Game Summary

The Saskatchewan Roughriders hosted the East Division leading Hamilton Tiger-Cats in this week’s edition of Friday Night Football. Saskatchewan entered the game two points out of a playoff berth behind the BC Lions, while Hamilton was looking to put some breathing room between themselves and the rest of the tightly contested East Division. Saskatchewan got off to the start they wanted when RB Mike Saunders ran into the end zone from 8 yards out at 4:02 of the first quarter to open the scoring. K Paul McCallum’s convert was good giving Saskatchewan an early 7-0 lead. However, the shut-out was short-lived as K Paul Osbaldiston nailed his first of four FGs of the night. This one was a 17 yarder at 9:17 cutting Saskatchewan’s lead to 4. On the ensuing kick-off, WR Curtis Mayfield caught the ball and scampered 93 yards down the field for the major at 9:30. McCallum’s convert gave the ’Riders a commanding 14-3 lead at the end of the quarter. In the second stanza Hamilton rebounded as Osbaldiston hit FGs from 14 and 24 yards respectively. Sandwiched between those scoring plays was a 40-yard FG off the boot of McCallum making the halftime score 17-9 to the delight of the 21,893 fans in attendance at Taylor Field. Saskatchewan scored first in the third quarter when QB Steve Sarkisian found wide-out Ousmane Tounkara for the major on a 22-yard passing route at 5:07. McCallum’s convert upped Saskatchewan’s point total to 24. Hamilton, however, continued to get stronger as the game progressed scoring 2:41 later when QB Danny McManus and WR Andrew Grigg teamed up on 27-yard play. Osbaldiston’s convert was good. Hamilton continued to move the ball well and were rewarded before the end of the quarter when RB Ronald Williams powered into the end zone on a 6-yard rush. Hamilton’s 2-point convert attempt was good as McManus found his favourite receiver Darren Flutie in the end zone tying the game at 24 heading into the final period of play. The first score in the fourth quarter came courtesy of Saskatchewan’s special teams when DB Terryl Ulmer scooped up a punt and zig-zagged his way 85 yards to the end zone giving Saskatchewan a 7-point cushion after McCallum’s convert at 6:15. Hamilton tied the game at 9:28 when Williams scored his second rushing TD of the night. Osbaldiston was good on the convert and then nailed a 31-yard FG with no time remaining on the clock to give Hamilton an incredible come from behind victory. The 34-31 win gives Hamilton a League best 11-4-1 record while Saskatchewan’s playoff dreams came to an end.