The Saskatchewan Roughriders were denied an overtime victory on Thursday night in Ottawa after the CFL command centre ruled roughing the passer on what would have been a game-ending fumble recovery.
“New one. That was new, I’d never been in anything like that, but that is what was ruled,” Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace told the media post-game. “Some will go our way and some won’t. This one, unfortunately, did not go our way, but that’s what they ruled so we gotta finish the drive.”
The Riders were leading 22-19 in the second overtime frame following a Brett Lauther field goal when defensive ends Malik Carney and Bryan Cox Jr. broke through for a sack on quarterback Dustin Crum. The second-year pivot lost control of the football on his way to the turf and it was recovered by linebacker Adam Auclair, seemingly signalling the end of the ball game.
Some players had already begun to make their way to the locker room, including Crum, when the command centre announced that the play was under automatic review. While this is standard practice following any turnover in the CFL, the officials in this instance determined that linebacker Zakoby McClain was guilty of roughing the passer for a low blow on the quarterback shortly before the sack.
Is this roughing the passer? You be the judge.#CFL #Riders #Redblacks
pic.twitter.com/mRIcTGc1th— 3DownNation (@3DownNation) August 9, 2024
“I had already shaken hands with Bob [Dyce], a bunch of players and other coaches when they came, approached me, and said they were putting the play under review,” Mace recalled. “I was confused because they had waved the flag, the game was over. At that point, it was trying to get an explanation, while the on-field officials were waiting for the replay booth. When everybody else heard the news, that’s when I heard the news.”
McClain was not making a deliberate attempt toward the quarterback’s legs but was tripped up when running back Ryquell Armstead delivered a cut block at the line of scrimmage. Redblacks’ head coach Bob Dyce was not able to challenge the offending play as he had spent his final challenge one play prior on another sack that was not ruled a penalty, but the command centre stepped in at their discretion.
The CFL rule book defines roughing the passer as a “blow at or below the knees of the passer, regardless if the defender’s path to the passer was unrestricted or if they are coming off a blocker.” The rule was enforced similarly earlier in the game when defensive tackle Miles Brown rolled into starting QB Dru Brown, forcing him to leave with a leg injury.
Ottawa was awarded a fresh set of downs and players returned to the field, as fans and family members who had descended were ushered off. Kicker Lewis Ward hit a 14-yard field goal moments later to end the game in a 22-22 tie.
“We got a point. I’m a glass-half-full guy,” Mace said of the result, dodging the assertion that he was robbed of a win. “It was just a unique situation, but hey, that’s why you love the CFL. Anything can happen in the last couple seconds of the game.”
The controversial ruling has generated considerable discussion among CFL fans, most notably Rider Nation. Saskatchewan was previously able to tie the game in the first overtime frame after Redblacks’ defensive back Alijah McGhee was flagged for defensive pass interference following a challenge from Mace.
