REGINA - Tyler Crapigna's 53-yard field goal with 1:09 remaining in the game rallied the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 30-29 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks Friday night at Mosaic Stadium.
Crapigna was 5 for 5 on his field-goal attempts in the game and it helped the Riders (1-3) secure their first win of the season. Ottawa dropped to 3-1-1.
Rookie quarterback Brock Jensen marched the Redblacks into the red zone to set up kicker Chris Milo's 11-yard field goal with 1:49 remaining in the game to put Ottawa ahead 29-27.
But Jensen couldn't muster anything in the dying seconds against a rejuvenated Roughriders defence.
Crapigna's fourth field goal of the game gave Saskatchewan a brief 27-26 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Riders forced Ottawa to punt on its ensuing possession, but promptly gave the ball back when quarterback Mitchell Gale fumbled the snap on his 50-yard line.
Ottawa lost starting quarterback Trevor Harris on the team's first possession of the game. Harris was injured when he was sacked by Roughriders defensive lineman Corvey Irvin. Harris's right leg was bent awkwardly underneath him on the play. He was able to walk off under his own power.
Jensen's second completion of his CFL career was a 65-yard touchdown strike to Brad Sinopoli. The score put Ottawa ahead 7-6.
The Riders regained the lead, 10-7, early in the second quarter on Crapigna's third field goal of the first half.
Saskatchewan added to its lead the next time its defence was on the field. Otha Foster blocked a punt attempt and Tevaughn Campbell scooped up the loose ball and scampered 14 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-9 midway through the quarter.
The Redblacks responded quickly. Jensen connected with a wide-open Sinopoli, who was deep behind the Riders secondary, for a 47-yard touchdown. Patrick Lavoie's reception on a two-point convert knotted the score at 17-17.
A Milo 31-yard field goal put Ottawa ahead 20-17 to end the first-half scoring.
Saskatchewan's first offensive touchdown of the game didn't come until the final play of the third quarter. The Riders took advantage of a blown coverage assignment when Gale hit Naaman Roosevelt for an 89-yard touchdown. The Riders trailed 26-24 after three quarters.
