as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the BC Lions in CFL action in Saskatoon, SK, June 28, 2025. Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
A turnover was the turning point in Saturday’s CFL game at Mosaic Stadium.
With the B.C. Lions trailing 9-7 and comfortably in field-goal range, Saskatchewan Roughriders cornerback Tevaughn Campbell intercepted a Jeremiah Masoli pass and sped 89 yards for a touchdown.
Add a Brett Lauther convert and it was a 10-point swing for the Roughriders, who went on to win 37-18.
“You just get this feeling like, ‘Oh, man … what a game-changing moment,’ ” said Jake Maier, the victorious starting quarterback.
“They’re going to go down and probably take the lead with either a field goal or whatever. For him to step up and make that play, it’s just characteristic of a great football team.”
So is a 4-0 record — which the Roughriders sport for the second season in succession and the sixth time in franchise history (following 1969, 1970, 2008, 2013 and 2024).
Only once before (1969-70) has Saskatchewan started 4-0 in back-to-back seasons.
The Roughriders took a major step toward the latest 4-0 start when Masoli looked for Keon Hatcher near the left sideline. Campbell jumped the route and was off to the races.
“It was see-ball, get-ball,” the former University of Regina football and track star said.
“I saw the ball floating out there. I kind of didn’t believe it at first, but as soon as it touched my hands, I was just like, ‘End zone, end zone, end zone.’ ”
Campbell’s major was part of a run of 17 consecutive points for the Roughriders, who enter a bye week with the CFL’s best record. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-0) are also undefeated.
Saskatchewan’s record for consecutive victories to begin a season is six, set in 2008.
A.J. Ouellette led the Roughriders’ offence with 139 rushing yards, a career high, and helped Saskatchewan own the time of possession (38:35).
“He’s the man,” Maier said of Ouellette. “He got a game ball after the game.
“You can say this about so many guys on our team, but he’s another great teammate — another unselfish teammate.
“When those types of guys produce at an all-star level like he did tonight, it’s a beautiful thing to see.”
Lauther was 5-for-5 in field-goal attempts and hit both convert attempts to increase his lifetime points total with the Roughriders to 997.
Lauther had three field goals (from 34, 45 and 48 yards) in the first half before punctuating Campbell’s pick-six.
The Lions had scored the game’s first touchdown when Masoli found Hatcher for a 15-yarder.
Saskatchewan registered its first offensive TD midway through the third quarter when Ouellette scored on a nine-yard run. On the same play, he exceeded 100 rushing yards for the first time as a Roughrider.
“Finally,” he said. “It took too long.”
A 77-yard punt single by Joe Couch put Saskatchewan ahead 23-7 at 11:38 of the third quarter.
The Lions completed the third-quarter scoring with a 13-yard field goal by Sean Whyte at 14:51.
Saskatchewan took over in the fourth quarter, getting another single from Couch (74 yards), a fourth field goal by Lauther (13) and a 42-yard TD pass from Maier to Dhel Duncan-Busby.
Duncan-Busby’s touchdown was his first in 13 games (11 regular season, two playoffs) as a CFLer.
“Shout-out to God,” he said. “Shout-out to my teammates. They all got me open. I couldn’t do it without them.”
James Butler’s four-yard TD run and two-point convert reduced the Roughriders’ lead to 34-18 with just over two minutes left in the game. Butler led the Lions’ offence with 123 yards on 17 carries.
Maier completed 13 of 23 passes for 170 yards, without an interception, in his first start for Saskatchewan. He was called upon when Trevor Harris couldn’t quite clear concussion protocol in time for Saturday’s game.
A victory would give Saskatchewan a 5-0 record for only the third time, following 2008 and the championship season of 2013.
TD FOR TEVAUGHN
Campbell’s pick-six was the 15th-longest interception return in Roughriders history.
Overall, the Roughriders have scored on 122 interception returns, dating back to 1929.
Two of the pick-sixes have been registered this season. Rolan Milligan Jr. scored on a 64-yarder in a 28-23 victory over the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 14th — Campbell’s 32nd birthday.
Campbell went 3,263 days between touchdowns with the Riders. On July 22nd, 2016, he scored on a 14-yard blocked-punt return against the Ottawa REDBLACKS during the final season at historic Mosaic Stadium.
Saturday’s TD was the sixth of Campbell’s professional football career.
Aside from the two majors with Saskatchewan, he reached the end zone as a CFLer on an interception return and fumble return with the Montreal Alouettes in 2018. With the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, he returned an interception (2020) and a fumble (2021) for scores.
BIG DAY FOR A.J.
Ouellette established CFL career highs in carries (23) and rushing yards (139).
His previous best rushing total was 107 yards, with the Toronto Argonauts against Ottawa on Nov. 6th, 2021.
Ouellette’s previous career high for carries was 20, for the Roughriders against the visiting Tiger-Cats on June 23rd, 2024.
Ouellette had the 282nd 100-yard rushing performance by a Roughrider in a regular-season game. George Reed holds the Club record of 76.
EXTRA POINTS
• Milligan Jr. returned his second interception of the season 41 yards. He has exceeded 100 interception-return yards for the second straight season … and it is only Week 4!
• Making his second CFL start, and his first in more than a year, Antoine Brooks Jr. made his first regular-season interception as a Roughrider — a diving effort at that. He helped Saskatchewan win the turnover battle (4-0).
• Couch notched his first CFL points, courtesy of 77- and 74-yard punt singles. He averaged 50.1 yards on seven punts.
• Maier became the 87th player to throw a touchdown pass for the Roughriders in the post-Second World War era. He is one of Saskatchewan’s 72 starting quarterbacks over that period.
• Roughriders linebacker A.J. Allen registered a career-high seven defensive tackles. He also deflected a pass that was intercepted by Milligan Jr.
• Mario Alford had two kickoff returns to move into sole possession of second on the Roughriders’ All-Time list. Corey Holmes is first at 185, followed by Alford (148) and Tristan Jackson (146).
• The Roughriders’ interception yards total (130) was the eighth-best in franchise history — ninth if the post-season is included.
SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
Sask — FG Lauther 34 9:00
Nine-play drive began with a 26-yard run by Ouellette.
Sask — FG Lauther 48 14:11
Maier to Robustelli for 34 yards put the Riders in field-goal range.
SECOND QUARTER
BC — TD Hatcher 15 pass from Masoli (Whyte convert) 4:21
Lions moved 97 yards in six plays.
Sask — FG Lauther 45 13:55
Riders travelled 26 yards in five plays after 32-yard punt return by Alford.
Sask — TD Campbell 89 interception return (Lauther convert) 15:00
Campbell stepped in front of a Masoli pass and had a clear path to the north end zone.
THIRD QUARTER
Sask — TD Ouellette 9 run (two-point convert failed) 7:27
Ouellette went over 100 yards to complete 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive.
Sask — Single Couch 77 11:38
First CFL point for Couch, playing in his fourth regular-season game.
B.C. — FG Whyte 13 14:51
Lions advanced to the one-yard line before being penalized for illegal procedure.
FOURTH QUARTER
Sask — Single Couch 74 1:10
Couch’s second single of 70-plus yards in a space of 4:42.
Sask — FG Lauther 13 10:25
Milligan Jr.’s 41-yard interception return set up Lauther’s fourth field goal.
Sask — TD Duncan-Busby 42 pass from Maier (Lauther convert) 11:44
Brooks Jr.’s first CFL interception set up Duncan-Busby’s first CFL major.
B.C. — TD Butler 4 run (Butler run for two-point convert) 12:51
Lions ran six plays for 73 yards, 40 of which resulted from Roughriders penalties.
Sask — FG Lauther 25 14:54
Fifth field goal of the game for Lauther.
