By Jim Swettenham

(c) November 30, 2009

Well, it is “next year country” for my beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders after yesterday’s “ache of the ages” loss to the Montreal Alouettes for Canadian Football League supremacy in the 97th annual battle for the Grey Cup in Calgary.

The underdog ‘Riders playing before a sea of green held the lead throughout the entire four quarters of the professional football game…they were up by two points with only two seconds left in the game and the green and white celebration had already started.

In Canadian football, 12 players line up on either side of the football…12 offensive and 12 defensive players and a partisan crowd is often referred to as the “13th man”. The sold-out stadium obviously favoured the green and white ‘Riders and the 13th man played to their advantage throughout the entire game…well almost.

With two seconds remaining on the game clock, Montreal, trailing 27 – 25, lined up for a 43-yard attempt for a three-point field goal…kick the ball through the goalpost uprights to secure the win.

The field goal attempt was wide of the goalposts…No score…Saskatchewan wins!

But what is this? Orange penalty flags thrown by game officials litter the green surface of the football field.

A mental error…the Saskatchewan Roughriders actually had 13 players on the field at the time of the attempted field goal…one more than the legal limit of 12. They were assessed a 10-yard penalty. The football was moved 10 yards closer to the goal line and Montreal was given the opportunity for a second chance to kick a game-winning field goal…zero seconds left on the game clock. Last play of the 2009 annual fall classic.

The field goal was good…Montreal wins 28 – 27…what a stunning turn of events. But that is the excitement and suspense of Canadian football.