Riders hold off Ottawa push, start 2025 with a win

The Saskatchewan Roughriders nearly let a 17-point lead slip away from them, but the CFL club closed things out at Mosaic Stadium.

Saskatchewan held on to a 31-26 decision against the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday night after surrendering 12 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

“Self-inflicted wounds,” quarterback Trevor Harris said.

“It’s obviously early in the season and we have to understand these are full, 60-minute football games. In the CFL it’s never over, but I’m never going to apologize for winning. We’re 1-0 and, it’s tough to win in this league.”

In front of an announced crowd of 25,973, Harris threw for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

With starting running back AJ Ouellette leaving the game early after appearing to receive a hard hit to the head, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon became a key gear in the Riders’ engine on Thursday.

“As soon as (Ouellette) went down, I just knew I couldn’t get myself hurt,” Betrand-Hudon said.

“Just happy to help the team, honestly… I have trust in this entire running back room.”

Ouellette wasn’t the only Rider who went down with an injury. Slotback Kian Schaffer-Baker, defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. and offensive tackle Payton Collins also left the game early.

“Hopefully it’s nothing long-term but we will see,” said head coach Corey Mace. “I have seen a couple of them just in talking and everybody is in pretty good spirits. Hoping for the best there, but we will see how it goes.”

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Sam Emilus, who is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, got off to a strong start to his campaign, hauling in all eight of his targets for 133 yards and a touchdown.

“Sam Emilus is an animal,” Harris said. “The fact that he was off the (CFL top 50 list) is absolutely insane. The guy dogs people in run game. He’s really good after the catch, and he catches everything.”

Emilus said it was good to get the win.

“We have a lot to improve, but that’s the first game of the season. We know that there’s going to be ups and downs,” Emilus said.

“I feel like in the fourth quarter we let the foot off the pedal, but we’re grateful we got the win… It’s Week 1, we’re going to watch the film and get better from it.”

The Riders didn’t get off to a strong start in the game, as Ottawa marched down the field and scored a touchdown on their first offensive drive of the game with Dustin Crum punching the ball in. The Riders then had a two-and-out and a botched field goal attempt, and Saskatchewan’s next drive ended when Emilus fumbled the ball.

But the Riders proceeded to finish their next drives with two touchdowns, an interception, a field goal, and two more touchdowns before their next punt.

The Redblacks then started to march on offence and put together scoring drives to get things close in the fourth quarter.

The Roughriders didn’t help their fortunes in the game by committing three turnovers: one interception and fumbles by Emilus and KeeSean Johnson.

“We talk about obsession for possession, and I think everyone looks at the defensive side, but that has everything to do with the offence and special teams as well,” Mace said.

“We will look at that and fix that. Defensively, I thought there was opportunities for us to go get it, and we didn’t.”

One defensive player who had a standout game was linebacker Jameer Thurman. Thurman, who was competing in his 100th CFL game, had 10 tackles and a key quarterback sack in the fourth quarter.

Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Jameer Thurman had 10 tackles and a sack in his 100th CFL game. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

“I appreciate them not blocking me on that play. I will take the free ones when they come my way,” Thurman said.

Habakkuk Baldonado also had a sack in the game, but the defensive line was led by Malik Carney, who had a pair of quarterback takedowns.

“(Carney) was balling. I knew there was a time when we had the lead that our D-line was going to start eating. They saw the opportunity as well, and then they got after the quarterback,” Thurman said.

Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown had 413 yards and two touchdown passes, one to Eugene Lewis and one to Justin Hardy. Running back William Stanback had a touchdown, but was held in check for most of the game with only had 26 rushing yards.

Riders’ short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens had a one-yard rushing touchdown in the game. Riders’ kicker Brett Lauther made his only field goal attempt and was good on all three of his convert attempts.

Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward missed his only field goal attempt and and made two of three convert attempts.

While the Riders did get the win, Mace said it didn’t feel like jubilation for the team.

“(That) kind of made me happy, to be honest. I feel like the room knows that we didn’t meet the expectation. As crazy as that sounds, coming out with the win, we didn’t do it the way we wanted to,” Mace said.

“Everyone is happy, don’t get me wrong, but we know we have work to do and I know how they will respond.”

The Riders will take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 14.