Brett Lauther’s No. 12 uniform fits better than ever.
He has delivered all 12 times a go-ahead field goal or 33-yard convert has been required in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime since joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders full-time in 2018. (For the details, scroll down to Appendix A.)
Most recently, he kicked a 43-yard field goal on the final play to give Saskatchewan a 33-30 victory over the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.
The Roughriders had tied the game 43 seconds earlier when Lauther converted a Kian Schaffer-Baker touchdown.
“I think everyone saw the field goal at the end of the game, but the extra point’s not a gimme in this league, either,” Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day noted.
“That’s a big kick when the team’s celebrating on the sideline, knowing that you have to go out and, if you miss it, it changes everything. He just did a tremendous job.
“That’s Brett Lauther. He makes those kicks when we need them.”
It seems that everyone in Rider Nation is celebrating Brett Lauther except for, well, the man himself.
“It’s just on to the next one,” he said, matter-of-factly, on Wednesday.
“I’ll look back someday, maybe, but for now, I’m just trying to go 1-for-1. That’s my mindset each and every kick.
“I’m never really trying to get too happy if I make a kick or too down if I miss one, because what gives my teammates, the organization and the fans the best chance for us to make the next kick is for me to not be riding the wave too high or too low.
“I just go out and try to put my best foot forward and try to hit the next one.”
If he hits some milestones along the way, fine.
With 774 points, Lauther is fifth on the Roughriders’ All-Time list — behind Dave Ridgway (2,374), Paul McCallum (1,615), Jack Abendschan (863) and George Reed (823).
The four players above Lauther are in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
Barring the unforeseen, Lauther will leapfrog Reed and Abendschan this season and ascend to third on the Roughriders’ career list.
This season, Lauther has yet to miss a kick. He is 7-for-7 on converts and 4-for-4 on field goals. All four three-pointers, including three in the fourth quarter, were against the Tiger-Cats — who are to visit Mosaic Stadium for the Roughriders’ home opener on Sunday (5 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
With last weekend’s stellar showing in the books, Lauther has now registered a go-ahead or game-tying kick in seven of the Roughriders’ past eight victories (see: Appendix B).
At 84.1 per cent, he is the most accurate placekicker in Roughriders history (minimum 100 attempts).
The precision was on display during the first year in which Lauther played against a team that employed Corey Mace, who is now the Roughriders’ Head Coach.
On July 28, 2018, Lauther made all five field-goal attempts — from 56, 48, 47, 35 and 32 yards — when the Calgary Stampeders visited Mosaic Stadium.
When the teams met again 22 days later in Regina, Lauther went 6-for-6. The distances: 43, 43, 37, 28, 22 and 13 yards.
He followed up by going 5-for-5 on Oct. 20, 2018 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. Distances: 50, 49, 31, 27 and 20.
Add it all up and Lauther was 16-for-16 against Calgary in 2018, when Mace was in his third season as the Stampeders’ Defensive Line Coach. He remained with the team in that capacity until joining the Toronto Argonauts in 2022 and spending two seasons as the Boatmen’s Defensive Co-ordinator.
“I used to be on the other side of it when we played against Saskatchewan,” Mace said when asked about Lauther. “It was always, ‘We’re getting close to midfield here. We’re in the kid’s range.’
“That’s the weapon we know we have. He’s confident and he’s had a lot of big kicks in his career.
“We’ll lean on him in those situations and that’s the outcome that we expect when we put him out there, because we have confidence in him.
“The week before, he didn’t really get an opportunity so, to see the game that he had the other night, we’re extremely pleased with him — and with everybody, because it takes 12 to get that accomplished.”
Not just No. 12, Brett Lauther, as he is quick to assert.
“On the last one, it was a great snap (by Jorgen Hus) and a great hold (by Adam Korsak) and great blocking up front,” the Roughriders’ placement specialist said.
“I’ve got the easy job after that. I’m just trying to put it through and get the win and get out of there. I definitely didn’t want to play overtime.”
We have now reached the overtime portion of this story. Below, you will find the aforementioned appendices — specifics regarding his proficiency in clutch situations.
APPENDIX A: GO-AHEAD FIELD GOALS/CONVERTS
Sept. 8, 2018: Saskatchewan 32 at Winnipeg 27
The Blue Bombers led 27-26 before Lauther hit back-to-back field goals — from 15 yards (with three minutes left) and 45 yards (59 seconds).
Sept. 22, 2018: Saskatchewan 30 at Toronto 29
Lauther’s 56-yard field goal at 13:40 of the fourth quarter gave Saskatchewan a 30-28 lead.
Sept. 1, 2019: Winnipeg 17 at Saskatchewan 19
Lauther’s 26-yard field goal, with no time remaining, was the difference. Memorably, Lauther and holder Jon Ryan sprinted the virtual length of the field and dove into Pil Country to celebrate.
Sept. 14, 2019: Montreal 25 at Saskatchewan 27
Lauther kicked a 39-yard game-winner with 25 seconds left.
Oct. 26, 2019: Saskatchewan 27 at Edmonton 24
Lauther’s 46-yarder on the final play snapped a 24-24 deadlock.
Nov. 2, 2019: Edmonton 13 at Saskatchewan 23
With 1:30 left, Lauther’s 11-yarder broke a 13-13 tie. The Roughriders subsequently scored an insurance touchdown on a 29-yard interception return by Cameron Judge. The victory gave Saskatchewan top spot in the West Division for the first time since 2009.
Sept. 24, 2021: Saskatchewan 31 at B.C. 24
Lauther snapped a 24-24 tie by kicking a convert with two seconds left in regulation time.
Nov. 28, 2021: Calgary 30 at Saskatchewan 33 (OT)
Lauther hit both attempts in overtime, including a 34-yarder that snapped a 30-30 tie on the final play of the West semi-final.
Sept. 16, 2022: Edmonton 26 at Saskatchewan 24
With 1:08 left, Lauther coolly converted a seven-yard TD pass from Cody Fajardo to Brayden Lenius and gave Saskatchewan a 24-23 lead. Edmonton’s Sergio Castillo responded with a game-winning 47-yard kick that split the uprights with 24 seconds left.
June 24, 2023: Saskatchewan 29 at Calgary 26 (OT)
Lauther’s 20-yarder to conclude the opening possession of the second overtime series provided the winning points. The ensuing possession ended when Nic Marshall intercepted Calgary quarterback Jake Maier in the end zone.
Aug. 6, 2023: Ottawa 24 at Saskatchewan 26
Lauther’s 54-yard field goal with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter settled the outcome.
June 16, 2024: Saskatchewan 33 at Hamilton 30
Two pressure-packed placements in the final minute! Lauther kicked a game-tying convert with 43 seconds left and added a walk-off, 43-yard field goal.
APPENDIX B: GO-AHEAD OR GAME-TYING KICKS IN 2023-2024
June 11, 2023: Saskatchewan 17 at Edmonton 13
Lauther’s 11-yard field goal at 11:37 of the third quarter gave Saskatchewan a 14-13 lead in Edmonton. His 46-yarder at 3:23 of the fourth frame concluded the scoring.
June 24, 2023: Saskatchewan 29 at Calgary 26 (OT)
As noted in Appendix A.
July 6, 2023: Edmonton 11 at Saskatchewan 12
A 95-yard Lauther single on a kickoff snapped an 11-11 tie with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter.
Aug. 6, 2023: Ottawa 24 at Saskatchewan 26
See Appendix A.
Sept. 3, 2023: Winnipeg 30 at Saskatchewan 32 (OT)
Lauther forced overtime with a game-tying, 18-yard field goal at 14:29 of the fourth quarter.
June 8, 2024: Saskatchewan 29 at Edmonton 21
Lauther kicked a 33-yard convert at 6:50 of the fourth quarter to give Saskatchewan a 22-21 lead and put the visitors ahead for good.
June 16, 2024: Saskatchewan 33 at Hamilton 30
One more time: See Appendix A!
