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Pittman was able to get over top of the pile on the play, grabbed Watford and forced his knee down before crossing the goal line. Pittman had help on the play from J.C. Sherritt and the rest of the Eskimos’ defensive line. But if he doesn’t make the proper read and get to Watford, the Roughriders score and take a 21-17 lead with 2:23 to go in the third quarter.

“He did his job,” said Eskimos head coach Jason Maas. “It takes 12 people to make plays like that happen and 12 guys have to do their job, and Pitman did his and made the stick and made the play and was in the right place at the right time.”

Watford was originally credited with the touchdown. Yet upon review, it was determined his knee was down before the ball crossed the goal line.

“I knew he didn’t get it,” Pittman said. “I saw the line and I knew he didn’t get in. I knew that after he was down he was trying to crash the ball a little closer, but I was trusting the refs had our backs and they did.”

Pittman, 25, was credited with three defensive tackles and a special-team’s tackle in the victory. He got the call in place of Christophe Mulumba-Tshimanga (concussion).

Pittman had been on the Eskimos practice roster to that point, awaiting his opportunity after signing as a free agent in May.

“I felt good, I finally got my opportunity to step on the field and I tried to make the most of it,” he said. “Everyone relies on each other to do their job so being a rookie, I can’t have the handicap and excuse to say; ‘I didn’t know this or didn’t know that’, so I had to make sure I was ready.”