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October 7, 2016

REDBLACKS Comeback Falls Short in Overtime

Saskatchewan Roughriders vs Ottawa REDBLACKS October 7, 2016 PHOTO: Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photography

Brennan MacDonald – OttawaREDBLACKS.com

Week 16 | Roughriders at REDBLACKS – Friday, October 7

Game Summary
The visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders edged the Ottawa REDBLACKS 32-30 in a Friday night overtime thriller.

“They made more plays then us. We didn’t make enough plays,” said REDBLACKS Head Coach Rick Campbell. “We’re not doing enough of that right now and we have got to find a way to do it.”

The raucous sellout crowd at TD Place was treated to some late game heroics by veteran QB Henry Burris, who led the team on a 22point fourth quarter push to tie the game up and send it to overtime. However, a 39-yard field goal from Roughriders kicker Tyler Crapigna ultimately ended the home side’s relentless push for the comeback win.

Crapigna’s game-winning field goal capped off a standout performance by the Ottawa-native. He hit six of his seven field goal attempts, including three from 40+ yards out. Teammate and quarterback Darian Durant also put in a strong game, throwing for 328 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Despite only playing the fourth quarter, Burris put up 138 passing yards, two TD passes and one TD rush. Burris’ introduction seemed to spark receiver Greg Ellingson into action as he was on the receiving end of two fourth quarter TD passes.

The REDBLACKS head into the final four weeks of the season with a pair of home-and-home contests with Hamilton and Winnipeg. Ottawa will visit the Tiger-Cats next Friday at Tim Hortons Field before returning home to face Hamilton at TD Place on Friday, October 21.

 FINAL SCORE

1

2

3

4

OT

T

Ottawa

0

7

0

22

1

30

Saskatchewan

10

3

3

13

3

32

First Half Summary
The Roughriders opened the scoring at the 10-minute mark through a close-range field goal from kicker Tyler Crapigna. Saskatchewan added to their lead with just two minutes to play in the first quarter. Roughriders QB Darian Durant picked out wide-receiver Nic Demski with a TD pass just inside the end zone, 10-0. 

Ottawa found themselves trailing 13-0 early in the second quarter after Crapigna hit another short field goal.

REDBLACKS QB Trevor Harris took the field late in the second half determined not to be shutout. After picking up possession deep in his own territory, Harris led his team on a determined drive, rushing the ball himself three times and linking up with running back Mossis Madu Jr. another three times to move the home-side into good field position. Harris finished off the gritty drive with a 20-yard TD pass to wide-receiver Chris Williams, who used his blazing pace to open up space for the TD reception.

Despite a rocky first half, the REDBLACKS found themselves within striking distance at the break, trailing the Roughriders by a score of 13-7.

Second Half Summary
Ottawa did well to hold the visitors on their opening second half series, but kicker Crapigna still managed to hit a long 50-yard field goal to extend the Saskatchewan lead to 9 points, 16-7. That field goal proved to be the only points scored in the third quarter as both team’s defensive lines did well to shutdown scoring opportunities.

Crapigna brought his points total for the night to 15 in the fourth quarter, hitting two long 40+ yard field goals to push the visitor’s lead to 22-7

Ottawa turned to QB Henry Burris for some offensive spark in the fourth quarter. Despite throwing an interception on his first drive, Burris led his team down the field on the very next one, finding receiver Greg Ellingson in the end zone for a late fourth quarter TD, bringing the home-side to within 8 points with just over six minutes to play.

After his defensive-line held the Roughriders subsequent drive, Burris took to the field with one goal in mind – levelling the game up. It didn’t take long. In just three plays, the REDBLACKS QB got the home side to within striking distance. On the fourth play, Burris found receiver Greg Ellingson in the end zone with a 16-yard TD pass. The receiver rose, caught the ball under pressure and landed in the end zone, bringing the score to 22-20.

Determined to tie the game up, Burris went for the 2-point conversion. He received the snap, delayed and then fired a bullet pass to E. Jackson at the back of the end zone, levelling the game up with just over three minutes to play. 

Not to be outdone by Burris’ late game heroics, Durant took to the field and led his team on a late game-deciding drive, finding slot back Rob Bagg in the end zone with a 27-yard TD pass.

While some in the crowd may have thought Bagg’s last minute TD was the game decider, they were in for a surprise. With just 48 seconds left to play, Burris led his team on another heroic drive and, with the benefit of a couple penalties – the REDBLACKS tied the game up with a 1-yard Henry Burris TD rush and Milo convert.

Crapigna had the chance to win it for the visitors with the last kick of the game, but the kicker – who hit his first five field goal attempts – missed, sending the game into overtime. 

Overtime
Chris Milo missed a 30-yard field goal attempt in the extra period, leaving the game in the hands of Saskatchewan and Crapigna proceeded to hit a 39-yard field goal attempt to win the game.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter
SSK – FG Crapigna – 10:48
SSK – TD Demski, pass from Durant (Crapigna converts) – 2:03

Second Quarter
SSK – FG Crapigna – 10:02
OTT – TD Williams, pass from Harris (Milo converts) – 2:06

Third Quarter
SSK – FG Crapigna – 12:21

Fourth Quarter
SSK – FG Crapigna – 13:44
SSK – FG Crapigna – 9:12
OTT – TD Ellingson, pass from Burris (Milo converts) – 6:45
OTT – TD Ellingson, pass from Burris (E. Jackson 2 PT conversion) – 3:10
SSK – TD Bagg, pass from Durant (Crapigna converts) – 0:48
OTT – TD Burris (Milo converts) – 0:20 

Overtime
OTT – Single Milo – 0:00
SSK – FG Crapigna – 0:00

Attendance: 24,668