Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris will always have a soft spot for the team’s next destination — Ottawa.
While based in the nation’s capital, he helped the REDBLACKS reach two league finals, earned a Grey Cup ring (in 2016), and in 2018 established a CFL record for TD tosses (six) in a post-season game.
“I feel like that’s where I started making my mark in the league,” Harris reflected leading up to Friday’s game at TD Place. “To this day, it still feels like my old team.
“It’s a little bit nostalgic going into the building there. We won a couple of East Finals there and we had three home playoff games in three years. We had a lot of success there and had a lot of fun.
“It was awesome, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m excited be a Roughrider. I’m a Roughrider and I love it here. I couldn’t say I’ve had more fun ever in my career than in this spot here.
“It’s about us this week, understanding what our job is and what we’re wanting to do, which is to go into Ottawa and get a win, no matter what that looks like.”
Saskatchewan is the fifth CFL stop for Harris. He started out with the Toronto Argonauts (2012-15) before playing for the REDBLACKS (2016-18), Edmonton Elks (2019, 2021) and Montreal Alouettes (2021-22). He signed with the Roughriders as a free agent in 2023.
Poised to start in Ottawa for the first time as a Roughrider, Harris has helped the Green and White post the league’s best record (10-4) this season.
“I just don’t think I’ve ever had more fun playing football,” Harris reiterated. “I’m comfortable in my own skin. I think this city fits me.
“You can kind of see it through these last couple of weeks, even, when we’re struggling. When you have a passionate fan base and things are great, nothing’s better. When things are bad, nothing’s worse. But I love that.
“That’s what it should be. We should be held accountable. We’re representing this province and this city and it’s on us to make sure that we go out there and represent well.
“I love that about our fan base. We should be held accountable. I want us to make sure that we’re all going out there and performing.
“But make no mistake, these guys in this room are working hard for one another as well. We love our city and we love our fans, but we love one another in that locker room.”
“THE BLESSING IN THE LESSON”
Kian Schaffer-Baker did some extra running after practice on Tuesday — cheerfully chasing Head Coach Corey Mace’s son, Micah, around the Mosaic Stadium turf.
The fifth-year Roughriders receiver hopes he will soon be as busy during a game.
Schaffer-Baker, a full participant in practice of late, has been sidelined since suffering a foot injury early in the June 5 regular-season opener against the visiting REDBLACKS.
“It has been a long process,” the popular pass-catcher said of his recovery. “There have been a lot of hardships with it, but a lot of beauties in it as well. It’s about finding the blessing the lesson each and every day.
“This process has taught me a lot. When you love something so much, you’re willing to go to the end of the world for it. This is something I’ll do that for.”
EXTRA POINTS
• Harris needs only 21 completions to move into ninth on the CFL’s career list. Matt Dunigan currently holds down ninth spot at 3,057. As well, Harris is 244 yards shy of recording the 13th season of 4,000-plus passing yards for a Roughrider.
• Kosi Onyeka, who had made three consecutive starts at safety during his fourth year with the Roughriders, was released on Tuesday. “We’ve got a code of conduct here and high standards on and off the field,” Mace said. “Unfortunately, Kosi didn’t meet that.” The team also released linebacker Chris Russell Jr., who had spent the past month on the practice roster.
• The Roughriders have added four Americans — running back Marcus Major Jr., linebacker Tuasivi Nomura, quarterback Brayden Schager and linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala — to an expanded practice roster. The new additions increase the team’s all-time player count to 4,752, dating back to 1910.
