A victory was a welcome change, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders still hope for some continuity when they return to the practice field today.
“We shouldn’t be able to tell whether we won or lost — just like the last few weeks,” quarterback Trevor Harris said. “That’s how we need to approach each week.
“We need to approach each week with a hunger to go out there and dominate the competition.”
A dominant performance by the offensive line helped the Roughriders defeat the host Calgary Stampeders 37-29 on Friday.
Led by 207 rushing yards by Ryquell Armstead, Saskatchewan improved its record to 6-7-1 and snapped a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1).
Over those seven games, the Roughriders had been outscored by a total of 41 points. Four of those contests were decided on the final play.
“I’m sick of talking about how close we are,” Harris said after Friday’s game. “I’m sick of talking about how we haven’t won a game after Labour Day since ’21. Enough of that.
“This is only one win. We haven’t done anything. Let’s not get it twisted and all of a sudden breathe a sigh of relief. This is a time to put our foot on the accelerator.
“I know what this team is capable of and, heck or high water, I’m going to make sure we’re pushing the envelope every single day to make sure that happens.”
The Roughriders currently hold down the West Division’s third and final playoff spot.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-6-0) and B.C. Lions (7-7-0) occupy the top two positions. The Edmonton Elks (5-9-0) and Calgary (4-9-1) trail Saskatchewan, which hopes to use Friday’s victory as a catalyst and make a major push.
“It’s one of those things where we’ve talked about, ‘Let’s break the seal on this thing. Let’s get a win and see what happens,’ ” Harris said. “Now we’ve got to put our money where our mouth is.
“We’ve won one game. We’re putting ourselves in a position where we’re at 13 points right now, but ultimately that’s not going to be good enough.
“This is just one week, one win.”
The Roughriders are to return to action on Saturday against the Ottawa REDBLACKS (1 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
After that, the Roughriders’ final three games are against divisional foes — Edmonton (Oct. 5 at Commonwealth Stadium), B.C. (Oct. 12, Mosaic Stadium) and Calgary (Oct. 26, Mosaic Stadium).
70 FOR SAM
Samuel Emilus boasts 70 receptions for the second successive season.
He has 70 catches — the fifth-most in the league — for 781 yards after 14 games in 2024.
Last year, Emilus caught 70 passes for 1,097 yards.
He is the 11th receiver in Roughriders history to register multiple 70-catch seasons and the 10th to reach 70 in back-to-back years.
Don Narcisse leads the way with eight seasons of 70-plus catches, including seven in a row (1989 to 1995).
Weston Dressler and Ray Elgaard hit 70 five times. Dressler had a streak of four in a row (2010 to 2013). Elgaard strung together three such seasons (1992 to 1994).
Lucius Floyd (1990 to 1992) and Jeff Fairholm (1991 to 1993) had their three 70-catch seasons in succession.
Naaman Roosevelt registered three 70-catch seasons, including two in a row (2016 and 2017).
Also with two in a row: Joey Walters (1981 and 1982), Chris DeFrance (1982 and 1983), Craig Ellis (1984 and 1985) and Travis Moore (2003 and 2004).
Matt Dominguez reached the 70-catch mark in 2003 and 2006.
Emilus, Elgaard and Fairholm are the only Canadians in the multiple-70 club.
“A” FOR ARMSTEAD, ALLEN
Armstead, who was handed the ball 25 times on Friday, had the most carries by a Roughrider in more than a decade.
On June 29, 2014, Anthony Allen rushed 27 times for 158 yards against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
In each case, the Roughriders’ featured running back was playing his first game in green and white.
Armstead had 623 rushing yards in 11 games with Ottawa. Now with 830, he is on pace to become the first Roughrider to rush for 1,000 yards while playing for his second team of the season.
The scenario applied in reverse when Jerome Messam rushed for 1,008 yards in 2015. He gained 826 of those yards for Saskatchewan before being traded to Calgary.
Another carryover season of note: In 2013, defensive end Alex Hall was named a CFL All-Star after registering a career-high 16 sacks. He played in 14 games with the Blue Bombers before being traded to the Roughriders and helping them win a Grey Cup.
EXTRA POINTS
• Armstead helped the Roughriders ascend from ninth to sixth in the league in rushing yards — in just one week!
• Harris leads the league in quarterback-efficiency rating (106.2).
• Saskatchewan has allowed the fewest rushing first downs (76).
• With 33 sacks, Saskatchewan is second in the league (three behind Toronto). A year ago at this time, the Roughriders and Hamilton each had 30 sacks and were tied for seventh.
• Across the league, sacks are down 23 per cent from this time last year.
• Saskatchewan has lost the fewest fumbles (four) and, along with Hamilton, recovered the most (10).
• The Roughriders lead the CFL in turnover ratio (plus-15). They were last (at minus-11) a year ago at this juncture.
• Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther (34-for-34), Hamilton’s Marc Liegghio (32-for-32) and Edmonton’s Boris Bede (31-for-31) are the only CFL kickers who have yet to miss a convert this season.
• Roughriders teammates Rolan Milligan Jr. (18) and A.J. Allen (17) are 1-2 in special teams tackles. A Roughrider has not paced the CFL in that category since 2005, when Walter Spencer was a co-leader with 29.
