Roughriders squeak by Edmonton Elks 28-27 in pre-season action

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A pre-season victory was handed to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday.

The Roughriders — who left many veterans at home for the exhibition contest against the Edmonton Elks — put up 191 yards of offence but were the beneficiary of five turnovers by the Elks, as Saskatchewan prevailed 28-27 in their second and final CFL pre-season game at Commonwealth Stadium.

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In the first half alone, Saskatchewan scored a touchdown on offence, defence and special teams — all the result of turnovers — to lead 21-13 through 30 minutes.

Edmonton went on top in the second half but the Green and White took back the lead in the final minute as Brett Lauther kicked a 23-yard field goal with 23 seconds left to put the Riders up 28-26.

The Elks had a chance to win the game with a 57-yard field gaol as time expired, but Vincent Blanchard’s kick was wide as the Riders conceded a single point to secure the 28-27 win.

“It wasn’t pretty,” Roughriders’ head coach Corey Mace told CKRM’s Luc Mullinder after the game. “But wins always feel good so I’ve got to give the guys credit, when we needed a big play, we found a way to get one somewhere, somehow.

“But moving efficiently on offence, that’s not really what we executed today. I know we’ll be better. Heck, we’ve been really good all camp.”

Saskatchewan — now 2-0 in the pre-season — will return to Regina for the final week of training camp before making a return trip to Edmonton for their opening game of the 2024 CFL season on June 8.

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With the June 1 roster cutdown day looming and starting quarterback Trevor Harris not dressing for Saturday’s contest, all eyes were on the backup battle as four quarterbacks vying for the job got playing time in the final pre-season game.

Mason Fine — who won the No. 2 job last season — drew the start for Saskatchewan but turned the ball over on downs on his first possession as he was short on a quarterback sneak on third-and-one.

Fine’s next two drives resulted in punts but on the second punt, Elks returner Javon Leake fumbled ball and it was scooped on by Riders defensive back Kosi Onyeka on the two-yard line. Onyeka stepped into the end zone to put Saskatchewan on top 7-6 after two early Edmonton field goals.

Fine generated one first down in his next two possessions before the Elks kicked a field goal to go up 9-7.

The Riders then got their second turnover of the night as Elks’ quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson fumbled the ball, which was scooped up by defensive lineman Caleb Sanders, giving Saskatchewan instant field position.

And Fine made the most of the opportunity as he connected with Dohnte Meyers for a four-yard touchdown pass as the Riders went up 14-9 with the convert.

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Fine’s day was done after that, as he finished 9-of-11 for 75 yards and a touchdown.

After the Elks added a single point on a missed field goal, Antonio Pipkin — who is expected to handle short-yardage duty this year — came in at quarterback for the Riders but threw one incompletion and took a sack on his only drive of the game.

Following a Saskatchewan punt, the Riders secured their third turnover of the half as defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr. intercepted a ball bobbled by Elks’ receiver Eugene Lewis and returned it all the way to the end zone to put the Riders on top 21-10 with the convert.

The Elks added a field goal before the half to make it 21-13 at the break.

Edmonton added another field goal early in the second half to make it 21-16 before rookie Jack Coan entered the game at quarterback for Saskatchewan.

However, Coan couldn’t generate any offence on his two drives of the game as he completed just one pass for three yards on three attempts.

After Elks’ QB Tre Ford put together a touchdown drive to end the third quarter to put Edmonton up 23-21, Shea Patterson entered the game at quarterback for Saskatchewan.

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And after completing all three of his passes on Monday in a 25-12 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Patterson was efficient again on Saturday, as he put together a six-play, 54-yard drive that resulted in a Lauther field goal to make it 24-23 for Saskatchewan.

Edmonton turned the ball over again as Onyeka secured his second fumble recovery of the night, before Patterson engineered a first down with his legs on an 11-yard run to set up a field goal attempt.

But Lauther missed the kick as the Riders came away with a single point to go up 25-23.

After the Elks replied with a field goal of their own to go up 26-25, Patterson and the Riders didn’t have an answer on their next drive as they were forced to punt it away.

But on the kick, the Elks gifted the Riders the ball back with a fumble on the return, putting the Green and White in field goal range with 1:40 to go.

After Patterson connected with receiver Geronimo Allison for a first down, Lauther came in and kicked the game-winning field goal to secure the win.

Patterson finished the game 5-of-8 for 80 yards.

Allison was Saskatchewan’s leading receiver with 40 yards on four catches, while Frankie Hickson and Clint Ratkovich tied for the team lead with 27 yards along the ground.

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Along with his interceptions, Brooks Jr. led the way for the Riders defence with seven defensive tackles and two special teams tackles in the first half alone.

Saskatchewan turned the ball over once compared to five by Edmonton. The Riders didn’t register a sack and gave up four.

The Riders had just 12 first downs compared to 26 by the Elks, who put up 411 yards of net offence.

Saskatchewan also committed six penalties for 59 yards in the game.

tshire@postmedia.com

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