Carter leaves with injury as Bridge leads Riders past Ticats

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Brandon Bridge had to step up big in his second start of the season Friday night, leading his team to a 27-19 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats without the services of top receiver Duron Carter.

Carter was forced to leave the game in the first quarter after making his first and only catch of the contest. The 26-year-old receiver had his right ankle rolled up on a tackle by Ticats defensive back Don Unamba. He exited the game and did not return, though he was seen walking under his own power around the Saskatchewan sideline.

The loss of Carter stifled Saskatchewan's offense in the first quarter, but a pair of second-quarter scoring passes from Bridge pulled the visiting team out to a 17-0 lead.

Hamilton had chances to catch up, but settled for field goals over touchdowns on four occasions, including twice in the fourth quarter. Ticats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli tried to drive his team down for one more score late in the fourth quarter, but couldn't complete a goal-line pass after drawing a pass interference penalty in the end zone with just seconds to play.

Bridge finished with 321 yards passing and three touchdowns, leaning on Bakari Grant and Naaman Roosevelt in Carter's absence. Masoli did all he could to move the ball for Hamilton, accounting for 62 rushing yards and 328 passing yards, but was unable to reach the end zone.