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LIVE BLOG: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats

A look at the Week 2 Canadian Football League game between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Hamilton
Randy Palmer
aj-ouellette-2024-file
A.J. Ouellette gets the start at running back against Hamilton after recovering from a head injury last week.Michael Scraper

Victory formation, and this one is over. Saskatchewan wins 28-23 with an impressive second-half showing.

Saskatchewan defence comes up huge on final Hamilton drive, forcing back-to-back incompletions for turnover on downs with 17 seconds left.

Riders' drive stalls at Hamilton 21, Lauther has 29-yard field goal and he misses left but puts the ball through the end zone for the rouge. Lauther is 2-for-5 on the night. 28-23 Riders with 50 seconds remaining.

TiCats get the ball down to Riders 32, but drive stalls, leading to 32-yard field goal attempt by Liegghio. It's good, Saskatchewan leads 27-23 with 4:21 remaining in game.

Johnson's touchdown!

TOUCHDOWN RIDERS! Two more targets to to Johnson and on the second attempt and after a quick review, Johnson has a 15-yard touchdown. Four catches by KeeSean on the drive and Riders lead 27-20 with 7:04 remaining.

Riders have a drive going, with three pass completions -- all to Johnson -- getting Saskatchewan down to Hamilton 18.

And here's Lawler's big catch on Hamilton's last drive.

Meyers' amazing catch on the Riders' previous drive.

Hamilton gets ball back at own 40, and two plays into drive a broken coverage leads to a wide-open Lawler hauling in a 42 yard sideline pass down to Riders 27. Two incomplete passes later and it's a 32-yard field goal for Liegghio, which he puts through the uprights. 17-17 tie with 10:13 to play.

Riders take crack at end zone with pass to Johnson that he nearly hauls in, next pass is almost intercepted, Lauther has 40-yard field goal and is good for the second time in the game, 20-17 Saskatchewan with 12:13 left in game. That's also Lauther's 1,000th career point!

Meyers makes a great diving catch for 22 yards while diving out of bounds, pass is ruled complete at Hamilton 32 but TiCats decide to challenge. Looks like Meyers got his foot down and the control centre agrees, play stands.

Riders get ball back on own 37.

Here's that Mitchell bobble and big pass to set up Hamilton's second touchdown.

Milanovic-Litre bulls in from the left side for the major, convert is good. 17-17 tie with 14:08 remaining in the game.

Hamilton appears to score on one-yard run on next play, but coach Mace challenged the previous play at the last second, checking to see if Lawler survived contact. Ruling on the field stands and TiCats get another crack first and goal from one yard line.

Mitchell bobbles snap but recovers and gets off that finds Lawler for 39 yards down the sideline to Saskatchewan one. 

Tiger-Cats turn to get something going on offence, as two pass completions get Hamilton down to Riders 40 to close out third quarter. Riders lead by seven with 15 minutes to go.

Riders put together a decent drive to get down to Hamilton 17, with Duncan-Busby catch for 19 yards the key play of the drive. Lauther has a 25-yard field goal, and it's good. Figured he'd figure things out quickly and a short chip shot is the right medicine. Saskatchewan 17, Hamilton 10

Short field works to TiCats advantage, as after a two-and-out Liegghio knocks through a 38-yard field goal. 14-10 Saskatchewan lead with 6:05 left in third quarter.

Harris sacked by Kendrick for 10-yard loss on second down, first sack given up by Saskatchewan this year. Couch punts from Riders end zone, Hamilton gets ball back at Riders 37.

Milligan Jr.'s interception pick six!

Hamilton gets ball back on own 47 but drive sputters thanks to eight-yard sack by Reavis, TiCats punt after four plays. Riders get ball back on own 18.

TOUCHDOWN RIDERS! Roland Milligan Jr. intercepts a pass at the Riders 46 and runs it all the way back for a 64-yard touchdown. It's his third interception of the year, the first-ever pick-six in his career, and another big-play major for Saskatchewan. Ducan-Busby has catch in the back of the end zone for the two-point convert. 14-7 Saskatchewan.

Four-play drive stalls out at Saskatchewan 43, Hamilton gets the ball back on own 42.

Riders start second half with the ball, scrimmage from own 31.

First half Saskatchewan top stats: Harris 11-for-16 passing for 99 yards and one interception. Ouellette seven carries for 81 yards, Carey two for 21. Johnson and Duncan-Busby each with two catches for 27 yards.

First half Hamilton top stats: Mitchell 15-for-19 passiing for 167 yards and one TD, Bell 21 yards rushing on three carries, Lawler two catches for 47 yards

That's the end of the first half, and so much for a high-scoring shootout -- Hamilton leads 7-6.

Passes to Johnson and Duncan-Busby get Riders down to Hamilton 42, leading to 52 yard field goal attempt for Lauther. It's another miss, this time way wide right. Lauther has yet to make a kick on three attempts, missing two long field goals and an extra point, all wide right.

Riders defence holds the fort, forcing Hamilton into punt from Sask 47, illegal punt sees Riders get ball back at own 42.

Carey has a nice 15-yard run, but short pass and incomplete pass leads to 42 yard punt by Couch, Hamilton gets ball back at own 22.

Two and out by Hamilton, Riders get ball back at own 38.

Here's AJ's run, as the post points out he's nearing 100 yards in the first half alone! That's also the longest run of his career!

TOUCHDOWN RIDERS! Ouellette finds a massive hole in Hamilton line and rumbles 47 yards for the major, shrugging off a couple of tacklers in the process. Great run and great effort for Saskatchewan's first touchdown of the game. Lauther point after misses right, Hamilton 7, Saskatchewan 6 with 3:14 remaining in first half.

Hamilton goes two and out on next drive, Riders get ball back at Hamilton 47 after Alford 23-yard return.

Riders drive continues down to Hamilton 43 but stalls after short Ouellette and incomplete pass over middle. Lauther attempts 51-yard field goal but misses wide right, Wooden returns to Hamilton 14. That miss snaps Lauther's streak of 23 straight field goals made.

Thurman's sack, for your perusal.

Riders get to own 43, Carey into game for first carry as a Roughrider and goes for six yards to Riders 49.

Sam Emilus makes a 12 yard catch, but what looked like an incidental slap to a TiCats defender draws unnecessary roughness penalty. Pretty much as ticky-tack a penalty as you can get, but couple of runs by Ouellette get first down and all is good.

Mitchell gets off long pass to Smith for 25 yards to get just over mid field, but short pass, time-count penalty and sack by Thurman ends Hamilton drive. Riders get ball back at own 18 after eight yard return by Alford.

Here's the Hamilton TD. Can't get much more open than that!

Ouellette has 18-yard run, but near interception and incomplete pass sees Riders punting the ball to close out first quarter. 7-0 Hamilton after opening 15 minutes.

Riders begin second drive at own 35 yard line after 63 yard kick and 18 yard return by Alford.

Mitchell completes three straight passes, culminating in a Tiger-Cats touchdown on a nine-yard catch by a wide-open White deep in the Saskatchewan end zone. 11 plays, 74 yards, 7-0 Hamilton with 2:04 left in first quarter. Riders' defence was a little discombobulated on that drive, especially on the TD pass.

Hamilton converts on two short yardage plays to get to midfield with 5:46 left in first quarter.

Harris airs one out to the Hamilton 25, but the ball bounces off TiCats dback and is intercepted, Tiger-Cats get ball back at own 36. Bit of bad luck, but Riders were able to move the ball on their opening drive.

Running game gets shut down on two first downs, but Harris able to extend play with second down completions, Riders nearing midfield on opening drive.

This is game 100 for kicker Brett Lauther, by the way!

Hamilton takes a first down holding penalty and Mitchell can't make up the yards after two short passes, TiCats punt, Riders get the ball at own 21.

Riders win the coin toss and opt to defer to the second half. Hamilton gets the ball for the first series.

Weirdness to start the game in Hamilton as fire alarms are going off and cutting out the public address system, delaying things a bit. Seems to be cleared up, kick-off in moments!

The common theme in pre-game conversations on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network is that we could be in for an offensive shootout tonight, so fans of high-scoring games might be in for a treat!

Special night for the Tiger-Cats as they retire Garney Henley's number 26 before the game. The legendary defensive back is only the third player to have his number retired by Hamilton and is a four-time Grey Cup champion as well as the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 1972. Henley was named to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1979.

The Tiger-Cats depth chart. Veteran Bo Levi Mitchell gets the start behind centre, and look for former 1,000 yard receiver Kenny Lawler to be one of his favourite targets. Like the Riders, the TiCats are banged up on the offensive line, so both teams will be hoping next-man-up will play a role in winning the trench battle.

week-2-ticats-depth-chart

The Roughriders depth chart. AJ Ouellette is back starting at running back after leaving early with a head injury aganst Ottawa last week. Ka'Deem Carey suits up in his first game as a Rider as Ouellette's back-up. Jacob Brammer is back on the offensive line after recovering from a back injury, Daniel Johnson gets his first start at left tackle. U of R product Jaxon Ford gets the start at free safety.

week-2-riders-depth-chart

 

It’s Week 2 in the Canadian Football League, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders taking on the Hamilton Tiger Cats in Hamilton!

The Green and White are coming off a 31-26 win in their opening game of the season back on June 5, while Hamilton dropped a 38-26 decision to the Calgary Stampeders last Saturday.

A full house is expected at Hamilton Stadium for the Tiger-Cats home opener, and it’ll be a beautiful day for a football game with temperature around 18 C at kickoff with clear skies and winds blowing 14 km/h from the east.

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