The Saskatchewan Roughriders are back at practice after a devastating loss due to one of the uniquely Canadian rules.
The Riders lost 20-19 to the Toronto Argonauts last Thursday due to kicker Lirim Hajrullahu missing a 40-yard field goal but kicking it through the end zone to score a rouge — a single point — with no time left on the clock.
How the CFL game ended has sparked debate over the rule and its usage.
Riders offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller, who grew up in Regina, does have fond memories of the rule — in 2006 he and the Sheldon-Williams Spartans won the 4A high school provincial championship over Evan Hardy due to scoring a rouge.
“The guy caught the ball on a knee — he could have easily got it out but he caught it on a knee and in amateur football, you’re down,” Mueller said. “It was in Saskatoon, so we rushed the field before they could change their minds.”
While it hurts to be on the losing side in the pro game, Mueller doesn’t think the rule needs to change.
“It’s been part of the game for 120 years, or whatever. It’s a part of the game and if it was us, we would be cheering,” Mueller said. “It’s a part of the game everyone knows about. It’s not like it’s a surprise or anything.”
While it’s rare, quarterback Trevor Harris has lost on a rouge before. Harris was the Montreal Alouettes quarterback in a 24-23 loss to the Argos that ended on a rouge.
The veteran quarterback has had discussions about whether there was a way to amend the rule so the game doesn’t end on a missed field goal.
“The rouge is awesome, and everyone loves the rouge but what if they made it where there’s no rouge in the last three minutes where you have to win the game,” Harris said. “They did — they won fair and square. They played better than us and deserved the win. They did a great job and we’ve got to play better.
“It’s just kind of funny because people text you like, ‘They missed the field goal and won? How does that work?’ and it’s just the CFL — it’s the beauty of the CFL. It’s an awesome league, and I love the rules.”
Rouge not the only factor in loss
While the rouge was the deciding point in the contest, there were other reasons the Riders weren’t able to get the win.
The Riders’ offence sputtered for much of the game despite a hot start. Harris started Thursday’s game by completing eight of nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown but after that he threw two interceptions in the final moments of the second quarter. He finished the game with 18 completions for 190 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
“I felt like they did a good job defensively, and we did a poor job of execution,” Harris said. “That’s really what it comes down to in professional football.”
The Riders will look to bounce back in the Labour Day Classic on Sunday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The game between Saskatchewan (5-5-1) and the Bombers (5-6) has become a battle for first place in the West Division due to the Riders going winless in their last five games (0-4-1).
“You bounce back or bounce backward and we’re a bounce-back sort of a team,” Harris said. “Every week is a new life, and it’s about building into being the team you want to be in the end.”
Notes: The Riders signed running back SaRodorick Thompson Jr. The 6-foot, 210-pound rusher was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He went on to sign with Seattle Seahawks, playing one game, and spent time on the practice roster with the Dallas Cowboys. He attended training camp with the Los Angeles Rams.
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