Roughriders roar back from 17 down to knock off RedBlacks

The Saskatchewan Roughriders fought back from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to escape with a one-point road victory over the Ottawa RedBlacks on Friday night.

Special teams provided the winning margin with 2:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, as the Riders were able to score a single and break a 17-17 tie. Josh Bartel unleashed a punt 11 yards into the Ottawa end zone and Jeff Knox Jr. brought down Quincy McDuffie before he could clear the goal line for the winning point.

It was also special teams brilliance that kick-started the Saskatchewan comeback, as Christion Jones took a punt 97 yards for a touchdown in the third frame to get the Riders on the board at 17-7.

Kienan LaFrance would bring the road team within three after a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, and a Tyler Crapigna 16-yard field goal with 5:32 left would tie the score at 17.

Ottawa raced out to a 17-0 lead thanks to quarterback Ryan Lindley, who provided a passing and rushing touchdown in his second career start to stake the RedBlacks to the lead. Any chance at a late comeback was extinguished when Lindley was intercepted by Jovon Johnson with 14 seconds left to end the contest.

The RedBlacks wasted a record-breaking performance by William Powell in the loss, as the standout running back set the franchise single-game mark with 187 yards rushing.

Ottawa missed a chance to leapfrog the Toronto Argonauts for top spot in the East Division, and remain in second place with 11 points. With the win, Saskatchewan jumped into a tie with the Edmonton Eskimos for third in the West.