Roughriders' Overtime Victory
Roughriders secure double-overtime victory against Stampeders despite blowing leads, raising kicker concerns
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The Saskatchewan Roughriders survived a dramatic collapse to beat the Calgary Stampeders 40-37 in double overtime, improving to 2-0 on the season. Leader-Post reported that the Riders held double-digit leads twice during the game, only to watch Calgary claw all the way back and tie things up at the end of regulation.
Trevor Harris finished with 349 passing yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker was the offensive star, racking up 165 receiving yards on 11 catches. But mistakes — including a fumble and a missed field goal that was returned for big yardage — nearly cost Saskatchewan the win, Edmonton Sun noted.
Roughriders' Double-Digit Lead Vanishes in Fourth Quarter
Saskatchewan looked in full control for most of the game. The Riders built a lead of more than 10 points on two separate occasions, Chatham Daily News reported. But the defense wore down in the third quarter, letting Calgary find its rhythm. By the fourth quarter, the Stampeders were cutting into the lead with late touchdowns.
A Roughriders fumble gave Calgary a short field. Then Brett Lauther missed a field goal, and the Stampeders returned it for a big gain. Calgary tied the game as time expired. "A win is a win in this league," Harris said after the game, "but we've got to stop making it so hard on ourselves."
Kicker Controversy Overshadows a 2-0 Start
The biggest talking point after the game was the kicking situation. Head coach Corey Mace publicly questioned his own decision-making, saying, "We have to evaluate if we have the best guys on the roster to finish games." The scrutiny centers on Lauther, whose missed kick from 47 yards into the wind was his second miss of the young season, Ottawa Citizen reported.
At the center of the debate is a roster policy issue. The CFL requires teams to carry "Global" players — athletes from outside North America. Saskatchewan kept Global kicker Campbell Hale to fill that spot. That meant cutting American prospect Jonathan Kim, who reportedly outperformed Hale in training camp. National Post noted that Kim's release is now being called a front-office failure by many fans and analysts.
The Risky 47-Yard Field Goal Call Draws Sharp Criticism
One decision drew particular fire from analysts. Late in the game, the coaching staff sent Lauther out for a 47-yard attempt into a stiff headwind. Leader-Post described it as a gamble. Statistical models suggest that punting and playing for field position would have given Saskatchewan a 12% better chance of winning than attempting that kick in those conditions.
Expert analyst Joel Gasson called it a "mathematical and tactical error." Punting would have pinned Calgary deep and relied on the defense. Instead, the missed kick gave the Stampeders momentum and great field position. Brantford Expositor noted that the decision captured everything troubling about Saskatchewan's late-game management this season.
Schaffer-Baker Breakout Points to a Dangerous Offense
Despite the chaos, the Roughriders showed real offensive firepower. Schaffer-Baker's 165 yards on 11 catches marked him as the clear number-one receiver on this roster. Harris was sharp all game, spreading the ball and making smart decisions under pressure, County Market reported. The offense scored 40 points — enough to win almost any game in the CFL.
The concern is not what Saskatchewan can do when ahead. It is whether the team can protect a lead. Starting 2-0 is a real advantage in the West Division. But Fort Saskatchewan Record pointed out that point differential and late-game struggles could matter in playoff tiebreakers. Coach Mace's biggest challenge now is stopping the "here we go again" feeling before it takes root.
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