After waiting for a chance, Riders’ Ferraro enjoying CFL opportunity

Saskatchewan Roughriders kicker Gabriel Ferraro is looking to take full advantage of the opportunity in front of him.

Ferraro had an extremely successful U Sports career as a member of the University of Guelph Gryphons, setting a single-season record with 33 made field goals in 2017. He also tied the U Sports career field goals record, making 91 of 117 (77 per cent) attempts.

“(Guelph) treated me awesome and with a ton of respect there,” Ferraro said at Mosaic Stadium after Wednesday’s practice. “(Kicking all those field goals) is just extra game reps and that’s what we all look for. I guess I got the most game reps I could as a kicker.”

The now 23-year-old was drafted in 2018 (seventh round, 59th overall) but ultimately returned to University.

After his career at Guelph came to an end, Ferraro waited for an opportunity to come calling.

“I was back home in Mississauga training and keeping fit, still kicking,” Ferraro said.

And his phone would eventually ring after kicker Brett Lauther suffered a groin injury in the July 1 game against the Toronto Argonauts. In 2019, Lauther has made seven of his eight field goal attempts.

“I got a call from my agent and then from (Roughriders general manager Jeremy) O’Day and they said, ‘Hey, could you come out tonight,’ and it was 6 o’clock at that time,” Ferraro said. “They ended up flying me out the next morning and I was on the field by 11 a.m.”

He said there was no time to think when it came to signing the contract, but that wasn’t a bad thing.

“It’s just go, go, go and you’re just kicking right away,” Ferraro said.

He said the locker room has welcomed him with open arms since signing.

“It’s a good family here (in Saskatchewan),” Ferraro said. “The team is very close, everyone loves each other here and you’re doing your job for everyone else so you can win the game. That’s the main goal for everyone here. No one wants the accolades and all that for themselves. At the end of the day, it’s just about winning football games.”

Ferraro hasn’t been busy during his first two games with Saskatchewan. He went one-for-two in the July 6 game against the Stampeders. He didn’t have a single field goal attempt against the B.C. Lions on July 20 but was four-for-four on extra points.

But that isn’t a bad thing for Ferraro.

“I’ll take all the extra points, that’s good with me,” Ferraro said. “At the end of the day, I’m just here to do the best I can. They are giving me an amazing opportunity here. My job is to give the team the best chance to win and that’s all I’m doing.”

Ferraro could be set to start his third straight game if Lauther is unable to go for the rematch in Vancouver against the Lions on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson said Lauther will be a game time decision.

“(Lauther) came out and kicked a little bit earlier (Wednesday) and felt pretty good. We then gave him the rest of the day off,” Dickenson said. “If he’s not 100 per cent, he wont kick but he’s getting better.”

Dickenson has confidence in Ferraro while Lauther continues to recover.

“We’re fine with Gabe,” Dickenson said. “Gabe does a good job. We would like to have Brett back but we want him back healthy.”

While Ferraro knows his time as a starter could be nearing an end once Lauther gets healthy, he’s not too worried about it right now.

“It is what it is,” Ferraro said. “Whatever opportunity comes my way, I’ll take it. I don’t mind. I’m just going to do the best with any opportunity I get and I’ll let the rest just take care of itself.”

The Green Zone pre-game show gets underway at 3 p.m.