The Riders picked up their sixth win in seven games, taking down the Montreal Alouettes 34-29 to cap off Week 16.
Zach Collaros threw for 394 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the win.
Johnny Manziel threw his first two CFL touchdown passes in the victory, but his efforts just fell shorts of a comeback win.
The Als got on the board first after capitalizing on a Riders’ turnover. Jesse Joseph sacked Collaros, forcing the ball loose, which was then recovered by Ryan Brown at Saskatchewan’s own 32-yard line.
MANZIEL APPEARS TO BE FINDING HIS FOOTING IN THE CFL, THROWING TWO TOUCHDOWN PASSES ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Manziel followed that play up with a long 24-yard pass to Ernest Jackson to place the Als deep in the red zone. Antonio Pipkin capped off the drive with a short run across the goal line to put Montreal up 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
The lead didn’t last long.
The Riders responded on their ensuing drive as Tre Mason blew past Montreal’s defence for a 27-yard rushing touchdown.
Saskatchewan would take their first lead of the game before the end of the first quarter. On the final play, a scrambling Collaros connected with Kyran Moore for a 23-yard major.
The extra point was unsuccessful.
It was Johnny time in the second quarter.
Manziel’s first CFL touchdown was a display of trickery. The Als pulled off a double reverse that fooled the Riders’ defence. Manziel found Adarius Bowman in stride on the play for a 47-yard touchdown strike to give the Als a 14-13 lead.
Boris Bede notched an 18-yard field goal to pull the Als further ahead midway through the second quarter.
However, the Riders would regain the lead before the end of the half.
Collaros led a steady drive down the field, guiding his team deep into Alouettes territory and just short of the end zone. Nick Marshall dove across the goal line on a quarterback sneak to put the Riders back ahead.
Saskatchewan’s two-point convert was successful, giving the Riders a 21-17 lead.
A late field goal by Brett Lauther put the Riders ahead 24-17 at halftime.
Saskatchewan continued putting points on the board in the third quarter. Collaros connected with Jordan Williams-Lambert for a 23-yard gain on the opening drive of the half. It appeared that Williams-Lambert had just made it into the end zone, but automatic video review showed that he was just inches short.
Marshall finished the job with a one-yard quarterback sneak to give the Riders a 30-17 lead.
Despite giving themselves a significant hurdle to overcome, Montreal continued to fight.
Momentum began to shift in favour of the Als at the end of the third quarter when Stefan Logan scored a 74-yard kick return touchdown, making it a one point game.
The Als weren’t done there.
Henoc Muamba was able to pick off a pass that was tipped off the fingers of a Riders receiver, and run the ball back to Montreal’s 51-yard line to give the offence a short field to work with.
Manziel showed off his speed on the drive by dashing for 25 yards, putting his team in the red zone. On the next play, Manziel found Ernest Jackson in the end zone for a 20 yard touchdown pass to trail the Riders 31-29.
Manziel appeared to dive into the end zone for the two-point convert attempt, but was ultimately ruled short.
That was as close as the Als would get as the Riders held on for the win.
Lauther kicked another field goal with just over four minutes remaining in the game to extend their lead to 34-29.
The Riders were able to run down the clock after getting the ball back to hold on for the ‘W.’
Saskatchewan will travel to Edmonton next week for a West Division clash with the Riders, while the Als will be in tough against the Calgary Stampeders.