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Between The Lines: A.J. Ouellette and his 81-yard CFL sprint

Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette is known for running, but generally it's with the ball.
Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas
btl-the-81-yard-sprint
Between The Lines: A.J. Ouellettes 81-yard sprintHarvard Media

Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette is known for running, but generally, it’s with the ball. In the Riders' 20-13 win in Ottawa on Friday, it was the one-thousand-yard rusher's 81-yard sprint to catch the Redblacks' Bryce Carter after a fumble recovery, earning well-deserved attention.

 

Ouellette describes the play.

My first read for linebacker blitz was there. I picked him up and felt him give up on the rush. So, I knew the ball was in the air. I looked up, but none of our guys had it. So luckily, I got eyes on their guy pretty quick. At that point, you give it everything you got.”

The Ohio native admits that he has seen multiple replays of the race to the end zone. What came to mind while watching?

“I can't say what was going through my mind. Seeing it, you can kind of see my body start to get tired, and then I see his body get tired. So, I'm like, OK, we're evened out here. Let's catch him.”

If you watch closely at the end of the play, the 30-year-old Ouellette appears to try to strip the ball before making the tackle, which he admits entered his mind.

“Oh, I wanted the fumble bad, but I don't know who's behind me. I don't know if my guys are behind me or if it's their guys, and if they recover it, it's a touchdown. So, I punched for it and then went down, hoping it could have just popped into my arms. But yes, make the tackle.”

A.J. Ouellette and the Riders are back in action on Friday night when they host Toronto at Mosaic Stadium.

AND that’s between the lines for Sheppard Realty in Regina. Specializing in farm and ranch real estate in Saskatchewan. Call Harry, Justin or Devan at 352-18-66.