Rider rouge: Saskatchewan squeaks out victory against Elks

The Green and White needed some rouge to get the win over the Edmonton Elks on Thursday.

Saskatchewan Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther booted the ball into the end zone for a single point on a kickoff in the fourth quarter, which proved to be the decider in the 12-11 win over the Edmonton Elks in front of 27,197 fans at Mosaic Stadium.

“You’re not thinking they are going to literally let it go for a single, but obviously they didn’t know,” Lauther said after the win. “I kind of feel bad for him, but at the same time, in my mind, I’m trying to put it back as far as I can so we can gain field position and they don’t get into field goal range.

Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Mitch Picton hauls in a pass against the Edmonton Elks at Mosaic Stadium on July 6, 2023. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

“I was pumped up. I was screaming at the guys to cover it. I thought we might have scored a touchdown — I didn’t know if he was going to pick it up. I was screaming at everyone to cover it. I’m pretty pumped up — I thought we were going to go into overtime.

“To not do that, we have a little more drinking time to that.”

Riders head coach Craig Dickenson, who was a special-teams coordinator in the CFL from 2005-2018, admitted he’s never seen a game end in that fashion.

“Our guys kept playing. It was a crazy game — we didn’t play as well as we liked,” Dickenson said. “Give Edmonton credit — I thought they did what they needed to give their guys a chance to win.

While the Riders were favourites heading into the game with Edmonton, now 0-5, coming into the game winless, Dickenson said the Elks are not as bad as the record indicates.

“They are going to win some games. We’re glad it wasn’t on our watch, but Edmonton has players who are good football players,” Dickenson said. “We have lots to learn from. I think we will work hard to do it but it’s nicer to learn from a win than to get beat.”

In order for the game to end in one of the uniquely Canadian ways, it required a late fourth-quarter drive.

The Riders were down by eight points, but Trevor Harris and the offence orchestrated their only touchdown drive of the game, ending in a Mitch Picton catch.

“It was frustrating because we left stuff out there on a few plays,” Harris said. “A couple of times, there was just nothing there — the defence did a good job … These are things we learn. Each game we are finding ourselves a little bit more offensively.

“I don’t feel like it should have been that close — we should’ve had much more points on the board.”

Picton, who was named a starter late in the week due to a knee injury to slotback Jake Wieneke, said it felt good to score.

“It was a bit of an ugly win, I don’t feel like we executed as well as we would like too,” said Picton, who had 76 yards to go along with the score. “We had our backs against the wall a little bit but glad we could come away with the win.”

Kendall Watson hauled in the ensuing two-point convert to tie the game at 11.

The win marked the Riders’ first victory at home since July 8, 2022 — a 28-13 decision over the Ottawa Redblacks. The 37-year-old pivot, who couldn’t get much throughout most of the showdown, finished with 289 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

“That’s the mark of teams that are connected and have good character and have good culture — those are the teams that win the close games,” Harris said. “You find a way to win a game or you find a way to lose the game. I feel like we are the team that is going to try and find the way to win those close games.

“However ugly it is, that’s two points in the win column and we will take it.”

Elks quarterback Taylor Cornelius, who was benched for Edmonton’s last game against Ottawa, bounced back with both legs and his arm. The Edmonton pivot threw for 226 yards, no touchdowns and an interception, with defensive back Nic Marshall hauling in the game-clinching pick. He also rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Marshall said this team’s ability to find a way to win close games can be described as “Championship material.

“Every team that I have been on — the champions — find a way to win the game at the end of the game,” Marshall said. “As long as we get a W, that’s all that matters to me.”

Elks kicker Dean Faitfull missed on his first field goal try of the game, meaning the first point for the Elks came from a rouge.

Edmonton Punter Jake Julien had three punts go into the end zone for single points as well.

Lauther was good on his only field goal attempt.

Saskatchewan (3-1) will take on the Calgary Stampeders (1-2) next Saturday at Mosaic Stadium, but health could continue to remain an issue for the green and white.

The Riders, who had a lengthy injury list coming into this game, possibly had some more injuries in the game.

“We lost a few in this one too,” Dickenson said. “The trainers are going to be our MVPs for the first third of the season because they have been very busy.”