The Saskatchewan Roughriders closed out week 3 with a home matchup at Mosaic Stadium against the Ottawa Redblacks.
In the first quarter, the Roughriders moved the ball down to the Redblacks’ 36-yard line before kicker Brett Lauther made a 44-yard field goal that put the Roughriders up 3-0 with 4:01 left in the first quarter.
The Redblacks then marched down to the Roughriders’ 25-yard line before Lewis Ward kicked a 33-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3. The game remained tied 3-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Both offenses made little progress in the second quarter. Then the Roughriders moved the ball to the Redblacks’ eleven-yard line. Brett Lauther successfully kicked a 19-yard field goal that put Saskatchewan back on top 6-3 with 1:35 left in the second quarter. Brett Lauther made another field goal on the next Roughriders possession, this time a 42-yarder for a 9-3 lead at halftime.
On their first possession in the third quarter, the Roughrider’s offense moved the ball down the field before stalling on their own 55-yard line. Punter Jon Ryan sent the ball into the Redblacks’ endzone. However, the ball went out of bounds into the endzone, and the Roughriders got a single point 10-3.
The game’s first touchdown came with 6:30 left in the third quarter on a two-yard run by Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo that extended their lead 17-3. The Roughriders led 17-3 at the end of the third quarter.
On the Redblacks’ first possession in the fourth quarter, quarterback Matt Nichols got to the Roughriders’ four-yard line. Then, wide receiver DeVonte Dedmon rushed in for a three-yard touchdown, making it a one-score game 17-10.
The Roughriders responded on the next possession with a Brett Lauther 31-yard field goal to make it a two-score game 20-10 with 9:34 left. Then, with 6:24 left in the fourth quarter, the Roughriders put the game away with another Brett Lauther 26-yard field goal for a 23-10 lead.
The Redblacks made one last attempt to keep the game going, but Matt Nichols’s pass to R.J Harris was short of the first down. The Roughriders ran the clock out and won the game 23-10 to remain unbeaten at 3-0.
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo finished the game 30/35 for 321 yards. Fajardo led the team in rushing with nine carries for 47 yards and one rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Brayden Lenius led the team in receiving yards with three receptions for 67 yards. The Roughriders’ defense had six sacks and one interception.
Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Matt Nichols finished the night 19/24 for 176 yards and one interception. Timothy Flanders led the team in rushing with eight carries for 35 yards. RJ Harris led Ottawa in receiving with five receptions for 101 yards. The defense did not record a sack in this game.
Next week, the Ottawa Redblacks host the BC Lions next Saturday, August 28th, at 7 pm on ESPN+, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders have a bye.
