With the CFL’s 2023 regular season officially in the books, here is a look at 10 noteworthy achievements by members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders:
EMILUS EMERGES
Samuel Emilus finished the season with 70 catches for 1,097 yards and six touchdowns.
The Roughriders’ first-round selection (seventh overall) in the 2022 CFL Draft, Emilus reached the 1,000-yard mark faster than any Canadian receiver in franchise history.
“It’s a special accomplishment and something that you’re proud of doing,” Emilus said.
Until this year, a Canadian-born Roughriders receiver had not hit the 1,000-yard milestone any sooner than his third season — Ray Elgaard having set the pace with 1,193 yards in 1985.
Emilus also became just the fourth different Canadian-born Roughrider to register 70 or more catches in a season. He joined an exclusive fraternity that also includes Elgaard (five times), Jeff Fairholm (three) and Andy Fantuz (one).
BANE BRILLIANT
Shawn Bane Jr. entered rare territory by finishing his first season as a Roughrider with a league-high 93 catches for 1,104 yards.
The 93 catches rank Bane Jr. eighth in franchise history over a season, behind Don Narcisse (who caught 123 passes in 1995), Joey Walters (102 in 1982), Craig Ellis (102 in 1985), Curtis Marsh (102 in 2000), Narcisse (95 in 1998), Elgaard (94 in 1990) and Weston Dressler (94 in 2012).
Bane Jr. became the eighth Roughrider to lead the league in receptions, following Jack Hill (60 catches in 1958), Molly McGee (68 in 1977), Joey Walters (102 in 1982), Craig Ellis (91 in 1984; 102 in 1985), Don Narcisse (123 in 1995) and Curtis Marsh (102 in 2000).
Bane, like Emilus, punctuated his final game of the 2023 season by exceeding 1,000 yards for the first time in the pros.
“It’s super-humbling,” said Bane Jr., who signed with the Roughriders as a free agent in February after spending his first two CFL seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, adding that he was “grateful” for the opportunity presented by Saskatchewan.
UP AND ADAM
Adam Korsak boasted the second-best average yards per punt (47.9) by a Roughrider in a single season. Jon Ryan set the franchise record of 48.8 in 2019.
As well, Korsak became the sixth Roughrider to lead the league in punting average — joining Ryan (2019), Larry Isbell (46.3 yards, 1954), Ferd Burket (45.3, 1962), Martin Fabi (44.0, 1963) and Ken Clark (47.3, 1982).
Korsak was named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
SUPER MARIO
Mario Alford established a franchise record for punt returns in a season (89), leapfrogging Willis Jacox (86 in 1991).
With 51 kickoff returns in 2023, Alford ranks second, behind Jacox (58).
Alford’s 2023 total of 1,181 kickoff return yards is the third-best in the Roughriders’ record books, behind Jacox (1,231 in 1991) and Loucheiz Purifoy (1,201 in 2019).
With three punt-return touchdowns, Alford tied a Roughriders single-season record that had previously been set by Jacox (1991) and Curtis Mayfield (1999).
Over two seasons as a Roughrider, Alford has seven return touchdowns — a franchise record.
LAUTHER’S LEAP
With eight points in the Oct. 21 regular-season finale against the visiting Toronto Argonauts, Brett Lauther moved into fifth on the Roughriders’ All-Time scoring list (755 points).
He is one point ahead of Luca Congi.
Lauther trails Dave Ridgway (2,374), Paul McCallum (1,615), Jack Abendschan (863) and George Reed (823).
Lauther’s field-goal percentage of 83.9 is the best in Roughriders history, taking into account everyone who has attempted at least 100 three-pointers.
DOLEGALA DEALIN’
In the regular-season finale, Jake Dolegala threw for 429 yards — tying him with Cody Fajardo (Oct. 26, 2019 at Edmonton) for the Roughriders’ 24th-best single-game total.
Dolegala also became one of only eight Roughriders to boast multiple 400-yard passing games.
Kent Austin leads the list with 18 such eruptions, followed by Darian Durant (seven), Henry Burris (three), Dolegala (two), Fajardo (two), Joe Adams (two), Ron Lancaster (two) and Joe Paopao (two).
Tom Burgess, Kevin Glenn, Trevor Harris, John Hufnagel, Kerry Joseph and Frank Tripucka have each recorded one 400-yard game.
In all, a Roughriders quarterback has reached or exceeded 400 yards 44 times (38 in the regular season, five in the West playoffs, and once in a Grey Cup).
DEAN’S DOUBLE
Larry Dean’s 104 defensive tackles in 2023 tied him for seventh-best in Roughriders history over a season.
Darnell Sankey leads the way with 120 (in 2022), followed by Dave Albright (118 in 1987), Jeff Knox Jr. (114 in 2015), George White (105 in 2000), Barrin Simpson (105 in 2010), Jerrell Freeman (105 in 2011), Dean (104 in 2023) and White (104 in 2001).
Dean and White are the only Roughriders to reach 100 defensive tackles in multiple seasons.
White debuted with 105 tackles in 2000 and nearly matched that total the following year.
Dean registered 101 tackles in 2022 before upping that figure by three.
MORROW MAGIC
Roughriders running back Jamal Morrow was named the Wireless Age Player of the Year after leading the team in yards from scrimmage (1,256).
Morrow rushed for a team-high 909 yards in addition to catching 36 passes for 349 yards. He rushed for four TDs and scored once along the ground while dressing for 16 of the Roughriders’ 18 games.
REAVIS ISLAND
Strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis sparkled during his first full season with the Roughriders.
While playing in 17 games, Reavis registered 59 defensive tackles (including five for a loss), six special teams tackles, three sacks, one interception, one pass knockdown, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Reavis was involved in 81 defensive plays — a total that placed him second on the team to Dean (114).
’CRIEF CARES
Derrick Moncrief was named the Mosaic Community Player of the Year earlier this month.
Throughout his time with the Roughriders, for whom he first played in 2017, he has invested his time in various charitable and community causes.
The Mosaic Company donates $10,000 to the Player of the Year’s charity of choice. Moncrief selected the Learning Disabilities Association of Saskatchewan.
