ROB-ZERR-VATIONS: Langenburg lengthens Labour Day locales list … top 10 under-rated Classic performances … welcome back, Darian!
Noah Zerr is poised to put Langenburg on the board.
When the 26-year-old offensive lineman suits up for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday, he will be the 105th home-province player to take part in a Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
His hometown, Langenburg, will become the 27th Saskatchewan community to produce at least one participant in a Classic that features the traditional rivals.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Zerr, a first-year Roughrider and third-year CFLer.
“We always say it’s just another game, but Labour Day is important to us and we want to go out there and come out with a win.
“It’s an honour for me to be representing Langenburg and adding another great Saskatchewan town to the list that has produced Roughriders.”
Sunday’s Labour Day Classic will be the 59th in a series that dates back to 1949.
After the Blue Bombers visited the Roughriders for Labour Day games in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 and 1954, the teams did not meet again at Taylor Field on the final long weekend of summer until 1961.
The Classic combatants also collided in 1962, 1963, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 before Roughriders versus Blue Bombers, circa 1982, began a streak of annual meetings that will soon reach 42.
The only void was in 2020, when COVID-19 resulted in the cancellation of an entire CFL season.
Also washed away was the 2020 Canada West season. Zerr returned to action with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies the following year before being selected by the B.C. Lions in the second round (12th overall) of the 2022 CFL Draft.
The 6-foot-7, 330-pounder dressed for four games as a rookie and suited up for three contests with the 2023 Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
He signed with Saskatchewan on Dec. 22 and is now on the verge of dressing for his fifth game with the Green and White.
His parents, Rob and Patti, will be in the stands at Mosaic Stadium for the sold-out game.
“Me and my dad, one of the main things we bonded over when I was growing up was our love of the Roughriders,” Zerr said.
“We came to as many games as we could. I don’t know if we ever made a Labour Day game, but we were always either in the stands or watching on TV. We’d be talking about the games after, talking about the highlights, while he was out on the combine.
“It’s a really special game and I think every Saskatchewan fan earmarks it at the start of the year. I’m just excited to go out there and finally live it.”
And to share it with his father from the perspective of a Roughriders player — quite a progression from his days as a young fan.
“My dad and I have talked quite a bit about it this year,” Zerr said with a smile.
“At the end of the day, it’s just football. I’m going to go out there and do my job and do it to the best of my ability, but it is really cool to play for the home team in front of the home crowd and represent the green and white that you grew up wearing every single day.”
The excitement extends to Bring ’Em Out, which Zerr is about to experience for the third time (pre-season excluded) since joining the Roughriders.
“It’s a special moment,” said Zerr, who has played in two home and two road games this season.
“Every time you run out of that tunnel, you’re thanking your lucky stars, but Labour Day is one of the most important games we have. We’re facing a good opponent, Winnipeg.
“It’s a dream come true to run out of that tunnel every day, but a real dream to run out on Labour Day.”
LABOUR DAY LOCALES
As mentioned in the preceding item, Langenburg is about to become the 27th Saskatchewan community to be represented in a Roughriders-Bombers Labour Day Classic. Here is the complete list of birthplaces and players!
Beechy: Greg Fieger.
Biggar: Wilf Godfrey.
Big River: Larry Bird.
Bladworth: Cliff Shaw; Wayne Shaw.
Cabri: Dale West.
Canora: Don Bahnuik.
Central Butte: Ron Atchison.
Estevan: Gerry Hornett.
Foam Lake: Terry Bulych.
Gainsborough: Bryan Illerbrun.
Glaslyn: Henry Dorsch.
Gull Lake: Barry Aldag; Roger Aldag.
Holdfast: Tony Hungle.
Ituna: Ted Dushinski.
Kamsack: Ron Cherkas.
Lafleche: Larry Dumelie.
Langenburg: Noah Zerr.
Melfort: Logan Ferland.
Moose Jaw: Gary Brandt; Archie McCord; Lorne Richardson; Dallas Rysavy; Scott Schultz; Levi Steinhauer.
Prince Albert: Dane McArthur.
Qu’Appelle: Doug Killoh.
Regina: Mike Anderson; Wayne Anderson; Danny Banda; Graeme Bell; Rob Bresciani; Ivan Brown; Harvey Campbell; Carm Carteri; Ken Charlton
Dan Clark; Bill Clarke; Jason Clermont; Terry Cochrane; Nicholas Dheilly; Zack Evans; Dan Farthing; Gerry Fellner; Stu Foord; Alan Ford; Jaxon Ford; Tamon George; Chris Getzlaf; Sully Glasser; Ben Heenan; John Hoffman; Tim Hook; Jim Hopson; Neal Hughes; Nick Hutchins; Evan Johnson; Doug Kelly; Mike Lazecki; Brayden Lenius; Joel Lipinski; Tom MacCallum; Mike Mahoney; Pete Martin; Mike Maruska; Steve Mazurak; Ken McEachern; Andy McLeod; Brian O’Hara; Len Ortman; Tom Palyga; Mitch Picton; Rob Pyne; Jon Ryan; Jordan Sisco; Randy Srochenski; Michael Stadnyk; Ted Urness; Mark Urness; Don Vassos; Ken Weir; Paul Woldu; Roy Wright; Mike Yakymyk; Preston Young.
Rosthern: Jerry Friesen.
Saskatoon: Ron Adam; Gord Barwell; Lawrence Deck; Duane Dmytryshyn; Bob Early; Jorgen Hus; Keenan MacDougall; Mike Maurer; Scott McHenry; Bob McMillan; Steve Molnar; Bob Myers; Bob Poley; Scott Redl; Lawrie Skolrood.
Viscount: Al Johns.
Weyburn: Brendon LaBatte.
Wilkie: Don Seaman.
Have I missed anyone or anywhere? If so, please let me know.
UNSUNG HEROES
When Roughriders fans reflect on Labour Day Classics of yesteryear, names such as Rocky Butler, Ken Clark, Ray Elgaard, Kerry Joseph and Brett Lauther are frequently and deservedly mentioned.
Butler ran for three TDs in a 33-19 victory over the Blue Bombers in 2002. At one point in that season, he was the Roughriders’ fourth-string quarterback.
Clark, the Roughriders’ punter, kicked a game-winning field goal in 1983 — shortly after returning to Regina from the bedside of his terminally ill mother.
Elgaard? He caught a last-minute, 56-yard TD pass from Joe Paopao to give Saskatchewan a victory on Aug. 31, 1986.
Joseph’s 27-yard, game-winning quarterback draw from 2007 is oft-replayed every year around this time.
And Lauther, of course, punctuated a walk-off winner of a field goal in 2019 by sprinting toward Pil Country, alongside punter/holder Jon Ryan.
These recollections got me thinking … which, admittedly, is dangerous.
What are the best Labour Day weekend performances that do not immediately come to mind? What are the biggest plays that have been overshadowed?
I immersed myself in that topic, at the cost of actually having a life, and assembled the following top-10 list.
#1. Joe Aguirre: “Joe the Toe” accounted for most of the Roughriders’ scoring by kicking four field goals — virtually unheard of back then — in an 18-14 win over Winnipeg on Sept. 6, 1954.
#2. William Powell: Leading up to Lauther’s Pil Country plunge, the Roughriders’ offence moved 87 yards in 10 plays. Four of those plays were handoffs to William Powell, who produced 39 yards. His back-to-back 11-yarders were followed by a 26-yarder by Lauther that gave Saskatchewan a 19-17 win on Sept. 1, 2019.
#3. Anthony Allen: With 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter on Aug. 31, 2014 — 10 years ago today — Allen crossed the goal line on what proved to be a game-winning 15-yard run. Roughriders 35, Blue Bombers 30.
#4. Corey Grant: On the play that preceded Joseph’s QB draw, the Roughriders’ quarterback found Grant for a 15-yard reception that put his team in field-goal range. A three-pointer by Luca Congi would have sufficed for a Saskatchewan side that won 31-26 on Sept. 2, 2007.
#5. Kendial Lawrence: Only 48 seconds remained when Lawrence scored on an 85-yard punt return to create a 25-25 tie on Sept. 4, 2016. The convert attempt was unsuccessful. Justin Medlock’s 43-yard field goal at 14:58 of the fourth quarter gave Winnipeg a 28-25 victory.
#6. Tim Edwards: Three sacks by Edwards helped Saskatchewan bounce the Bombers 56-4 on Sept. 3, 1995. Edwards also forced a fumble to set up one of Saskatchewan’s six touchdowns. Edwards is one of only three Delta State alumni to suit up for Saskatchewan — the others being defensive lineman Andre Brown (2001 to 2003) and receiver Dohnte Meyers (2024). Another unsung hero from the 1995 blowout: Brian Randall, who scored on an 81-yard interception return.
#7. Kevin Mason: Saskatchewan registered 298 aerial yards even though Mason completed only eight passes on Sept. 1, 1996. He connected with Curtis Mayfield on TD bombs of 95 and 87 yards and found Bruce Boyko for a 78-yarder that set up another major. Average gain per completion: 37.25 yards. For good measure, Mason ran for a score in a 41-23 Saskatchewan win.
#8. Rodney Parker: What a debut! Parker accounted for 312 combined yards on Sept. 4, 1978, albeit in a 31-29 Winnipeg victory. He caught six passes for 108 yards (including a 27-yard scoring strike from Ron Lancaster), returned five kickoffs for 152 yards and added three punt returns for 52 yards.
#9. Bill Gray: Gray rushed 19 times for 100 yards to help Saskatchewan win 15-9 on Sept. 2, 1963. On Sept. 3 of the previous year, Gray had caught an 85-yard TD pass from Bob Ptacek in a 20-18 Winnipeg victory.
#10. Tyron Brackenridge: Multi-game contributions are also the theme with Brackenridge, who starred in the Classics of 2012 and 2015. For starters, he blocked a field-goal attempt and scored a 15-yard touchdown after retrieving the loose ball. He added a 39-yard interception return as Saskatchewan won 52-0 on Sept. 2, 2012. Fast forward three years: The Roughriders’ safety forced a fumble by Darvin Adams, scooped up the football, and trotted 22 yards to pay dirt in a 37-18 Roughriders victory.
TRIPLE DOUBLES
Roughriders legend Darian Durant is back in Saskatchewan for “Dinner with Doubles” — a 620 CKRM-sponsored function that is to be held Saturday night at Casino Regina.
Proceeds will go to the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation in memory of Jim Hopson.
On Sunday, Durant’s presence will give CKRM a trio of broadcasters during the Roughriders-Bombers game. Durant will join Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder in the booth for the entire contest.
Welcome back, Darian Durant!
It will be great to see you … and hear you.
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Jeremy O’Day (on his 50th birthday), Pete Paczko, Logan Ferland, Darian Durant, Shawn Stieb, Noah Pelletier, David Millar, Donovan Maess, Taylor Shire, Darryl Ricker, Owen Ricker, C.J. Reavis, Brett Lauther, Brent Ghiglione, Dominic Ghiglione, Noah Zerr, Aubrey Miller Jr., Dohnte Meyers, Jordan Linnen, Seth Hundeby, Elliot Gabler, Doug Charko, Thomas Judek, Tim Patrick and, in masterful adherence to the phenomenally clever and tasteful ROB-ZERR-VATIONS theme, Cindy and Barry Zerr — with congratulations on 44 years (and one day) of marriage.
