Recap: Ottawa 35, Saskatchewan 13
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Johnson's hat trick runs REDBLACKS over Riders
Posted: August 30,2015 07:15PM
Updated: August 30,2015 09:24PM
CFL.ca Staff
#CFLGameDay
OTTAWA -- If there was any uncertainty surrounding the Ottawa REDBLACKS’ starting running back, Jeremiah Johnson erased it on Sunday afternoon.
The second-year back scored three rushing touchdowns to lead the REDBLACKS to a 35-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, showing exactly why the team put faith in him after recently releasing running back Chevon Walker.
Henry Burris was efficient and threw one touchdown pass plus scored another on the ground, while Johnson rushed for 92 yards on 12 carries. Justin Capiciotti had three sacks to lead a 10-sack effort for the REDBLACKS, who jumped out to a 14-0 lead then scored three touchdowns in a four-minute span between the third and fourth quarters.
Burris completed nine of his first 11 passing attempts, finishing his day 19-of-33 for 259 yards. Brett Smith went 6-for-10 for the Riders for 68 yards with a touchdown, but was pulled for Tino Sunseri halfway through the second quarter after throwing an interception.
The loss marked the Riders’ ninth straight to
open the season, their third worst start in franchise history. The
victory was a pivotal one for Ottawa, meanwhile, ending a mini two-game
losing streak and pulling the REDBLACKS within a game of first place in
the East behind both Toronto and Hamilton.
After shaking things up with the release of Brandon McDonald and veteran running back Walker, the REDBLACKS looked energized from the very first drive on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon at Ottawa’s TD Place.
Johnson and Burris teamed up for a first down with a pair of rushes out of the gate, then off play action the veteran pivot rolled out and hooked up with first-year REDBLACK Brad Sinopoli for a 34-yard catch and run into Rider territory.
On the next second down play, Burris quickly connected with the burner Price on a quick hitch and the veteran shiftily evaded a tackle and hit the corner to score a 37-yard touchdown, capping off a five-play, 81-yard scoring drive to give the REDBLACKS a 7-0 lead.
The major marked Price's first as a member of the REDBLACKS since arriving from Calgary in an off-season trade for linebacker Jasper Simmons.
Fans could barely get back in their seats before the REDBLACKS were on the board again. A quick smothering and sack of Smith put the ball right back in the hands of Burris, who had started 3-for-4 in the game after last week completing 32 of 36 passes in a loss to the Argos.
Burris again made quick work of a Rider defence that looked shaky early on. Continuing to hit the Green and White with high-percentage completions, this time it was Ernest Jackson getting the ball in space and making guys miss for a 25-yard gain to the Rider 53. The REDBLACK pivot hit on three of his next four passes to Jackson, Price and Scott MacDonnell, then Johnson finished off the drive by scoring on a draw play from seven yards out.
The REDBLACKS couldn’t have made a bolder statement just minutes into the game, owning a 14-0 lead on the strength of 151 passing yards through the air.
After being out-gained 170-29 in first-quarter offensive yardage, the Riders made the second quarter theirs to strike back. Ottawa’s fast-release offence hit a snag as the Rider ‘D’ tightened up the tackling, while the special teams unit got to rookie punter Ronnie Pfeffer, playing his first game since joining the REDBLACKS, with a blocked punt.
Scott McHenry came up with the block and Dan West recovered it, setting the Riders up deep in REDBLACKS territory. A time count violation made second down more difficult than it needed to be, but it wasn’t enough to faze the young gunslinger.
Smith, just 23 and in his third career start, threw the corner route with perfection to rookie receiver Naaman Roosevelt for the 10-yard touchdown. The Riders added the two-point conversion so after two punt singles and the sudden major, the Riders trailed only 14-10 in the second quarter.
The catch was Roosevelt’s third of the game and his first career touchdown in the 27-year-old’s first career CFL start.
The Riders continued to turn the momentum in their favour, this time on a play by their defence. Greg Ellingson caught a pass over the middle but had it punched loose by the veteran Tristan Jackson, while there to pick it up was rookie linebacker Jeff Knox Jr.
A first down scramble by Smith and a 15-yard penalty for a late hit against Ottawa’s Antoine Pruneau moved the Rider offence to the 16, but on the ensuing play it became all for not. Smith evaded pressure and beat the defence outside, but his pass to the end zone was picked off by defensive back Abdul Kanneh to put a sudden halt to both the drive and the Riders’ momentum.
Smith paid for the mistake despite completing six of his first 10 passing attempts, the Riders electing to switch to backup Sunseri immediately after. It appeared the change had sparked something for Saskatchewan’s offence, but as soon as Ryan Smith scored on a catch-and-run the score was nullified by a holding penalty. Then Paul McCallum hit the upright on a 37-yard field goal try, leaving the Riders empty-handed heading into the half.
A chess match ensued throughout most of the quarter as neither
offence could muster up anything game-changing – until late in the
frame.
Jackson caught a 29-yard pass to set up Johnson’s second touchdown run of the game, then Damaso Munoz’s forced fumble – recovered by Malik Jackson – set up a 35-yard rushing touchdown by Johnson for his third of the game.
A fumble by Steven Miller on the ensuing kickoff rubbed salt in the Riders’ wound, leading to a Burris one-yard plunge to put the game well out of reach.
The Riders did manage some damage on defence late, forcing an interception on Burris – the veteran pivot’s first in 189 passing attempts. A McCallum field goal rounded out the scoring, as the Riders suffered their second most lopsided loss of the season next to a 30-5 loss to Edmonton.
Saskatchewan is back in action next Sunday in a matchup on Mark's Labour Day Weekend against the Bombers back at home, one most would consider a must-win game for Corey Chamblin's club which remains three wins out of a playoff spot. The REDBLACKS on the other hand will enjoy the victory over a bye week before visiting BC on Sunday, Sept. 13.
#CFLGameDay
OTTAWA -- If there was any uncertainty surrounding the Ottawa REDBLACKS’ starting running back, Jeremiah Johnson erased it on Sunday afternoon.
The second-year back scored three rushing touchdowns to lead the REDBLACKS to a 35-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, showing exactly why the team put faith in him after recently releasing running back Chevon Walker.
Henry Burris was efficient and threw one touchdown pass plus scored another on the ground, while Johnson rushed for 92 yards on 12 carries. Justin Capiciotti had three sacks to lead a 10-sack effort for the REDBLACKS, who jumped out to a 14-0 lead then scored three touchdowns in a four-minute span between the third and fourth quarters.
Burris completed nine of his first 11 passing attempts, finishing his day 19-of-33 for 259 yards. Brett Smith went 6-for-10 for the Riders for 68 yards with a touchdown, but was pulled for Tino Sunseri halfway through the second quarter after throwing an interception.
| Related: Riders at REDBLACKS |
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 » View Game Stats » Images: SSK at OTT» Watch: Price notches first as a REDBLACK » Preview: Riders aim for win #1 in Ottawa |
After shaking things up with the release of Brandon McDonald and veteran running back Walker, the REDBLACKS looked energized from the very first drive on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon at Ottawa’s TD Place.
Johnson and Burris teamed up for a first down with a pair of rushes out of the gate, then off play action the veteran pivot rolled out and hooked up with first-year REDBLACK Brad Sinopoli for a 34-yard catch and run into Rider territory.
On the next second down play, Burris quickly connected with the burner Price on a quick hitch and the veteran shiftily evaded a tackle and hit the corner to score a 37-yard touchdown, capping off a five-play, 81-yard scoring drive to give the REDBLACKS a 7-0 lead.
The major marked Price's first as a member of the REDBLACKS since arriving from Calgary in an off-season trade for linebacker Jasper Simmons.
Fans could barely get back in their seats before the REDBLACKS were on the board again. A quick smothering and sack of Smith put the ball right back in the hands of Burris, who had started 3-for-4 in the game after last week completing 32 of 36 passes in a loss to the Argos.
Burris again made quick work of a Rider defence that looked shaky early on. Continuing to hit the Green and White with high-percentage completions, this time it was Ernest Jackson getting the ball in space and making guys miss for a 25-yard gain to the Rider 53. The REDBLACK pivot hit on three of his next four passes to Jackson, Price and Scott MacDonnell, then Johnson finished off the drive by scoring on a draw play from seven yards out.
The REDBLACKS couldn’t have made a bolder statement just minutes into the game, owning a 14-0 lead on the strength of 151 passing yards through the air.
After being out-gained 170-29 in first-quarter offensive yardage, the Riders made the second quarter theirs to strike back. Ottawa’s fast-release offence hit a snag as the Rider ‘D’ tightened up the tackling, while the special teams unit got to rookie punter Ronnie Pfeffer, playing his first game since joining the REDBLACKS, with a blocked punt.
Scott McHenry came up with the block and Dan West recovered it, setting the Riders up deep in REDBLACKS territory. A time count violation made second down more difficult than it needed to be, but it wasn’t enough to faze the young gunslinger.
Smith, just 23 and in his third career start, threw the corner route with perfection to rookie receiver Naaman Roosevelt for the 10-yard touchdown. The Riders added the two-point conversion so after two punt singles and the sudden major, the Riders trailed only 14-10 in the second quarter.
The catch was Roosevelt’s third of the game and his first career touchdown in the 27-year-old’s first career CFL start.
The Riders continued to turn the momentum in their favour, this time on a play by their defence. Greg Ellingson caught a pass over the middle but had it punched loose by the veteran Tristan Jackson, while there to pick it up was rookie linebacker Jeff Knox Jr.
A first down scramble by Smith and a 15-yard penalty for a late hit against Ottawa’s Antoine Pruneau moved the Rider offence to the 16, but on the ensuing play it became all for not. Smith evaded pressure and beat the defence outside, but his pass to the end zone was picked off by defensive back Abdul Kanneh to put a sudden halt to both the drive and the Riders’ momentum.
Smith paid for the mistake despite completing six of his first 10 passing attempts, the Riders electing to switch to backup Sunseri immediately after. It appeared the change had sparked something for Saskatchewan’s offence, but as soon as Ryan Smith scored on a catch-and-run the score was nullified by a holding penalty. Then Paul McCallum hit the upright on a 37-yard field goal try, leaving the Riders empty-handed heading into the half.
Video
Price Scores his First REDBLACK TD
Jackson caught a 29-yard pass to set up Johnson’s second touchdown run of the game, then Damaso Munoz’s forced fumble – recovered by Malik Jackson – set up a 35-yard rushing touchdown by Johnson for his third of the game.
A fumble by Steven Miller on the ensuing kickoff rubbed salt in the Riders’ wound, leading to a Burris one-yard plunge to put the game well out of reach.
The Riders did manage some damage on defence late, forcing an interception on Burris – the veteran pivot’s first in 189 passing attempts. A McCallum field goal rounded out the scoring, as the Riders suffered their second most lopsided loss of the season next to a 30-5 loss to Edmonton.
Saskatchewan is back in action next Sunday in a matchup on Mark's Labour Day Weekend against the Bombers back at home, one most would consider a must-win game for Corey Chamblin's club which remains three wins out of a playoff spot. The REDBLACKS on the other hand will enjoy the victory over a bye week before visiting BC on Sunday, Sept. 13.
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