Davis: Please explain how the Saskatchewan Roughriders aren't 0-3 this CFL season
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have every reason to be winless this CFL season.
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Injuries, a tough road schedule, repeatedly falling behind 7-0, too many penalties and a reliable kicker who no longer seems reliable. All good excuses for a 0-3 record.
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Yet the Roughriders are undefeated. Playing exclusively against winless East teams, the Roughriders improved to 3-0 by overcoming another fourth-quarter wobble and scoring an improbable, game-winning touchdown on Mario Alford's 99-yard, last-second kickoff return.
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'We could definitely do better,' fourth-year Roughriders linebacker A.J. Allen, who recorded his first quarterback sack against Grey Cup MVP Nick Arbuckle, said during a postgame interview.
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'But there's always room for improvement. And we won the game.'
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It was the third straight time Saskatchewan's defence surrendered the game's first touchdown. The Riders were also playing a second road game in six days while missing injured receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Sam Emilus, offensive linemen Sean McEwen and Payton Collins and linebacker C.J. Avery.
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While Allen again replaced Avery on a defence that stopped Toronto's offence three times on goal-to-go situations in the second quarter, receiver Dohnte Williams stepped up offensively with two touchdowns on four catches for 125 yards.
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Running behind a pieced-together offensive line that allowed only one sack, A.J. Ouellette had 91 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, plus unstoppable short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens added a touchdown and 30 yards on six carries.
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It was a vicious contest, sparked by a low, illegal-block penalty against Riders receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby that knocked Argos linebacker Kenneth George Jr. out of the game.
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The play wasn't initially penalized, but the Command Centre intervened to impose a 10-yarder in a game that eventually saw 29 penalties assessed for 307 yards. One play later, Argos defensive lineman Jordan Williams was penalized for a dirty hit on Riders QB Trevor Harris.
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'It was a disaster,' said Riders head coach Corey Mace. 'In this league you really make it tough to win when you're giving away free yards.
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'We obviously have to get better at that. But to be able to come out here against the defending Grey Cup champions and Grey Cup MVP and walk out with a win on a short week, we feel good about that.'
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CBC
5 hours ago
- CBC
Riders down Argos 39-32 after Alford's 99-yard kickoff return
Social Sharing As Corey Mace prepared for overtime, Mario Alford took matters into his own hands. Alford's 99-yard kickoff return touchdown with nine seconds remaining in regulation time rallied the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a stirring 39-32 CFL win over the ailing Toronto Argonauts on Friday night. Alford's heroics came after Toronto's Nick Arbuckle capped a 70-yard, nine-play drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital. Arbuckle then found Dejon Brissett for the two-point convert to make it 32-32. And that had Mace, the Riders head coach, looking ahead to overtime. "Honestly, I was looking at my overtime sheet," Mace said. "I did think we had a chance, depending on how far we get the return whether we're going to play for overtime or be able to go kick [the game-winning field goal]. "Special teams did the rest. To have a walk-off like that was incredible." Arbuckle was 26-of-33 passing for 259 yards with two TDs and an interception. Mital had seven catches for 98 yards and the touchdown. Toronto head coach Ryan Dinwiddie cited two factors that worked against his club on Alford's return. First, he said game officials missed an illegal block that Dinwiddie couldn't challenge. Secondly, Toronto's kickoff team only had 11 men on the field. "Special teams, I thought, was pretty bad for a third week in a row," Dinwiddie said. "We've got to get that fixed." Ironically, it was Saskatchewan's special teams that allowed Toronto (0-3) an opportunity to force overtime. Arbuckle's heroics came after Brett Lauther missed a 33-yard field goal at 12:58 to put the Riders (3-0) ahead 32-24. Lauther missed three field goals and a convert in last week's 28-23 road win over Hamilton. "We would've been happy to get a decent return and play for a game-winner off Number 12 [Lauther]," Mace said. "We still would've put the trust in him. That's our guy and he'll continue to be our guy." Tommy Stevens' two-yard scoring run at 4:38 put Saskatchewan ahead 31-21. Lirim Hajrullahu's 25-yard field goal at 8:02 pulled Toronto to within 31-24. Saskatchewan's wins have all come against East Division teams. Trevor Harris completed 13-of-17 passes for 234 yards with two TDs and an interception while Dohnte Meyers had four catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns. "It seems like every game there's something going on that surprises us and brings some wild circumstances and tonight was no different," Harris said. "I'm just super happy for Mario, he's just an explosive returner." 'Selfish penalties': Dinwiddie A.J. Ouellette ran for 91 yards and a TD on 17 carries. But the teams combined for 29 penalties for 307 yards (Saskatchewan had 18 for 178 yards, Toronto had 11 for 129 yards) before a BMO Field gathering of 12,025. Saskatchewan had eight penalties for 125 yards combined over its first contests. "That goes to show you in this league you make it really tough to win when you're giving away free yards," Mace said. "We obviously have to get better at that, but to walk out of here with a win on a short week, we'll feel good about that." Dinwiddie didn't hide his disdain for Toronto's lack of on-field discipline. "I'm pretty embarrassed by it," he said. "They [Riders] were chirping all game. We got involved in the chirping game and it cost us. "We had selfish penalties, that's the one thing I hate. It isn't about you, it's about the team. We aren't even close to being there. We don't know how to not lose games. It's not about winning games, [it's] not losing games." Toronto — 0-3 for the first time since 2019 — came into the contest short-handed. Quarterback Chad Kelly (leg) and receiver/returner Janarion Grant both missed their third straight game for Toronto. Joining them among the Argos walking wounded were linebackers Wynton McManis (knee) and Jack Cassar (adductor), running back Deonta McMahon (ankle), receiver DaVaris Daniels (hip), defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas (Achilles) and offensive linemen Sage Doxtater (knee), Dylan Giffen (back) and Darius Ciraco (foot). Then in the first half, Toronto lost linebacker Kenneth George Jr. (leg) and defensive lineman Derek Parish (foot). Brissett and Jarret Doege also scored touchdowns for Toronto. Jake Herslow added a two-point convert while Hajrullahu booted a convert and three field goals. Lauther kicked five converts and a field goal. Hajrullahu's 24-yard field goal at 8:42 of the third pulled Toronto to within 24-13. Doege scored on a one-yard run at 12:59 before Arbuckle hit Herslow for the two-point convert to cut Saskatchewan's lead to 24-21. Harris threw a 70-yard TD strike to Meyers at 1:16, giving the Riders a 24-10 advantage. Hajrullahu's 56-yard field goal to end the second quarter cut Saskatchewan's halftime lead to 17-10. It followed the Riders' goal-line stand with 56 seconds left as Kevin Brown was stopped at the one-yard line to end a 17-play, 97-yard drive. Lauther gave Saskatchewan a 17-7 advantage with a 16-yard boot at 1:25. Harris put Saskatchewan ahead 14-7 with a 32-yard TD pass to Meyers at 11:54 of the first. It was set up by Alford's 35-yard punt return. Ouellette had a 25-yard TD run at 8:26. Arbuckle opened the scoring with a five-yard TD pass to Brissett at 4:50. The Roughriders will host the B.C. Lions on Saturday, June 28. The Argonauts will next visit Ottawa to face the Redblacks on Sunday, June 29.
Ottawa Citizen
8 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Davis: Please explain how the Saskatchewan Roughriders aren't 0-3 this CFL season
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have every reason to be winless this CFL season. Article content Injuries, a tough road schedule, repeatedly falling behind 7-0, too many penalties and a reliable kicker who no longer seems reliable. All good excuses for a 0-3 record. Article content Article content Yet the Roughriders are undefeated. Playing exclusively against winless East teams, the Roughriders improved to 3-0 by overcoming another fourth-quarter wobble and scoring an improbable, game-winning touchdown on Mario Alford's 99-yard, last-second kickoff return. Article content Article content Article content 'We could definitely do better,' fourth-year Roughriders linebacker A.J. Allen, who recorded his first quarterback sack against Grey Cup MVP Nick Arbuckle, said during a postgame interview. Article content 'But there's always room for improvement. And we won the game.' Article content It was the third straight time Saskatchewan's defence surrendered the game's first touchdown. The Riders were also playing a second road game in six days while missing injured receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Sam Emilus, offensive linemen Sean McEwen and Payton Collins and linebacker C.J. Avery. Article content While Allen again replaced Avery on a defence that stopped Toronto's offence three times on goal-to-go situations in the second quarter, receiver Dohnte Williams stepped up offensively with two touchdowns on four catches for 125 yards. Article content Article content Running behind a pieced-together offensive line that allowed only one sack, A.J. Ouellette had 91 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, plus unstoppable short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens added a touchdown and 30 yards on six carries. Article content Article content It was a vicious contest, sparked by a low, illegal-block penalty against Riders receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby that knocked Argos linebacker Kenneth George Jr. out of the game. Article content The play wasn't initially penalized, but the Command Centre intervened to impose a 10-yarder in a game that eventually saw 29 penalties assessed for 307 yards. One play later, Argos defensive lineman Jordan Williams was penalized for a dirty hit on Riders QB Trevor Harris. Article content 'It was a disaster,' said Riders head coach Corey Mace. 'In this league you really make it tough to win when you're giving away free yards. Article content 'We obviously have to get better at that. But to be able to come out here against the defending Grey Cup champions and Grey Cup MVP and walk out with a win on a short week, we feel good about that.'
CTV News
8 hours ago
- CTV News
Alford's 99-yard kickoff return for TD lifts Riders to wild 39-32 win over Argos
Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver Mario Alford (2) runs down the sidelines ahead of Toronto Argonauts defensive back Mark Milton (27) to score a touchdown during second half CFL football action in Toronto Friday, June 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker Mario Alford's 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with nine seconds to play rallied the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a stirring 39-32 win over the ailing Toronto Argonauts on Friday night. Alford's return right came after Toronto's Nick Arbuckle made it 32-32. Arbuckle capped a 70-yard, nine-drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital, then found Dejon Brissett for the two-point convert. Arbuckle's heroics came after Brett Lauther missed a 33-yard field goal at 12:58 to put Saskatchewan (3-0) ahead 32-24 and keep Toronto (0-3) in the game. Tommy Stevens' two-yard scoring run at 4:38 put Saskatchewan ahead 31-21. Lirim Hajrullahu's 25-yard field goal at 8:02 pulled Toronto to within 31-24. Saskatchewan's wins have all come against East Division teams. Toronto -- 0-3 for the first time since 2019 -- came into the contest short-handed. Quarterback Chad Kelly (leg) and receiver/returner Janarion Grant both missed their third straight game for Toronto. Joining them among the Argos walking wounded were linebackers Wynton McManis (knee) and Jack Cassar (adductor), running back Deonta McMahon (ankle), receiver DaVaris Daniels (hip), defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas (Achilles) and offensive linemen Sage Doxtater (knee), Dylan Giffen (back) and Darius Ciraco (foot). Then in the first half, Toronto lost linebacker Kenneth George Jr. (leg) and defensive lineman Derek Parish (foot). The contest was a chippy one as the teams combined for 29 penalties for 307 yards (Saskatchewan had 18 for 178 yards, Toronto had 11 for 129 yards) before a BMO Field gathering of 12,025. Brissett and Jarret Doege also scored touchdowns for Toronto. Jake Herslow added a two-point convert, while Hajrullahu booted a convert and three field goals. Dohnte Meyers, with two, and A.J. Ouellette scored Saskatchewan's other touchdowns. Lauther kicked five converts and a field goal. Hajrullahu's 24-yard field goal at 8:42 of the third pulled Toronto to within 24-13. But Doege scored on a one-yard run at 12:59 before Arbuckle hit Herslow for the two-point convert to cut Saskatchewan's lead to 24-21. Harris opened the second half with a 70-yard TD strike to Meyers at 1:16, giving the Riders a 24-10 advantage. Hajrullahu's 56-yard field goal to end the second quarter cut Saskatchewan's halftime lead to 17-10. It followed Saskatchewan's goal-line stand with 56 seconds left as Kevin Brown was stopped at the Riders' one-yard line to end a 17-play, 97-yard drive that took 7:25. Both quarterbacks were sharp as Harris was nine-of-11 passing for 123 yards and a TD, guiding the Riders to 17 points in their first three drives. Arbuckle completed 13-of-16 attempts for 118 yards and a touchdown. Saskatchewan converted five-of-eight second-down chances while Toronto was 7-of-12. But it was a chippy half as the two teams combined for 15 penalties (Saskatchewan eight for 79 yards, Toronto seven for 79 yards) for 158 yards. Lauther gave Saskatchewan a 17-7 advantage with a 16-yard field goal at 1:25. Harris put Saskatchewan ahead 14-7 with a 32-yard TD strike to Meyers at 11:54 of the first. The two-play, 45-yard drive was set up by Alford's 35-yard punt return. Ouellette capped Saskatchewan's 70-yard, six-play opening march with a 25-yard TD run at 8:26. It was Ouellette's first carry of the contest. Arbuckle opened the game completing all six of his passes for 80 yards, the last being a five-yard TD strike to Brissett at 4:50. The score capped a solid 80-yard, nine-play march. UP NEXT Roughriders: Host the B.C. Lions on Saturday, June 28. Argonauts: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday, June 29. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
