Canadian Football League News

Roughriders work overtime to snap Lions win streak

Sep 25, 2006, 0:25 GMT

Regina, MB - Andrew Fantuz's 12-yard touchdown reception in overtime lifted the Saskatchewan Roughriders to an upset victory over the British Columbia Lions, 23-20, at Mosaic Stadium.

Paul McCallum's 36-yard field goal gave the Lions a 20-17 overtime lead before Kerry Joseph connected with Fantuz for the game-winning score.

Joseph finished 21-of-36 passing for 247 yards and one interception for the Roughriders (7-6), who improved to 5-2 at home. Kenton Keith rushed for 110 yards on 13 carries and Yo Murphy caught 7 passes for 99 yards.

Dave Dickenson completed 17-of-26 passes for 97 yards, but it was Buck Pierce who threw both touchdowns for the Lions (9-4), who had a seven-game winning streak snapped.

Joe Smith added 86 yards on the ground and Jason Clermont hauled in five passes for 26 yards and a score. Otis Floyd recorded two sacks and three forced fumbles in defeat.

Pierce's four-yard touchdown pass to Alexis Bwenge gave the Lions a 7-0 lead with 5:15 left in the first.

Just under two minutes later, British Columbia notched a safety to go up by nine when punter Luca Congi conceded in the end zone.

In the second, the Roughriders got on the scoreboard with a safety when B.C. punter McCallum was sacked in the end zone.

With 6:35 left in the half, Saskatchewan cut their deficit to six with a 60- yard single by Congi, but with less than one minute remaining, McCallum recorded a 46-yard single to put the Lions up 10-3 going into halftime.

The Roughriders owned the third quarter, posting singles of 53, 51 and 80 yards by Congi.

With 1:41 left in the fourth, Joseph fumbled on a nine-yard run deep in B.C. territory, but Fantuz recovered it in the end zone to put Saskatchewan up by seven.

The Lions answered back with 31 seconds left when Pierce hit Jason Clermont for a seven-yard TD pass to knot the game 17-17.

Game Notes

Saskatchewan's Matt Dominguez caught five passes for 77 yards and Fred Perry recorded six tackles and one sack.

The Roughriders outgained the Lions in total yards, 342-223.

Saskatchewan turned the ball over three times.

© 2006 The Sports Network