Latest news with #KeeSeanJohnson
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Alford's last-minute 99-yard kickoff return TD lifts Riders to wild 39-32 win over Argos
Published Jun 20, 2025 • 3 minute read Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver KeeSean Johnson is tackled by Argonauts defensive lineman Andrew Chatfield (94) and Derek Slywka (20) during first half CFL football action in Toronto Friday, June 20, 2025. Photo by Jon Blacker / The Canadian Press 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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). Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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 ex-Argo 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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 9-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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. Toronto & GTA World Toronto Blue Jays Columnists Toronto & GTA
Globe and Mail
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Saskatchewan Roughriders beat Hamilton Tiger-Cats 28-23 with Johnson's late TD
KeeSean Johnson enjoyed his Canadian Football League coming-out party on Saturday. The 28-year-old receiver hauled in eight passes for a career-high 128 yards to lift the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 28-23 win against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before 22,810 at Tim Hortons Field. His 15-yard touchdown reception midway through the fourth quarter was the difference maker, putting the visitors ahead 27-20. 'I want to say a lot of our receivers probably don't get talked about as much as I feel they should,' Roughriders head coach Corey Mace said. 'KeeSean Johnson is an unbelievable receiver. 'He got the highlight (catch) tonight. So, hopefully, moving forward people will understand who Mr. Johnson is.' After a successful collegiate career at Fresno State, the Arizona Cardinals drafted Johnson in the sixth round (174th overall) in 2019. He spent two years with the Cardinals, gaining a first-rate receiver education watching standout Larry Fitzgerald prepare and perform. Johnson then bounced around, making stops on the practice rosters of the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills before landing in Regina. 'I've still got a lot of learning to do with this team and this league,' said Johnson, who has portraits of his two daughters, Brooklyn and Jersey, tattooed on his right leg. 'Every day since camp and since last year I try to learn and work hard as hard as possible every day. Our coaches push us every day.' Johnson went to Palo Alto High School and crossed paths with Los Angeles Rams wideout Davante Adams. Johnson was a freshman there, while Adams was in his final year. Johnson then followed Adams to Fresno State. He redshirted as a freshman and then went out and broke all of Adams' school receiving records, including 275 catches for 3,463 yards. He also caught a pass in 50 consecutive games, shattering a 35-year-old school record of 34, set by Henry Ellard. Although he likes to talk about what he's learned from players such as Fitzgerald and Adams, the most frequent question Johnson has been asked is if the spelling of his first name is correct because of its similarity to Keyshawn Johnson, the retired Super Bowl champion receiver. 'My Dad liked the name KeeSean,' Johnson said. 'That's the story.' 'But I did meet Keyshawn Johnson. When I was looking for an agent. We talked with him. We didn't choose him as my agent, but I'm still friendly with him when I see him.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
10 observations from Saskatchewan's pre-season loss in Winnipeg
The Saskatchewan Roughriders opened their 2025 CFL pre-season schedule on Saturday in Winnipeg with a 15-9 loss against the Blue Bombers. And while the game didn't feature many fireworks, with no touchdowns and eight field goals scored in the contest, there were a few notable performances from some members of the Green and White in the loss, which of course means nothing in the standings: A.J. Ouellette's 21-yard run in the first half was one of Saskatchewan's best offensive bursts as the running back looks to return to form after missing time last year with a hip injury. Ouellette and many of the other returning starters played much of the first quarter before the backups entered the game. Fellow running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon also had a few nice rushes, including one for 18 yards, as part of a six-carry, 41-yard game. The Canadian, who is a valuable special teams player, has always been reliable when asked to carry the ball. Neither of Saskatchewan's American rookie running backs, Mario Anderson or Trent Pennix, were outstanding. Anderson had seven carries for 16 yards while Pennix ran the ball once for two yards. Receiver KeeSean Johnson had catches for 14 yards and 16 yards in the first half to lead the team. After a strong rookie season with 746 yards in 12 games, the 28-year-old former NFLer is hoping to take his game even further in 2025 as a key receiver. After 51-yard and 36-yard kickoff returns in the first half, rookie receiver Drae McCray looked like he could provide a spark on special teams. Was that performance enough to displace returning veteran Mario Alford? It's clear the Riders are taking a long look at McCray. None of the quarterbacks looked outstanding. However that's no concern. Trevor Harris started the game and played the first three drives, going 3-of-8 for 38 yards. Jake Maier came in and went 8-of-13 for 80 yards and an interception while Jack Coan saw some time as well, going 3-of-6 for 58 yards. Tommy Stevens, the short-yardage specialist who carried the ball three times for 15 yards, came into the game on the final series where he went 2-of-3 for 21 yards. While none of those performances were anything to write home about, the Roughriders already know what they have in the room, especially with Harris, Maier and Stevens, who will likely be the top three on the depth chart no matter what. With Nelson Lokombo not making the trip to Winnipeg, Jaxon Ford got the start at safety and made four nice tackles in the first half. Ford, who is now sporting No. 21, missed the first 12 games last year after recovering from a wrist injury. Tevaughn Campbell made his debut at cornerback and had a knockdown to go along with a pair of tackles in the first half. Campbell, who was once a Rider in 2016, is expected to be the shutdown cornerback the Roughriders were seeking this off-season. His Canadian passport also gives the Riders some ratio flexibility. Defensive lineman Benoit Marion had a nice forced fumble in the second half which was recovered by Alex Gubner. After coming in midway through the season last year, Marion was always around the ball any time he got a chance to be on the field in 2024. He may not be a starter in 2025 but he's proving to be a great depth player. With Adam Korsak retiring and the Roughriders releasing Joe Couch, the starting punting job appears to be Bailey Flint's. In his pre-season debut, the former Hamilton Tiger-Cat averaged 40.6 yards on five punts. Flint will want to boost those numbers before the regular season gets underway. The game featured a whole bunch of field goals with Winnipeg's Sergio Castillo making all five of his attempts to account for all 15 Blue Bombers points while Brett Lauther made two of his three kicks while rookie Brian Garrity was 1-for-2, with his 48-yard attempt falling way short. Despite the miss, Lauther isn't losing his job any time soon. tshire@ Roughriders lose to Blue Bombers 15-9 in pre-season field-goal fest Roughriders suffer more injuries along offensive line The Regina Leader-Post has created an Afternoon Headlines newsletter that can be delivered daily to your inbox so you are up to date with the most vital news of the day. Click here to subscribe. With some online platforms blocking access to the journalism upon which you depend, our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed. Click here to subscribe.
National Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
10 observations from Saskatchewan's pre-season loss in Winnipeg
Article content The Saskatchewan Roughriders opened their 2025 CFL pre-season schedule on Saturday in Winnipeg with a 15-9 loss against the Blue Bombers. Article content Article content And while the game didn't feature many fireworks, with no touchdowns and eight field goals scored in the contest, there were a few notable performances from some members of the Green and White in the loss, which of course means nothing in the standings: Article content Top 10 Article content A.J. Ouellette's 21-yard run in the first half was one of Saskatchewan's best offensive bursts as the running back looks to return to form after missing time last year with a hip injury. Ouellette and many of the other returning starters played much of the first quarter before the backups entered the game. Fellow running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon also had a few nice rushes, including one for 18 yards, as part of a six-carry, 41-yard game. The Canadian, who is a valuable special teams player, has always been reliable when asked to carry the ball. Neither of Saskatchewan's American rookie running backs, Mario Anderson or Trent Pennix, were outstanding. Anderson had seven carries for 16 yards while Pennix ran the ball once for two yards. Receiver KeeSean Johnson had catches for 14 yards and 16 yards in the first half to lead the team. After a strong rookie season with 746 yards in 12 games, the 28-year-old former NFLer is hoping to take his game even further in 2025 as a key receiver. After 51-yard and 36-yard kickoff returns in the first half, rookie receiver Drae McCray looked like he could provide a spark on special teams. Was that performance enough to displace returning veteran Mario Alford? It's clear the Riders are taking a long look at McCray. None of the quarterbacks looked outstanding. However that's no concern. Trevor Harris started the game and played the first three drives, going 3-of-8 for 38 yards. Jake Maier came in and went 8-of-13 for 80 yards and an interception while Jack Coan saw some time as well, going 3-of-6 for 58 yards. Tommy Stevens, the short-yardage specialist who carried the ball three times for 15 yards, came into the game on the final series where he went 2-of-3 for 21 yards. While none of those performances were anything to write home about, the Roughriders already know what they have in the room, especially with Harris, Maier and Stevens, who will likely be the top three on the depth chart no matter what. With Nelson Lokombo not making the trip to Winnipeg, Jaxon Ford got the start at safety and made four nice tackles in the first half. Ford, who is now sporting No. 21, missed the first 12 games last year after recovering from a wrist injury. Tevaughn Campbell made his debut at cornerback and had a knockdown to go along with a pair of tackles in the first half. Campbell, who was once a Rider in 2016, is expected to be the shutdown cornerback the Roughriders were seeking this off-season. His Canadian passport also gives the Riders some ratio flexibility. Defensive lineman Benoit Marion had a nice forced fumble in the second half which was recovered by Alex Gubner. After coming in midway through the season last year, Marion was always around the ball any time he got a chance to be on the field in 2024. He may not be a starter in 2025 but he's proving to be a great depth player. With Adam Korsak retiring and the Roughriders releasing Joe Couch, the starting punting job appears to be Bailey Flint's. In his pre-season debut, the former Hamilton Tiger-Cat averaged 40.6 yards on five punts. Flint will want to boost those numbers before the regular season gets underway. The game featured a whole bunch of field goals with Winnipeg's Sergio Castillo making all five of his attempts to account for all 15 Blue Bombers points while Brett Lauther made two of his three kicks while rookie Brian Garrity was 1-for-2, with his 48-yard attempt falling way short. Despite the miss, Lauther isn't losing his job any time soon. Article content Article content
