Mario’s Miracle made the difference.
With nine seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Mario Alford crossed the goal line at BMO Field to complete a 99-yard kickoff return that propelled the Roughriders to Friday’s 39-32 victory over the Toronto Argonauts.
“Coach told me before we went out there to at least get it to the 40 or 45,” Alford told TSN’s Brit Dort. “I saw the hole and I did what I do best.”
Alford increased his franchise record for return touchdowns to nine at a most opportune time.
“I tried to put my team in the best position possible to win,” he said. “We were able to execute and shout-out to the blockers. It was nice.”
Saskatchewan improved its record to 3-0 by winning for the second time in six days on the road against an East Division opponent. Last Saturday, the Roughriders defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28-23.
“Coming out east is never an easy thing to do,” Head Coach Corey Mace told CKRM’s Luc Mullinder.
“I know what people are going to say about this (0-3 Argonauts) team, but I don’t care what you say. That was a Grey Cup MVP (Nick Arbuckle) playing quarterback for them. They’re the defending Grey Cup champs.
“This is not an easy place to win. It was a tall task for us on a short week and travelling out east.”
The Argonauts had tied Friday’s game at 32-32 with 23 seconds left in the final frame.
“Hats off to them,” Alford said. “They made it a tie game. I just finished off with a great return.”
The timely touchdown helped Saskatchewan overcome a proclivity for penalties (18 for 178 yards).
“Too many,” Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris told TSN. “That’s not winning football.
“We’ve got to be better when we’ve got an opportunity to close games and be able to extend leads in that sort of a situation. I put the ball in danger a couple of times and I can’t be doing those sorts of things.”
Harris also threw two touchdown passes — both to Dohnte Meyers — and moved into a tie for 18th on the CFL’s All-Time list. Harris tied Russ Jackson at 185. They are one behind Sam Etcheverry and five shy of Tom Burgess.
As well, Harris completed 13 passes to increase his career total to 2,807 — one fewer than 11th-ranked Tom Clements.
Harris guided Saskatchewan to a TD on each of its first two possessions on Friday.
Toronto opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown pass from Arbuckle to Dejon Brissett. Lirim Hajrullahu added the convert.
The Roughriders responded with a six-play, 70-yard march that culminated in A.J. Ouellette’s 25-yard TD run. Ouellette finished with 91 yards on 17 carries, exceeding 90 rushing yards for the second consecutive game.
On the play before Ouellette’s 25-yarder, Tommy Stevens ran 19 yards on second-and-short. Brett Lauther’s convert, from 43 yards following a penalty, created a 7-7 tie.
Saskatchewan responded briskly with a two-play, 45-yard scoring drive that followed a 35-yard punt return by Alford.
Harris hit Meyers for gains of 13 and 32, the latter of which produced a TD. Lauther’s convert made it 14-7.
A 16-yard field goal by Lauther put Saskatchewan ahead 17-7 at 1:25 of the second quarter.
Toronto had a chance for a touchdown late in the first half, but a third-and-goal gamble was stuffed on the one-yard line.
The drive stalled on its 17th play, after Toronto had moved 96 yards.
After a Roughriders punt, Toronto had enough time for a field-goal attempt on the last play of the first half. Hajrullahu’s 56-yarder made it 17-10 at intermission.
Saskatchewan struck for a big play early in the third quarter when Harris found Meyers for a 70-yard pass-and-run touchdown. Lauther’s convert increased the Roughriders’ lead to 24-10.
Meyers finished with four catches for a career-high 125 yards.
“He’s an explosive athlete,” Harris said. “He makes tough catches. He’s just one of those guys where at any moment he could explode. We’re excited and fortunate to have him.”
Toronto countered with a 24-yard Hajrullahu field goal that made it 24-13.
The Argonauts quickly capitalized on an interception and a roughing penalty when Jarret Doege scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak late in the third quarter. Arbuckle then hit Jake Herslow for a two-point convert to pare the Roughriders’ lead to three points.
The Roughriders responded with a clock-burning, 10-play, 57-yard TD drive that concluded when Stevens went in from the two. Lauther added the convert to put the visitors up by 10.
Hajrullahu’s 25-yard field goal narrowed the gap to seven points with 6:58 left in the game.
A missed field-goal attempt by Lauther resulted in a rouge that gave Saskatchewan a 32-24 lead.
However, the Argos marched for a touchdown — Arbuckle’s 10-yard pass to Kevin Mital — and Brissett followed with a game-tying two-point convert.
On the ensuing kickoff, Alford took off on his 99-yarder — the fourth-longest in Riders history. Lauther’s fifth convert of the night completed the scoring.
Next up for the Roughriders is a June 28th matchup with the B.C. Lions (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
PRECISE PASSING
Harris, who was 13-for-17 for 234 yards, has completed at least 70 per cent of his passes in each of his past seven regular-season games.
He is one of only two quarterbacks in CFL history to have boasted such a percentage at the seven-game mark. Harris (across 2018 and 2019) and Dane Evans (2019) are tied for the league record of eight.
As well, Harris has been on the winning team in each of his last seven regular-season starts — the longest streak of his career.
EXTRA POINTS
• The Roughriders have tied a franchise record for fewest sacks allowed (two) over their first three regular-season games. The feat was first accomplished in 1992.
• Tevaughn Campbell registered his first interception as a Roughrider since Oct. 22nd, 2016 against the Montreal Alouettes — in the second-last game at historic Mosaic Stadium.
• Both of Meyers’ majors were on the second play of a TD drive. He became the ninth Roughrider to catch two touchdown passes in a visit to Toronto.
• Roughriders linebacker A.J. Allen registered his first CFL sack. Mike Rose and Habakkuk Baldonado added sacks for Saskatchewan. The sack was Rose’s first as a Roughrider.
• Roughriders middle linebacker Jameer Thurman had a game-high seven defensive tackles, one of which was for a loss.
• Aubrey Miller Jr. led the Roughriders in special teams tackles, with three.
• Toronto was flagged 11 times for 129 yards.
SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
Tor — TD Brissett 5 pass from Arbuckle (Hajrullahu convert) 4:50
Arbuckle was 6-for-6 for 80 yards.
TD — Ouellette 25 run (Lauther convert) 8:26
Huge blocks by Brammer, Tate and Daniel Johnson version of last week’s 47-yard TD run.
Sask — TD Meyers 32 pass from Harris (Lauther convert) 11:54
Harris hit Meyers for back-to-back completions after 35-yard punt return by Alford.
SECOND QUARTER
FG — Lauther 16 1:25
33-yard reception by Picton, with roughing the passer penalty tacked on, was the big play.
TOR — Hajrullahu 56 15:00
Seventh opposing 56-yard field goal in Roughriders history.
THIRD QUARTER
Sask — TD Meyers 70 pass from Harris (Lauther convert) 3:06
Roughriders’ second two-play TD drive of the game.
Tor — FG Hajrullahu 24 8:42
Micah Johnson sack put Argos in second-and-long and ultimately forced field goal.
Tor — TD Doege 1 run (Arbuckle pass to Herslow for two-point convert) 12:59
One-play, one-yard TD drive followed Argos interception and roughing penalty versus Saskatchewan.
FOURTH QUARTER
Sask — TD Stevens 2 run (Lauther convert) 4:38
Riders moved 57 yards in 10 plays while consuming 8:51.
Tor — FG Hajrullahu 25 8:02
Coxie’s 36-yard reception put Argonauts in field-goal range.
Sask — Single Lauther 45 12:58
Lauther was wide on 33-yard field-goal attempt.
Tor — TD Mital 8 pass from Arbuckle (Arbuckle pass to Brissett for two-point convert) 14:37
Argos moved 70 yards in eight plays en route to tying the game.
Sask — TD Alford 99 kickoff return (Lauther convert) 14:51
Alford increased his Roughriders record for return touchdowns to nine.
