Madferret
7-30-05, 1:00 AM
Momentum Swing: Renegades beat Riders
Canadian Press
REGINA (CP) - The Ottawa Renegades overcame a poor first half to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 21-16 Friday night and grab a share of first place in the CFL's East Division.
Ottawa (3-3) is tied for top spot in the East with the Toronto Argonauts (3-2) while Saskatchewan (3-3) is third in the West. It was the Renegades' first victory in four games at Taylor Field since entering the CFL in 2002.
Saskatchewan dominated the first half amassing 273 yards to the Renegades' 54 and 15 first downs to Ottawa's two, the first of which came 23 minutes into the game.
However, the Roughriders squandered opportunities. Holder Rocky Butler fumbled the snap on a 27-yard field goal attempt and Renegades defensive back Korey Banks intercepted a Nealon Greene pass in the end zone with five seconds remaining in the half.
Momentum swung early in the third quarter when Roughriders centre Rob Lazeo snapped the ball from his own 30 over punter Paul McCallum's head and into the end zone. McCallum recovered the ball and conceded a safety.
After McCallum put the subsequent kickoff out of bounds, Ottawa drove 65 yards capped by quarterback Kerry Joseph's 30-yard touchdown run..
Ottawa expanded its lead to 18-9 late in the third quarter when Greene flipped a shovel pass directly into the hands of Ottawa defensive end Anthony Collier at the Ottawa 45. Collier lateralled at the Saskatchewan 22 to Kyries Hebert, who lugged the ball into the end zone.
Placekicker Mark Irvin, pressed into service because of Matt Kellett's groin injury, converted both Ottawa touchdowns and made a 36-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Marcus Crandell, who replaced Greene early in the fourth quarter, threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Thurmon with 24 seconds remaining in the game. Saskatchewan recovered the onside kick at its 52-yard line but Crandell threw incomplete passes on the next three plays.
McCallum figured in all the first-half scoring, booting field goals of 40, 35 and 25 yards, and conceding a safety touch out of punt formation.
Hampered by injuries throughout the season, the Roughriders were able to play their first-string defence for the first time since opening day as defensive tackle Nate Davis (back), defensive end Daved Benefield (flu) and linebacker Jackie Mitchell (groin) returned to action. However, starting slotback Jason French was sidelined by a rib injury sustained Tuesday in practice.
Ottawa played without Kellett, defensive end Keaton Cromartie (knee) and centre Mike Sutherland (hand).
Canadian Press
REGINA (CP) - The Ottawa Renegades overcame a poor first half to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 21-16 Friday night and grab a share of first place in the CFL's East Division.
Ottawa (3-3) is tied for top spot in the East with the Toronto Argonauts (3-2) while Saskatchewan (3-3) is third in the West. It was the Renegades' first victory in four games at Taylor Field since entering the CFL in 2002.
Saskatchewan dominated the first half amassing 273 yards to the Renegades' 54 and 15 first downs to Ottawa's two, the first of which came 23 minutes into the game.
However, the Roughriders squandered opportunities. Holder Rocky Butler fumbled the snap on a 27-yard field goal attempt and Renegades defensive back Korey Banks intercepted a Nealon Greene pass in the end zone with five seconds remaining in the half.
Momentum swung early in the third quarter when Roughriders centre Rob Lazeo snapped the ball from his own 30 over punter Paul McCallum's head and into the end zone. McCallum recovered the ball and conceded a safety.
After McCallum put the subsequent kickoff out of bounds, Ottawa drove 65 yards capped by quarterback Kerry Joseph's 30-yard touchdown run..
Ottawa expanded its lead to 18-9 late in the third quarter when Greene flipped a shovel pass directly into the hands of Ottawa defensive end Anthony Collier at the Ottawa 45. Collier lateralled at the Saskatchewan 22 to Kyries Hebert, who lugged the ball into the end zone.
Placekicker Mark Irvin, pressed into service because of Matt Kellett's groin injury, converted both Ottawa touchdowns and made a 36-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
Marcus Crandell, who replaced Greene early in the fourth quarter, threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Thurmon with 24 seconds remaining in the game. Saskatchewan recovered the onside kick at its 52-yard line but Crandell threw incomplete passes on the next three plays.
McCallum figured in all the first-half scoring, booting field goals of 40, 35 and 25 yards, and conceding a safety touch out of punt formation.
Hampered by injuries throughout the season, the Roughriders were able to play their first-string defence for the first time since opening day as defensive tackle Nate Davis (back), defensive end Daved Benefield (flu) and linebacker Jackie Mitchell (groin) returned to action. However, starting slotback Jason French was sidelined by a rib injury sustained Tuesday in practice.
Ottawa played without Kellett, defensive end Keaton Cromartie (knee) and centre Mike Sutherland (hand).