The Riders’ Brayden Lenius celebrates as Cody Fajardo punches in a TD from the one yard line to tie the game. Photo CFL.ca.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders were able to pull out a nail biting victory over the Lions in B.C. Friday night, thanks to some strong defense and a flubbed punt.
That missed punt for the Lions on 3rd/2 lead the Riders to a 54 yard touchdown drive, punched in from the one yard line by Cody Fajardo, in the final seconds of the game.
Brett Lauther would give the Riders the lead with the convert, the kick return team would then rub some salt into the wounds and run back a fumble for another touchdown on the final play of the game, making the final 31-24 for the Riders, giving them a 5-2 record and sole possession of second place in the west.
After the game Fajardo said the final minutes had that playoff type atmosphere.
“Drawing back to 2019 against Winnipeg right, it was a similar situation where we got to punch it in there,” Fajardo said. “I though the offensive line did a great job of giving us the push that we needed, I was down after throwing that last pick, but a lot of guys came to me and picked me up, they knew we had a good chance if we could get the ball back. It’s awesome when you can put together a team win like that against a very good B.C. Lions team,” Fajardo added.
Fajardo was good on 24 of 31 passes for 279 yards, also rushing for another 32.
Someone many in Rider Nation were waiting to see have a breakout game, did just that.
Ricardo Louis made five catches on five attempts for 77 yards, while picking up his first career CFL touchdown.
Welcome to the #CFL, @GuttaManRick.
Ricardo Louis with his first-career TD up north! #CFLGameday pic.twitter.com/2yI65zZiJA
— CFL (@CFL) September 25, 2021
Louis’ performance was something that Coach Craig Dickenson knew was coming sooner or later.
“I was expecting that to happen sooner rather than later, but that’s what he can do, he’s got game, he can run, he’s big and strong and has good hands, and I think he’s going to continue to get more comfortable,” Dickenson told CKRM’s Derek Taylor after the game.
The Riders now have sole possession of second place in the CFL west, they’ll be in Calgary on Saturday, October 2, to face the last place Stampeders, in another game you can hear on 620 CKRM.
