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Roughriders get first win, RedBlacks lose Harris

Brent Just / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Mitchell Gale was the winning quarterback in his first CFL start Friday, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders upset the Ottawa RedBlacks 30-29.

Saskatchewan (1-3) prevailed in the battle of backup quarterbacks that unfolded after Ottawa (3-1-1) lost league-leading passer Trevor Harris with a right leg injury on Ottawa's fourth play of the game. Gale, who was 21-for-36 for 354 yards with one touchdown, found synergy with wide receiver Naaman Roosevelt in the second half. That combination helped the Roughriders get their first win under coach-general manager Chris Jones, with rookie Tyler Crapigna delivering the decisive boot with a 53-yard field goal with 1:03 left.

Defensive end Justin Capicciotti, a former RedBlack, sacked Ottawa's Brock Jensen on third down with 36 seconds left to seal Saskatchewan's first win and Ottawa's first loss.

On the winning drive, Roosevelt drew a 15-yard pass-interference penalty on All-Star Ottawa defensive back Abdul Kanneh that moved Saskatchewan to the RedBlacks' 45-yard line. Roosevelt made eight receptions for 182 yards.

Momentum shifted after Gale and Roosevelt twice took advantage of one-on-one matchups against RedBlacks backup cornerback Tristan Jackson. Jackson, an ex-Rider, was caught flat-footed when Roosevelt streaked past him for an 88-yard pass-and-run touchdown on the last play of the third quarter to pare Ottawa's lead to 26-24. Roosevelt also shielded off Jackson for a 32-yard reception to set up a go-ahead field goal midway through the fourth quarter.

Harris, the CFL leader with 1,475 yards and an 82.5 percent completion percentage, had his right leg twisted when he was sacked by Corvey Irvin.

Harris wasn't in uniform during the second half. Ottawa has two more games before first-stringer Henry Burris will be eligible to come off the injured list.

Jensen was 20-for-30 for 271 yards and two touchdowns, but Ottawa didn't score a touchdown after the half. League-leading receiver Chris Williams was limited to one reception for 14 yards, which came on a designed screen pass. Inside receiver Brad Sinopoli had five receptions for a career-high 156 yards and two long touchdowns. RedBlacks defensive tackle Zach Evans had a three-sack effort go for naught.

Ottawa's Christopher Milo was 3-for-5 on field goals plus a single. Patrick Lavoie also had a two-point convert catch. Zachary Medeiros added a single on a kickoff.

Tevaughn Campbell returned a blocked punt 25 yards for a touchdown for the Roughriders. Crapigna was 5-for-5 on field goals, while Josh Bartel added a 77-yard punt single.

The win was Saskatchewan's sixth in their last 26 games without starting quarterback Darian Durant, who suffered an ankle injury July 16 against the BC Lions.

In Week 6, Saskatchewan visits the Montreal Alouettes on July 29. Ottawa, with Harris' status in jeopardy, hosts the Toronto Argonauts on July 31.

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