By Joel Gasson

Riders pull out wild 35-32 overtime win over RedBlacks

Sep 21, 2014 | 8:10 PM

If the CFL has been lacking in the entertainment department, then that Riders win over Ottawa might have made up for the entire season.

The Riders mounted a second half comeback that involved just about everything you could imagine in a 35-32 double overtime win over the RedBlacks.

When all was said and done this game, literally, almost had it all. There was a big catch by an offensive lineman, a fake field goal, a punt return for a touchdown, a cross-field lateral on a punt return, a circus play for a touchdown by Weston Dressler, a missed field goal in overtime that nearly resulted in a walk-off rouge for the Riders, and a blocked field goal to end it.

“I've been part of some crazy ones,” said defensive Ricky Foley. “Super crazy game man, if you had describe the CFL to somebody, you had to show them a game to describe what it's all about, just show them the last 10 minutes of this game.”

That thought was definitely echoed throughout the locker room.

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“It was a pretty crazy,” said Dressler. “It was a fun one to be a part of, there was a lot of energy out there.”

The craziest part of the game was likely the play that nearly happened but didn't. In the first overtime session after the Marshay Green picked off Henry Burris on the first play from scrimmage, the Riders played it safe with a couple of runs to set up Chris Milo for a potential game winning field goal.

The problem, Milo missed. The RedBlacks punted the ball out of the end zone, and the Riders tried to get back in but ultimately failed.

Then word came from the command centre, they were going to review the play to see if the RedBlacks returner had stepped out of bounds before kicking the ball. It was close, but the call stood as is.

“The biggest thing I'm still stuck on, to be honest, did that guy step out? Is he out? I'm still trying to get past that. It's one of those to where you beg to ref, please let us win like that.” said head coach Corey Chamblin.

Chamblin admitted he would have been just as happy to get the win that way, but it certainly would have been lacking a little something something.

“I probably wouldn't have felt the character or the inner-grit that I feel right now of my team because we had to come back and do it again,” he said. “We came back and did it again and that's positive.”

Sunseri delivers

If all of that wasn't enough drama for you, the Riders also orchestrated a game tying drive with under two minutes to go and down by eight points.

Sunseri completed three passes before going deep to Taj Smith drawing the pass interference flag in the end zone setting up the offence at the one-yard-line. On the next play, Anthony Allen ran it in for the touchdown, Sunseri would find Dressler open in the back of the end zone for the two point conversion tying the game at 32.

“Did you see the B.C. game?” said Sunseri with a smirk after being asked if he proved himself with that second half. “I mean, we just want to come out and keep growing each week.”

It was a bounce back game of sorts for Sunseri who finished 20-for-32 for 260 yards and two touchdowns after throwing for only 88 yards and an interception in Hamilton.

It wasn't all sunshine for Sunseri as he didn't exactly pile up the yards in the first half but Chamblin said he never once thought about pulling him from the game.

Heeeeee's back

For the first time since re-joining the Riders, Dressler had a major impact on offence.

Sure, Dressler returned another punt for a touchdown, but it was his 61-yard touchdown run that everyone talking. Sunseri got the ball to Dressler and he did the rest, shedding a number of tackles and managing to stay in bounds all the way down field for the major.

“It was just one of those plays where things go your way and you kind of get lucky sometimes,” said Dressler.

Not everyone saw it as luck though.

“Weston Dressler made the Kansas City Chiefs look bad because they could use him right now,” said Foley. “I think that got us going.”

The game was Dressler's first 100 yard receiving game back in the CFL with 125 yards in total.

Number crunching

The defensive line continued to eat up quarterbacks on Sunday afternoon and this time it was Tearrius George's turn to sack Burris three times in the games, and he could have had more.

The Riders were actually kept to just 85 yards rushing as team, Allen led the way with 52 yards but did score the game's most important touchdown.

Tyron Brackenrdige led the team with six tackles and forced a fumble early in the second half that led to the Riders first major on offence of the game.

The Riders now have a couple of days off and are in action next on Friday night in Edmonton.

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