The Leader-Post from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada • 23

fr The Leader-Post Regina, Saskatchewan Saturday, September 10, 1983 Section Pages 1-B 16 AIM Ini By Bob Hughes L-P Sports Editor OTTAWA Reuben Berry brought the Saskatchewan Roughriders 1,658 miles from home and John Hufnagel took them the final 90 yards last night. It was the last yard, though, which everyone will remember. When the trip had ended, the Rough-riders had rallied from behind with an electrifying 90-yard march which produced a Greg Fieger touchdown and gave Saskatchewan a hairy 29-28 victory over the Ottawa Rough Riders. With but 16 seconds to go in a game few expected the last-place Roughriders to win, Fieger bulled'and bounced into the end zone from one yard out to staple a Saskatchewan comeback which began after they had fallen behind 28-15 halfway through the final quarter. The victory was Saskatchewans second straight under Berry, who replaced the fired Joe Faragalli three games ago.

Playing with a new determination, the Roughriders nevertheless remained last in the West, with a 3-6 record, and the Edmonton Eskimos coming to Regina's Taylor Field a week tomorrow. In a game dominated by erratic passing and flag-happy officiating (29 penalties in all Saskatchewan stomped to its second consecutive close-call victory. Last weekend, the Roughriders rose to defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-30 before the largest crowd of the season, Taylor Field. Last night, there were 23,475 rain-soaked and disbelieving fans in Lans-downe Park who came expecting a wipe out and left calling for the head of Otta- gan converted. Given the lackadaisical first half performances of both offences, there was little hint that the second half would explode into the shootout it did.

Neither Watts 4-for-17, 98 yards) or Hutnagel (7-for-22, 81 yards i had set the world on fire in the opening 30 minutes. But upon the arrival of the third quarter came the onset of a wild second half. It began when detensive back Fran McDermott intercepted an off-course Watts pass and ran it back 43 yards for a touchdown. But instead of igniting Saskatchewan the play seemed to jolt Ottawa, to wake up the eastern Riders. Two plays after receiving the kickoff.

Newman scored his second touchdown, this time on a 50-yard hookup with Watts. The next time Ottawa got the ball Watts was at his freelancing best. He strung together a brilliant seven-plav. 67-yard touchdown drive with rookie Mariet Ford iwho was on Saskatchewan's negotiation list a few months ago i hauling in a 13-vard scoring pass. That rushed Ottawa into a 21-15 three-" quarter lead and when Ottawa scored again midway through the last quarter Watts throwing from 28 yards to Pat Stoqua Saskatchewan seemed too far back to achieve victory.

But then Hufnagel, who had missed three plays earlier in the quarter after being shaken up on a run. unravelled the most incredible of Saskatchewan stories this season. In both his fourth-quarter drives, he was twice called upon to convert third-down gambles into life-saving first downs. Each time, he found a way once throwing 34 yards to Dwight Edwards on third-and-two and later hitting Leroy Campbell with a 24-yard gain oh third-and-10. While Hufnagel was keeping Ottawa on its heels, Saskatchewan's defence was finally controlling the weaving Watts.

Running only once all night, Watts as content to scramble out of the pocket. hoping to hit stray receivers. He also relied heavily on running back Skip Walker. But Walker, who gained 91 yards in the first half, was held to 28 in the second. In the end, Watts completed only 14 passes.

Hufnagel also completed less than half his throws il8 of 43). But he didnt give up an interception and the difference on the night was, he saved the best for last. And for the second straight week Saskatchewan was able to come from behind late in the game and win. CP photos Roughriders were able to contain Ottawas Skip Walker John Hufnagel wa coach George Brancato. The hero last night was Hufnagel, who never really got going until the clock, the field and the odds were stacked against him.

But in the last half of the final quarter, Hufnagel cut a brilliant figure. First, he drove the Riders 87 yards in six plays with Fieger scoring from two yards out to slash Ottawa's lead to 28-22. The next time Saskatchewan got the ball, there was exactly two minutes left. Using all but 16 seconds of it, Hufnagel laced together a 13-play 90-yard drive which culminated with Fieger scoring the tying touchdown and Dave Ridgway kicking the winning point. In both of those drives, the Roughriders were aided by pass interference calls against Ottawa.

It was a bizarre finish to a game of two faces. For most of the' first half, it seemed a game neither team was capable of winning. In the first quarter, Ottawa's offence was completely shut down by the Saskatchewan defence gaining not a yard as J.C. Watts failed to complete any ol the six passes he put up. But despite outgaining Ottawa 116-0 in the quarter, Saskatchewan managed only an 8-0 lead on two Ridgway field goals and a safety touch called against Watts when he was trapped in the Ottawa endzone a safety touch which ultimately loomed large in the final score.

The second quarter was equally drowsy. Ottawa scored the only points when Watts hit slotback Dave Newman on a 55-yard pass play which Gerry Or Spavital resigns post with Panthers (33) in the second half about to let it happen. I must confess, I am second to no one, outside of Mrs. Hufnagel, in admiration for John Hufnagel who John Frenzy does not think is a winner, who Joe Faragalli did not show any confidence in and who Jack Gotta discarded like a sack of old socks. John Hufnagel is not a pretty quarterback to watch.

He does not have a gun for an arm. When he runs, you think they have taped dim too tightly, that his pants are a size too small. He can overthrow and underthrow receivers when it doesn't seem possible. But he is what he was last night. He cradles what many who have gone before him, not only in Saskatchewan but also in Calgary, lacked his ability to lead.

He is a leader, that's all. There has been only one Saskatchewan quarterback' in recent history who could do what Hufnagel did here last night, what he did last week. That was Ron Lancaster, whom the Roughriders have been trying to replace since 1978. It took the firing of Faragalli and the hiring of Rube Berry before the Rough-riders awoke from slumberland and pronounced Hufnagel their No. 1 quarterback.

That was three games ago, and the Roughriders have won two of them, touching off delirious outbursts in the province which was choking on moral victories. The win over Winnipeg a week ago Reuben Berry didnt like the sight of Dave Newman beating Duane Galloway (30) for the first touchdown Hufnagel silencing the doubters The resignation of Spavital, who left a similar post with Saskatchewan Rough-riders of the Canadian Football League and helped guide the Panthers to the USFL championship, had long been expected because of reported disagreements with head coach Jim Stanley and owner A1 Taubman. The Panthers, who got off to a rocky 1-4 start last season, went on to defeat Philadelphia Stars 24-22 in the USFL championship game in Denver July 17. This year was just tremendous with the Panthers developing into a championship calibre team, Spavital appointed to the Panthers post in August. 1982 said in a statement released by the club.

But I feel obligated to pursue some opportunities that have presented themselves over the last few He did not discuss specific job opportunities. Spavital, a native Oklahoman, played professional football with Baltimore Colts of the National Football League and in two other leagues. After retiring as a player, he coached in the high school and college ranks before becoming an assistant coach with Saskatchewan in 1968. In 1970, Spavital Gophers triumph Dodgers topple Braves Pryor kayos Arguello Sports Scoreboard page B2 page B4 page B6 page B6-B7 may well have come, in whatever part, because of the absence of Dieter Brock. Last night's win came because of the presence of John Hufnagel.

The whole statistics do not tell the story of last night. The final two times the Riders got the ball tell the story. Saddled with a defence which gave up the big play too often, teammates who took four penalties in the final quarter and special teams that can't tackle, Hufnagel took the night into his own hands and shook it to life. In two drives during a nerve-splitting seven minutes and 12 seconds, Hufnagel wound up and delivered the Roughriders to victory. He gunned the offence for 177 yards, picking the pockets of an Ottawa defence which long after it was over still didnt think it was possible.

Twice he sent Greg Fieger, also underrated, also bad mouthed, in for touchdowns the one which brought them close, the one which gave Dave Ridgway the chance to win it. But last night was John Hufnagels victory. Not given the vote of confidence until Rube Berry was parachuted in from Oklahoma following The Friday Night Massacre, Hufnagel is now doing what he has known he can do all along. A weight has been lifted from his shoulders. And because of it.

everybody Saskatchewan feels a little lighter, a little giddier today. He has rallied the cause. OTTAWA The Saskatchewan Roughriders, methinks, have found a rallying point. That it took them this long is among the reasons Joe Faragalli is no longer one of them. Faragalli now amuses himself by admiring his coach-of-the-year trophy and toying with other job offers vhiledrauing a fat paycheque from the Riders.

In this town that is undergoing a jaw transplant singing Brian's Song, the Roughriders. Reborn Roughriders to some, came upon a miracle last night. Once there, they were not blinded by its dazzle. Under the lights in a stadium which overlooks the snaking Rideau Canal, the boys from a prairie far removed from the national government which serves all that is between the borders of Ontario. continue to play make-believe football.

The second successive week, they resembled the good old days. When they make the playoffs, thus ending six years out. thus ending The Reign of Error, the masses will stop pinching themselves. Last night Lansdowne Park was for real. I saw it for myself, thus I know for sure.

You can stop waiting to wake up. Left for dead in the fourth quarter, gutted it seemed, the Roughriders stormed back like men possessed. It, was something to see. They beat the Ottawa Rough Riders, 29-28. becauy John Hufnagel would not run out of biYith and faith, like some ol Jim Spavital was appointed head coach of the CFLs Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

He later served as coach and general manager of Chicago Fire of the shortlived World Football League and as an assistant coach with San Francisco '49ers and New York Jets of the NFL and Calgary Stampeders of the CFL. Spavital returned to Saskatchewan as general manager in 1979, where he remained until tapped by the Panthers. Looking ahem The explosive Regina Rams tangle with the stingy Edmonton Wildcats this afternoon at Taylor Field in Prairie Junior Football Conference action. Leader-Post sports writer Gregg Drinnan wHI report on the game In Monday's sports section. those floundering about him.

It was real. It was as real as the rain which poured from swollen skies before the game, midway through the game and after the game. It was as real as the long face worn by George Brancato, who now shall be hunted, the way they hunted Joe Faragalli, the way they hunted Pete Kettela. Nobody in the free world (the rest weren't polled expected Saskatchewan to win here last night. Even some well-heeled Reginans in the crowd were looking for the lifeboats after J.C.

Superstar and Ottawa had risen to a 28-15 lead in the final quarter. In normal times, the Roughriders would have fainted dead away at the sight of a )3-point deficit with less than eight minutes to go. You know that. You can look it up. Not this time.

John Hufnagel. who is losing the hair on the back of his head to the rubbing of the helmet, who drives about Regina in a half-ton truck, relaxed and at peace with himself, was not 1 1 ifhi ff ii i i rim it rnr-r.