Rider Trevor Harris grateful for West final opportunity

Saskatachewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris has done some reflecting this season.

Harris is preparing to lead the team into the CFL West Divisional final on Saturday, but things looked quite different a year ago.

In 2023, Harris saw his campaign come to an end early due to a tibial plateau fracture and had the pivot wondering what his future would hold.

“It’s something I have reflected on in real-time which I usually don’t do a lot of — I usually wait until the end of the season to reflect. Just gratitude, but hunger,” said the now 38-year-old quarterback.

“I think about my teammates. I sat there in my locker last week after the win and a lot of people came up and asked ‘are you OK? What’s wrong?’ and I just sat back and looked at Mitch Picton, Logan Felrand, Jaxon Ford — the guys that live here and grew up Rider fans and have gone through the rough years.

“Just seeing the smile on their faces and the joy — those are the things that I think back to and draw on when I am waking up early in the morning and coming back in here when you are tired and sore, whatever it may be — the love for your teammates and the love for your brothers is what drives you. I want to keep this journey going, and I’m not ready to be done yet.”

Harris has said this 2024 journey with this team has been fun.

“It’s what life is about. Any time you watch a movie, there’s a little adversity. If you just ran the table the whole year, it wouldn’t be that fun,” Harris said.

“It’s one of those things where you are constantly growing into the team you need to be and who you need to be. If you have the right people, the right DNA, the right personalities in the locker room, you’re going to hit your stride late. This team is just starting to figure out who we are, and we are continuing the process of building something special.

“The process is by far not finished. We are out here stacking the days and trying to get better every day.”

In order to have one more game with this team, Harris and the Riders will need to go into Winnipeg and beat the Bombers. Princess Auto Stadium hasn’t been kind to the Riders, with Saskatchewan’s last win there coming back in the 2018 Banjo Bowl — a 32-27 decision. Kickoff for the game is set for 5:30 p.m.

“I think embracing the chaos is kind of where I am at. I’ll refrain from giving poster board material but I am excited,” Harris said.

“It’s the crowds you dream of growing up … These are the games you live for, and these are the games this team lives for. I think our DNA and who we are will come through in this game, too.”

Notes: Defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. (knee), defensive back Jaxon Ford (knee), defensive end Lake Korte-Moore (knee), linebacker C.J. Reavis (knee), offensive tackle Trevor Reid (knee), and wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker (neck) were all listed as did not participate for practice.

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