Deontai Williams’ manhandling of Kalil Pimpleton is the latest indiscretion
Late in their 29-16 victory Saturday over the Ottawa Redblacks, as an announced crowd of 27,676 began leaving Mosaic Stadium on a glorious afternoon full of ugly football, Roughriders cornerback Deontai Williams tackled undersized receiver Kalil Pimpleton, who is 5-foot-8 and 163 pounds.
Williams, who is 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, turned the Redblacks speedster upside down and pile-drove him helmet-first into the artificial turf.
Ottawa players rushed to their teammate’s defence and numerous Roughriders began pushing back. After the players were done yelling and shoving, enraged Redblacks receiver Dominique Rhymes earned his second major penalty of the contest.
Rhymes was tossed. After remaining on the ground for a few seconds, Pimpleton stood up and was evidently uninjured.
Williams received the most egregious penalty allowed during a CFL game — ejection and 25 yards for rough play.
Marino was penalized and suspended for four games, the longest on-field suspension in CFL history. He was waived later that season following more dirty plays.
Here’s Masoli, as quoted postgame in a 3DownNation article posted online by J.C. Abbott: “I’m not going to say too much about it. I mean, it consistently happens out there, but it is what it is.”
In addition to Williams’ ejection, Riders teammates Anthony Lanier II and defensive back Marcus Sayles received objectionable conduct penalties earlier in the game. Behaviour like that doesn’t help teams win championships, particularly teams that are fighting to make the playoffs.
The CFL office is the ultimate arbitrator. Maybe it will decide that Riders tailback Ryquell Armstead and receiver Shawn Bane Jr. were knocked out of Saturday’s game because of dirty hits by Redblacks safety Money Hunter. Maybe not.
Of course winning is the most important thing in pro football, but first-year Roughriders head coach Corey Mace has repeatedly said he wants his team’s fanbase to be proud of his players, displaying a win-with-class attitude he spoke about again during his postgame media availability.
“The Ottawa players’ reactions at the end of the game — I get that,” said Mace. “I don’t want a game to end like that. Certainly we want to be an organization that can win with some class. That’s something we’ll talk about tomorrow.”
Two stingy defences made sure the latest Canadian Fieldgoal League game didn’t bubble over with excitement.
Roughriders defenders Rolan Milligan Jr., Sayles and Adam Auclair each intercepted Masoli passes, but only the last one led directly to points when Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther kicked one of his seven field goals. Losing Bane and Armstead early helped showcase rookie receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby, who caught seven passes for 92 yards, and journeyman running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, who ran 26 yards for Saskatchewan’s only major.
It was also Saskatchewan’s second straight victory, moving the Roughriders back to .500 with a 7-7-1 record and into second place in the West with a chance of hosting a home playoff game. There were lots of good things for the home team to celebrate, but also something very important they need to deal with.
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