It was quite possibly the most anticipated debut for a Saskatchewan Roughriders player this season, and kicker Dawson Hodge passed his first test in the CFL with flying colours.
The 24-year-old Wilfred Laurier grad had his first outing with the Green and White in the Labour Day Classic rematch on Saturday afternoon and turned in a perfect game, nailing a pair of mid-range field goals for the Riders’ only points of the contest.
That was good enough for coach Corey Mace, who felt Hodge had shown enough in the lead-up to the game to make the change.
“He made the kicks, so that’s a plus,” Mace said. “It’s a small sample size. We had a good enough feel for him throughout the week and throughout his time with us that I felt confident he’d go out there and get the job done.”
Hodge joined the Riders back on Aug. 5 as an insurance policy of sorts behind Alex Hale, who had been struggling. Hale seemed to have solved those issues in the following outings and was much more consistent, but a pair of misses in the Labour Day Classic last weekend loomed large. Had Hale hit either, the game likely wouldn’t have gone to overtime. Saskatchewan still managed a heart-stopping 32-26 win in extra time.
That led to a week filled with speculation and conversation with regards to what Saskatchewan should do about its ailing kicking game. Riders brass kept their cards close to their chest until the depth chart revealed the switch on Friday morning.
It had been a long wait for Hodge, but he was prepared for the opportunity.
“It’s just about being (ready) mentally, just making sure I'm in a great spot mentally,” Hodge said prior to the contest. “I think one of the biggest things is confidence. Just being confident when you're stepping over the football and knowing that you're going to make the kick and trusting your teammates.”
Hodge had the first field goal opportunity of his CFL career on the final play of the first half. As Rider Nation held its collective breath, he put a 33-yard attempt a touch right but through the uprights. The points were Saskatchewan’s first of the night and made it a 10-3 game heading into halftime.
Hodge was called on again with 2:01 to play in the third quarter with Winnipeg leading 13-3, and he split the uprights with a 27-yarder to get the Riders within a touchdown.
Knowing Hodge’s attitude to the whole situation and the pressure of stepping up in such a hostile environment, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see him get things done.
“At the end of the day, kicking is kicking, whether you're by yourself or you're with the team or university or pro football,” Hodge said. “I just try and take it one kick at a time, go one for one.”
Saskatchewan now heads into their third bye week and return to action during Week 17 when they travel to B.C. to face the Lions on Sept. 25.
