 84 yards in 12 plays for their first touchdown \u2014 a one-yard run by A.J. Ouellette. The drive consumed 5:23.<\/p>\n
Saskatchewan reached the end zone early in the second quarter when Antoine Brooks Jr. scored on an 85-yard interception return. Trevor Harris then found Ajou Ajou for a two-point convert to increase Saskatchewan\u2019s lead to 14-0.<\/p>\n
Ottawa did not hit the scoreboard until Lewis Ward kicked a 25-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.<\/p>\n
After a scoreless third quarter, the Roughriders struck for a 66-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Harris to Dohnte Meyers, who scored 19 seconds into the fourth frame to put Saskatchewan ahead 20-3.<\/p>\n
Ottawa responded with an 11-play, 80-yard march that concluded with a nine-yard TD pass from Dustin Crum to Justin Hardy. Lewis Ward added the convert to make it 20-10, Roughriders.<\/p>\n
Saskatchewan was poised to fatten the lead after it marched 66 yards in nine plays, reaching the REDBLACKS\u2019 five-yard line. However, Harris was hit as he was throwing and Bryce Carter caught the dislodged football. Carter returned the pick 81 yards before being tracked down from behind by Ouellette on Saskatchewan\u2019s 16-yard line.<\/p>\n
Crum was sacked by Mike Rose on the next play. Shortly thereafter, Ward kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it 20-13.<\/p>\n
The Roughriders responded with back-to-back passing first downs, courtesy of receptions by KeeSean Johnson (13) and Meyers (25), before Ouellette ran for a first down to seal the game.<\/p>\n
The Roughriders are to return to action next Friday against the Toronto Argonauts (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium) in the \u201cLights Out\u201d game.<\/p>\n
EXTRA POINTS<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brooks Jr.\u2019s interception return was the 17th-longest in franchise history \u2014 and the third pick-six by the Roughriders this season. Rolan Milligan Jr. and Tevaughn Campbell have also scored six points on interception returns.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Brooks Jr., A.J. Allen and Jameer Thurman had interceptions for the Roughriders on Friday. Thurman tied a career high with three interceptions. He also had three picks with Calgary in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Harris moved past Matt Dunigan and into ninth on the CFL\u2019s career completions list. Dunigan had 3,057 completions. Harris finished Friday\u2019s game with 3,064 completions. He also registered the 13th season of 4,000-plus passing yards in Roughriders history on a night when he went 27-for-33 for 341 yards.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Meyers had six receptions for 151 yards, including gains of 66, 36 and 25, while moving past 1,000 receiving yards.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Ouellette, who has reached the end zone in five consecutive games, has nine touchdowns this season. That is the highest total by a Roughrider since 2019, when William Powell scored 14 times and Cody Fajardo added 10 majors. Meyers scored his eighth TD of the year.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Ajou has registered Saskatchewan\u2019s past two two-point converts.<\/p>\n
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