‘Taints the win’: Late-game ejection steals focus from Riders’ win

Instead of celebrating a 28-13 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday, Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson had to address the ejection of defensive tackle Garrett Marino from the game.

In the fourth quarter, Marino was ejected after a low hit on Redblacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli that knocked the pivot out of the game.

Marino got up after the hit, flexing and celebrating the play. As he was walking to the tunnel, Marino held his helmet in the air on his way out.

“That’s not the way you want to finish a game. We were playing pretty good football the whole game and we had a chance to close it out in style and it ended in a way none of us wanted to see,” Dickenson said.

“I sure hope Masoli is OK; I hope (his injury) is not too bad. Garrett does feel bad and we will have a discussion with him and do something to make sure he understands that’s not how we play, that’s not what we coach, that’s not what we want to do and that’s not part of how we expect our team to play football.

“(Those antics) totally taints the win. I talked to the guys for three minutes — I told them the schedule, I didn’t hand out game balls, and didn’t do anything I normally do. (That play) didn’t need to happen. I’m disappointed in the team. Do I still love them? Yes, I love each and every one of them and they are still part of this team and we’re going to move forward. We can win classy but that is not the way I want to see us win games.”

Dickenson said he expects the league to look at the play.

“I don’t know what they are going to do but we will do something in house as well,” Dickenson said.

The incident led to most of the players on the Redblacks’ bench coming over to the Riders’ side of the field, with words shared between many of the players as tempers flared.

“They’re not supposed to do that. Their whole team is over at our bench and we’re doing the best we can to keep our guys off the field. That almost got a little bit ugly and we take our share of the blame for that — certainly the hit and the reaction by Garrett,” Dickenson said.

“I’m going to defend (Marino) too. He means well and he has made big strides in the last year. Today, he took a step back.”

While the hit overshadowed the game, the Riders had a lot of positives to take away.

The offence exploded in the second quarter, scoring 19 of their points.

Duke Williams caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Cody Fajardo just before the midway point of the second frame. Earlier on that same drive, Williams caught a pass for 30 yards to get the Riders off their own nine-yard line.

Williams, who was held to zero catches last Saturday against the Montreal Alouettes, had four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown versus Ottawa.

“I felt like I wasn’t playing well the first couple of games. I’m just getting in my rhythm. I missed a whole week of practice as well, so me and Cody’s timing was where it was supposed to be and that’s why we missed a couple throws — it wasn’t his fault, it was my fault,” Williams said.

“We know the goal at the end of the year and we’ve just got to take it one game at a time and take it where we need to go.”

Two possessions after Williams’ score, running back Frankie Hickson broke away on a 63-yard touchdown scamper. It was Hickson’s first CFL touchdown and it came in front of a paid attendance of 26,685 fans at Mosaic Stadium.

Before Hickson caught on with the Riders during training camp, it had been about 900 days since he had last played a football game.

The game was the first time as a pro he was able to look up at a big screen to see if defenders were catching up with him.

“That was the first time I’ve been able to do that and it actually helped. I was pleasantly surprised by that,” Hickson said.

After HIckson scored the touchdown, running back Jamal Morrow came out to congratulate him.

“(Morrow said) a whole bunch of ‘Good jobs’ and ‘Attaboys.’ It’s a big moment and the guys have been really, really supportive since I got here. Even when I got to play and they saw I was more a part of the game plan, everyone was telling me day-in and day-out it’s (my) chance,” Hickson said.

Hickson led the way for Riders running backs with 92 yards on just five carries. Morrow added 78 yards on 16 carries to bring his CFL-leading total to 335 yards.

The Riders, who came into the game with 51 penalties in their first four games, were penalized four times.

Fajardo threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns — one each to Williams and Kian Schaffer-Baker.

Masoli threw for 210 yards, with a touchdown to Nate Behar as well as an interception by Riders linebacker Larry Dean.

It was a special night for Dean, who a year ago to the day, tore his Achilles tendon before training camp at Mosaic Stadium.

“Things have come full circle and to be able to get the interception and be one of 12 men, it’s an awesome feeling,” Dean said. “It’s a blessing just to be back in this room with the guys and being out on the field. Last year, I was in the box and the bullpen for a whole year, watching the guys and imagining myself making plays and affirming things with words.

“I’m just grateful to be back out there in action.”

Caleb Evans came into the game after the injury to Masoli and threw for 58 yards, but he had one pass picked off by Nick Marshall.

The Riders’ defence, which came into the league with a CFL-leading 21 sacks, only mustered two against Ottawa — one from defensive end A.C. Leonard and one from defensive end Keion Adams.

Saskatchewan defensive end Pete Robertson, who entered the game with a CFL-leading seven sacks, left in the fourth quarter due to injury and did not return. Dickenson said they believe it’s a foot injury and fear it’s broken.

Kicker Brett Lauther made three of four field-goal attempts and one of his two convert attempts.

Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward was good on both of his field-goal tries.