The Saskatchewan Roughriders are headed to the Western Final after duking it out with the Calgary Stampeders in a 33-30 win Sunday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium.
This game was filled with haphazard play, missed catches, tackles, field goals, and poor decision-making. Both quarterbacks played a lousy first half, combing to throw five interceptions.
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo was 22/33 for 189 yards, one touchdown, four interceptions, ten carries for 89 yards, and one touchdown. Fajardo’s touchdowns happened in the second half.
In the third quarter, Fajardo found Kian Schaffer-Baker for a six-yard touchdown, extending the Roughriders lead 17-8 with 14:01 left. In the fourth quarter, Fajardo rushed for a one-yard touchdown that made it 27-24 with 2:33 left in the game.
Running back William Powell was second in rushing, behind Fajardo with 18 carries for 73 yards. Duke Williams led the Roughriders receivers with five catches for 55 yards, kicker Brett Lauther was 4/5 with his longest field for 34 yards and kicked the game-winning 34-yard field goal in overtime.
Special team returner Jamal Morrow returned a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown that put the Roughriders in the lead 10-7 with 8:08 left in the second quarter. The defense recorded two sacks, two interceptions both by Ed Gainey, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was 26/36 for 285 yards, two interceptions, and one carry for two yards.
Running back Ka’Deem Carey had a huge game with 22 carries for 117 yards, two touchdowns, and three catches for four yards. Carey’s touchdowns happened in the first and fourth quarters. In the first quarter, Carey went to the right side and broke a tackle for a five-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 8:12 left. In the fourth quarter, Carey leaped up in the air for a one-yard touchdown that put the Stampeders up 21-20 with 10:08 left.
Wide receiver Reggie Begelton led the receivers with five catches for 105 yards, and kicker Rene Paredes went 5/8 with his longest field goal for 47 yards. The defense recorded no sacks and four interceptions, three of them by Jonathan Moxey.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders heads to IG Field next Sunday, December 5th, for the Western Final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 4:30 pm on ESPNEWS.
