The Saskatchewan Roughriders\u2019 third interception produced a franchise first.<\/p>\n
Until Friday night in Ottawa, Saskatchewan\u2019s three starting linebackers had never accounted for all the team\u2019s interceptions in one game.<\/p>\n
Strong-side linebacker Antoine Brooks Jr. was the first to register a pick against the Ottawa REDBLACKS. He stepped in front of a Dru Brown pass and motored 85 yards for a key touchdown in a 20-13 Roughriders victory that has helped them advance to within one win of clinching first place in the CFL\u2019s West Division.<\/p>\n
A.J. Allen, the weak-side linebacker, followed up with an interception of his own.<\/p>\n
Middle linebacker Jameer Thurman completed the hat trick \u2014\u00a0and the pick parade for the day.<\/p>\n
Only once before in Roughriders history had all three starting linebackers registered at least one interception in the same game. One that one occasion, however, the linebackers did not sweep the interceptions \u2014\u00a0unlike Friday.<\/p>\n
Tuineau Alipate (starting at middle linebacker in place of an injured Dave Albright), Eddie Lowe and Dan Rashovich combined for three of the Roughriders\u2019 four interceptions in a 34-19 victory over the host Calgary Stampeders on Oct. 29, 1989. Cornerback Albert Brown registered the other interception.<\/p>\n
Another Brown \u2014 Patrick, the Roughriders\u2019 current Linebackers Coach \u2014\u00a0greatly enjoyed watching Friday\u2019s events unfold at TD Place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very proud of them,\u201d Coach Brown said. \u201cThey definitely took the game plan in and absorbed it. It was a very good week of practice \u2014\u00a0a very good, studious week in the film room, I noticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were locked in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brooks Jr. scored his first CFL touchdown after reading and reacting to a route \u2014 a response he credits to communication with defensive halfback DaMarcus Fields. Allen and Thurman made their interceptions after dropping back into coverage and making leaping catches.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d say this is one of the more productive linebacker groups \u2014\u00a0not just with interceptions, but with sacks as well,\u201d Brown said. \u201cWe do a lot of attacking and, if we don\u2019t attack, then that\u2019s not the standard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not always me that has to coach it, which is great about this group, too. It\u2019s other guys in room, other guys on the defence, who will definitely state that it isn\u2019t good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s game was the ninth in Roughriders history in which at least three interceptions have been made by a linebacker.<\/p>\n
The franchise record for interceptions by a linebacker (four) was set on Oct. 29, 1972 \u2014\u00a017 years to the day before the Alipate\/Lowe\/Rashovich triple play \u2014\u00a0when the Roughriders defeated the visiting Montreal Alouettes 29-3.<\/p>\n
Bill Manchuk had a career-high three interceptions and fellow linebacker Charlie Collins registered a fourth theft. Defensive back Lewis Cook had the Roughriders\u2019 other interception.<\/p>\n
Manchuk is one of four linebackers in team history to have made three interceptions in a game.<\/p>\n
The others are Red Eittinger (Aug. 30, 1951 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers), Jim Healy (Aug. 31, 1959 at Calgary Stampeders) and Macho Harris (Sept. 27, 2015 versus Montreal).<\/p>\n
There are three other games in which Roughriders linebackers have accounted for three interceptions in total.<\/p>\n
Oct. 13, 1962: Steve Myhra, with two picks, and Wayne Shaw combined for three of the Roughriders\u2019 four interceptions versus the host Ottawa Rough Riders.<\/p>\n
Sept. 1, 1969: Shaw, Bruce Gainer and Ron McCall produced three of Saskatchewan\u2019s five interceptions against the visiting B.C. Lions.<\/p>\n
June 29, 2013: Renauld Williams, Weldon Brown and Diamond Ferri handled all the intercepting for Saskatchewan in Edmonton. Williams turned his pick into a 19-yard TD. Brown and Craig Butler were the other starting linebackers.<\/p>\n
Brown and his backup, Ferri, accounted for the Roughriders\u2019 final two interceptions in the 2013 season opener.<\/p>\n
Another 12 years and 96 days elapsed before Friday \u2014\u00a0the next time three different Roughriders linebackers, all starters in the latter instance, combined for all the interceptions.<\/p>\n
ONE MORE WIN \u2026<\/p>\n
As referenced earlier, the Roughriders need just one victory to secure first place in the division for the ninth time in franchise history.<\/p>\n
Ideally, the team will take care of business on Friday against the Toronto Argonauts (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).<\/a> There will be two subsequent regular-season games, but the Roughriders\u2019 focus does not extend beyond Friday.<\/p>\n