A.J. Ouellette\u2019s most spectacular play during the Saskatchewan Roughriders\u2019 season opener wasn\u2019t reflected on the stats sheet.<\/p>\n
Ouellette applied a resounding block on a blitzing B.C. Lions defensive player in the fourth quarter, buying an extra split-second for Trevor Harris<\/a> to launch a game-winning touchdown pass to Samuel Emilus in a 31-27 victory.<\/p>\n \u201cI take pride in blocking just as much as I do in running the ball,\u201d Ouellette said after the Roughriders practised at Mosaic Stadium on Tuesday.<\/p>\n There are blocks, and then there are collisions that send the opponent cartwheeling. That is exactly what happened to Deontai Williams shortly before Harris \u2014 wearing his trademark No. 7 \u2014 found Emilus for a six-yard score with 46 seconds left.<\/p>\n \u201cWhenever you see a DB coming off the edge, you know they\u2019re going to dip inside, run away or try to jump,\u201d Ouellette said. \u201cHe jumped and I just did my job, right? Coach said, \u2018If they jump, they don\u2019t land on their feet.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAfter I hit him, I thought, \u2018That was pretty cool.\u2019 Then I thought, \u2018Ohhhh \u2026 bad word. Where is 7?\u2019 I didn\u2019t want him to land on 7.\u201d<\/p>\n No such worries.<\/p>\n It turns out that Ouellette blew up his phone as well as the opposition\u2019s attempt at blitzing.<\/p>\n \u201cI had that one sent to me about 500 times,\u201d the Roughriders\u2019 featured running back said. \u201cI\u2019ve watched it a few times.<\/p>\n \u201cThe majority of it was college teammates and family members sending it to me \u2026 my uncle, my dad. Well, I had to send it to my dad, because he doesn\u2019t know how to work technology and all that.\u201d<\/p>\n Ouellette carried the ball 15 times for a game-high 69 yards on Saturday. He rushed for 1,222 yards \u2014 the second-best total in the league \u2014 last season.<\/p>\n ACTION JAXON<\/p>\n Jaxon Ford performed admirably after entering Saturday\u2019s game with 3\u00bd minutes left in the second quarter.<\/p>\n Ford took over at safety after Nelson Lokombo moved to defensive halfback following a shoulder injury sustained by perennial All-CFL selection Rolan Milligan Jr.<\/p>\n Although the Roughriders were forced to make adjustments in the secondary, Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke \u2014 the CFL\u2019s reigning Most Outstanding Player \u2014 was held without a touchdown pass.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just being a pro, right?\u201d Ford said after Tuesday\u2019s practice<\/a>. \u201cThat\u2019s what it\u2019s about. When your name is called, the standard doesn\u2019t change. You\u2019ve just got to be ready to go in and do your job.\u201d<\/p>\n Milligan Jr. did not practise on Tuesday, when the Roughriders (1-0) began on-field preparations for Saturday\u2019s game against the host Calgary Stampeders (0-1).<\/p>\n