The final game of Week 2 took place Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium between the Roughriders and the Tiger-Cats. Saskatchewan were looking to keep pace with Winnipeg in the West standings.
The only point scored in the first quarter was a 58-yard punt by Joel Whitford, and the Roughriders conceded a point as Hamilton led 1-0 after the first quarter. In the CFL, if the returning team does not bring the ball out of the endzone, it is considered a dead ball and a single point is awarded to the other team.
14:35 into the second quarter, Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo ran in for a fourteen-yard touchdown to put Saskatchewan up 7-1. With 8:47 left in the second quarter, Tiger-Cats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli made a quarterback sneak into the endzone and put Hamilton back up 8-7.
Then the Roughriders took the ball all the way down to the 19-yard line. Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther kicked a 19-yard field goal to put the Roughriders back up 10-8. Shortly after Saskatchewan’s defense recovered a fumble with 1:08 left in the second quarter. Quarterback Cody Fajardo found Mitchell Picton for an eight-yard touchdown pass to go up 17-8 at halftime.
Frustration was building for the Tiger-Cats. With 4:02 left in the third quarter, Cody Fajardo completed a six-yard touchdown pass to Kyran Moore. After the play, there was fighting between both teams. Once the pushing and shoving was over, two players, one from each team, were disqualified. The Roughriders converted the extra point to go up 24-8.
Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther added another field goal with 1:14 left in the third quarter, this time a 34-yarder for a 27-8 lead.
Hamilton had a chance to get three points in the fourth quarter, but Taylor Bertolet missed a 50-yard field goal. Then, with 10:07 left in the game, Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther booted a 41-yard field goal for a 30-8 lead. Saskatchewan defeated Hamilton 30-8 to improve to 2-0 and tied with Winnipeg for first place.
Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo finished the night 17/25 for 222-yards, two touchdown passes, and one rushing touchdown. William Powell led the team in rushing with eighteen carries for 89-yards. Brayden Lenius led the team in receiving yards with five receptions for 62-yards. The Roughriders’ defense recorded six sacks; Jonathan Woodard had three sacks, one interception, and two fumble recoveries.
Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli finished the night 17/25 for 135-yards, one rushing touchdown, and two interceptions for the Tiger-Cats. Sean Thomas-Erlington led the team in rushing with six carries for twenty yards. Wide Receiver Jaelon Acklin led the team in receiving with three receptions for 51-yards. The defense had two sacks and a fumble recovery.
Next week, the Roughriders host the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday, August 21st, at 7 pm on ESPN+ while Hamilton is on a bye week.
