When Regina Rams backup quarterback Sawyer Buettner lined up for a second quarter QB sneak on Saturday against the top-ranked Calgary Dinos, he had no idea it would be the play to propel him to internet infamy.
A day later, thousands across the social media landscape have witnessed his legendary post-touchdown interview with Daniella Ponticelli. The bloody maw from Moose Jaw is a minor sensation.
After a hard fought one-yard plunge into the endzone left his nose bleeding like a facet and his moustache saturated, Ponticelli was on hand to ask the refreshingly honest Buettner how the events unfolded.
“I’m not sure. Somebody got their hand in there, but it’s all good. I was never very handsome anyways,” he grinned, before turning to spit a mouthful of blood on the ground.
The state of Buettner’s face caused blood to drip onto Ponticelli during the exchange, leading to some inaudible apologies from Buettner as the two shared a laugh. The seasoned reporter brushed off the unwelcome precipitation and proceeded to ask how it felt for Buettner to get into the endzone.
“Honestly, I had no idea that I scored,” the quarterback laughed. “I lost my helmet, and then I got blood coming down my face so I didn’t even know that I scored, but it’s pretty cool to get into the endzone, I guess.”
Then came the cherry on top of the wild exchange, when Ponticelli asked if this was the type of play that Buettner typically found himself involved in.
“Yeah, I’m from Moose Jaw,” he said with a bloody grin. “We’re a gritty group.”
The interview, recorded as part of the Canada West live broadcast, initially gained traction when the Rams shared it on Twitter after the game, but spread to a US audience early Sunday. That’s when the Pardon My Take podcast, the centrepiece of the controversial Barstool Sports media empire, shared the video and dubbed Buettner a “#FootballGuy”.
#FootballGuy pic.twitter.com/Qoqq4vj2eW
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) October 3, 2021
Pardon My Take has a Twitter following of 643.3 thousand fans and the tweet has been liked more than 1.3 thousand times since posting, the type of exposure rarely seen in U Sports football.
After the fact, Buettner had a little fun with the media attention, tweeting: “Haven’t scored a rushing touchdown since like Grade 6 so it was only right that I sacrificed half my nose for a TD. Daniella Ponticelli, I’m so sorry for getting blood on your jacket. I will be running for Mayor of Moose Jaw next term.”
He later added that he was a “big fan of the show [Pardon My Take], but it could use some Moose Jaw grit so give me a call.”
The touchdown itself ended up being much more than a viral sensation, as Buettner’s well-earned six points helped propel the Rams past Calgary 34-21. It was the University of Regina’s first ever win against a number one ranked team in the country.
Sitting behind starter Josh Donnelly, Buettner contributed three carries for one yard and the score to the victory, but is now a local legend in Saskatchewan. This is the third year quarterback’s first season with the Rams following two campaigns with the University of Ottawa GeeGees, where he led the Garnet and Grey to a 6-2 record as a freshman starter, throwing for 1,470 yards, 14 touchdowns and five picks in seven starts.
The six-foot-one, 215-pound passer began his career with Regina Thunder of the Canadian Junior Football League, where he threw for 4,914 yards, 29 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 20 games played over three season. A product of A.E. Peacock Collegiate in Moose Jaw, Buettner also helped quarterback Team Canada’s U-18 team against Team USA in the 2015 International Bowl, winning 25-9.
