Game Summary

The Saskatchewan Roughriders sent 17,566 opening night fans home happy on “Roger Aldag Night” last Thursday in Regina, as they defeated the Edmonton Eskimos by a score of 23-22. The hometown ’Riders, on the heels of 17 second half points edged the visiting Edmonton Eskimos 23-22. The only points of the first quarter came off the foot of Saskatchwan’s Dave Ridgway as he booted a 43-yard FG to give them the early 3-0 lead. Ridgway picked up where he left off in the second quarter by kicking a 25-yard FG just 10 seconds into the 2nd frame. Edmonton’s Blake Marshall pulled the Eskimos even as he plunged in from 1-yard out. Sean Fleming added the extra point to give Edmonton a 7-6 half-time lead. Willie Pless, the 1992 Most Outstanding Defensive Player, got the Eskimos on the board early as he recovered a loose ball in the Saskatchewan end zone for the TD. The Fleming convert made the score 14-6 in favour of the Eskimos. Jeff Fairholm, who was the Roughriders’ leading pass catcher on the evening with 3 catches for 109 yards, hauled in his only major of the game, a 64-yard pass from Austin. Ridgway added the convert to pull the ’Riders to within 1 after 3 periods. The Roughriders took the lead just 0:26 into the 4th quarter as Byron Williams was on the receiving end of Austin’s 2nd TD pass of the game, this one a 25-yarder. Ridgway’s convert attempt was good to give Saskatchewan a 20-14 advantage. Rickey Foggie who was in in relief of starter Damon Allen, tied the game with a 14-yard TD run and Fleming gave them the lead with the extra point at 3:07 of the fourth quarter. Ridgway connected on a 50-yard FG to give Saskatchewan a 23-21 lead with just 2:31 remaining to play. Fleming had an opportunity to win the game for the Eskimos but his 52-yard FG attempt was short. The ’Riders conceded the single point to make the final score Saskatchewan 23, Edmonton 22.