Vernon Adams Jr., stingy Stampeders defense hand Roughriders first loss of 2025 after 19-hour delay to kickoff

CTV News

3 days ago

Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker CJ Reavis (1) fumbles the football in the end zone after making an interception during the first half of CFL football action against the Calgary Stampeders in Regina, on Saturday, July 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
Nineteen hours after the originally scheduled kickoff time Friday night, the Calgary Stampeders rolled to a 24-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday – handing the Riders their first loss of the season.
The Week 6 matchup failed to live up to the hype leading up. Friday night was meant to be one of the biggest games in the 2025 CFL season to date between the Roughriders and Stampeders, but Mother Nature had other plans.
Kickoff was moved to Saturday afternoon due to poor air quality at Mosaic Stadium caused by heavy smoke which descended on Regina Friday from wildfires in the province's north. A long delay and ultimate cancellation Friday night came after more than three and a half hours of waiting for a decision.
When play finally got underway shortly after 2 p.m. local time, Saskatchewan's defense came out firing.
An interception on Calgary's first offensive play of the game brought fans in Mosaic to life early.
The Riders, however, were only able to salvage a Brett Lauther field goal out of the short field to take a 3-0 lead.
From there, Calgary flipped the momentum.
Led by quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., the offense exploded for over 380 yards in the first half – 295 of them via the arm of Adams.
The Stampeders' pivot would finish with 428 yards on 28 completions, 3 TDs and 2 INTs, highlighted with an 81-yard touchdown pass to 2025 first overall CFL draft pick Damien Alford in the third quarter.
Vernon Adams Jr.
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (3) throws the football against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of CFL football action in Regina, on Saturday, July 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
(Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press)
Going into the game, Calgary had surrendered the fewest offensive points in the CFL through four games – continuing their stellar defensive play.
Riders' quarterback Trevor Harris, who missed the team's Week 4 game with a concussion, countered with a 36/44 effort passing, 425 yards and a touchdown. He was also sacked three times and lost a fumble.
The loss also ends Harris' seven-game regular season win streak – one short of tying a league record, which Harris holds.
Joe Robustelli was the best Riders' receiver Saturday afternoon. He was targeted 12 times by Harris, making 11 catches for 191 yards, a career high - adding his first CFL touchdown reception.
The run game was also snuffed out, with A.J. Ouellette notching just nine yards on six carries.
He would add 46 yards receiving on five catches.
Ouellette's Calgary counterpart, Dedrick Mills, rushed for 85 yards on 14 carries.
Riders' return man Mario Alford left the game in the second quarter with a lower body injury, he did not return. No update on his status was available immediately following the game.
Saskatchewan falls to 4-1 and out of fist place in the West Division. Calgary, also 4-1, jump the Riders in the standings due to holding the tiebreaker.
The Roughriders are next in action on Saturday July 19, on the road in B.C. against the Lions.