What a bizarre football game.

Tonight’s showdown between the Calgary Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders was a doozy. It went in to double overtime before it eventually entered the books as a 44-44 tie. It started at 1:30 and ended at 5:05. That’s more than three and a half hours of back-n-forth football, leaving photogs with boggled heads.

I won’t try to retell the story of the game—I’ll leave that to the reporters—but I will say that I didn’t anticipate both teams would capitalize on both of their overtime drives to boost a 30-30 end-of-regulation score to 44-all.

It created a challenge for the photographers out there, who were all perpetually trying figure out what kind of photo would tell the story. We’d shoot jubo for one team, and then the other team would score. We’d shoot that jubo, and the other team would score. Yada, yada, yada, it turned into quite a frame-fest.

The toughest decision at the end was choosing which photo to use as the thumbnail for the online gallery, which you can view here. There wasn’t really one photo that screamed ‘Tie!’ so we went with a shot from my co-worker Jim Wells featuring the hometown quarterback, Henry Burris, looking confused. It works.

Here are a few of my favourite action shots from the game.

Tim Johnson of the Calgary Stampeders stops Stu Foord of the Saskatchewan Roughriders as he lunges for the goal line in CFL action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on on Saturday, October 17. The Riders’ Chris Szarka scored on the next play. LYLE ASPINALL/SUN MEDIA

Andy Fantuz of the Saskatchewan Roughriders goes over a Calgary Stampeder (SORRY, NO NAME) in CFL action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on on Saturday, October 17. The game ended in a 44-44 tie after overtime. LYLE ASPINALL/SUN MEDIA

Nik Lewis of the Calgary Stampeders celebrates against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in CFL action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on on Saturday, October 17. The game ended in a 44-44 tie after overtime. LYLE ASPINALL/SUN MEDIA

Chris Best of the Saskatchewan Roughriders celebrates a touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders in CFL action at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on on Saturday, October 17. The game ended in a 44-44 tie after overtime. LYLE ASPINALL/SUN MEDIA

After the game, the other side of newspaper work hit. In the early evening, a man was struck and killed while crossing the street. At first it seemed like it would just be the usual shot of cops checking out the vehicle involved, but then, just as I was leaving, a woman went into hysterics and had to be comforted. Turns out she was a family friend to the victim. I hate shooting that stuff, but sometimes you’ve got to do it to help tell the story. I only wish the quality was better.

Sony Sharma is comforted by her boyfriend Rocky Bhalla near the intersection of Martingrove Dr and 64 Ave on Saturday, October 17. A man identified by Sharma as Manjit Pohar died after being hit by a red hatchback in a crosswalk on 64 Ave. LYLE ASPINALL/SUN MEDIA

A police officer checks out the crumpled windshield of a red Honda hatchback at the intersection of Martingrove Dr and 64 Ave on Saturday, October 17. A man identified by a local woman as Manjit Pohar died after being hit by the vehicle in a crosswalk on 64 Ave. LYLE ASPINALL/SUN MEDIA

That’s about it. If you’ve been reading for the whole week, you now have a pretty good idea of what I do day-to-day with the Calgary Sun. I’ll leave you alone now.

Thanks to everyone who has offered words of response this week. It’s been fun. Cheers.

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Lyle Aspinall
www.lyleaspinall.com