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National Post
7 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Roughriders ready for Fajardo-led Elks on Friday night in Week 8
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to take on the Edmonton Elks for the first time this season. Article content After beating the B.C. Lions in Vancouver last weekend, the Roughriders (5-1) are now set to host the Elks (1-4) on Friday night (7 p.m., TSN) at Mosaic Stadium in Week 8 of the CFL season. Article content The Elks, who are coming off a bye week, lost to the Lions 32-14 in their last outing on July 13 to drop to 1-4. Article content Article content Saskatchewan has won 11 of the past 15 matchups between the two clubs, but Edmonton has won the previous two meets at Mosaic Stadium. Article content Fajardo — who played for the Riders in 2019-22 — has never started against his former team despite spending the last two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes prior to joining the Elks this season. This season Fajardo has thrown nine passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in relief of Ford, who is listed as the backup. As for the Riders, the Green and White have made two lineup changes. Article content With veteran running back Ka'Deem Carey (knee) heading to the six-game injured list, rookie Mario Anderson will make his CFL debut at backup running back behind starter A.J. Ouellette. Article content And along the offensive line, Noah Zerr starts at left guard for Zack Fry (head), who is headed the one-game injured list. Rookie Darius Washington makes his second career start at left tackle as Daniel Johnson remains on the one-game injured list. Article content Article content Article content While it's the first meeting of the season between the two clubs, who will also meet on Sept. 27 in Week 17, the Roughriders will be reminded of what Edmonton did to them last year. Article content In Week 9 of the season in 2024, the Elks came into Saskatchewan and picked up their first win of the season as they defeated the Riders 42-31. The loss, which was Saskatchewan's second defeat in a seven-game winless skid, dropped their record to 5-3. Article content In that game, Ford — who was making his first start of the season — threw for 252 yards and rushed for 46 more while running back Javon Leake put up 169 rushing yards. Article content In 2023, a similar storyline played out in Week 15 of the season when Edmonton came into Saskatchewan and picked up a 36-27 victory thanks to a 175-yard performance by running back Kevin Brown, while Ford ran for 70 yards of his own and passed for 173 more. Article content That loss dropped the Riders record to 6-7 while Edmonton improved to 4-10. Article content Dual threat
CTV News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Harris throws for three touchdowns, Saskatchewan Roughriders thump B.C. Lions 33-27
Saskatchewan Roughriders' AJ Ouellette, left, carries the ball during the second half of a CFL football game against the B.C. Lions, in Vancouver, on Saturday, July 19, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck A dominant performance from quarterback Trevor Harris powered the Saskatchewan Roughriders to 33-27 victory over the B.C. Lions on Saturday. Harris connected on 23 of his 30 passing attempts for 395 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the West Division matchup. Kicker Brett Lauther added four field goals for the Riders (5-1), including a 45-yard strike in the first quarter. There was bad news for Saskatchewan, too, as running back Ka'Deem Carey left the game midway through the third quarter with an apparent leg injury and did not return. Nathan Rourke chalked up 337 passing yards with three TDs for the Lions (3-4). The Canadian QB made good on 27 of his 41 attempts, had one interception and was sacked once. The Riders had 506 yards of net offence across the game, compared to 373 yards for the Lions. Saskatchewan struck early on Saturday, with Harris lobbing a rainbow to Dohnte Meyers deep inside Lions' territory less than five minutes into the game. The American receiver nabbed the ball and darted into the end zone for Saskatchewan's first major of the night. B.C.'s troubles deepened on the next play when Seven McGee fumbled the kickoff return and Riders linebacker Jayden Dalke recovered it at the home side's 38-yard line. Lauther capitalized on the turnover with a 45-yard field goal that boosted Saskatchewan's lead to 10-0 midway through the opening frame. The offensive onslaught continued with Harris sailing a 29-yard pass to Joe Robustelli to put the visitors back in scoring position late in the quarter. The quarterback followed up with a short dish to A.J. Ouellette, who dashed five yards into the end zone. Lauther made the convert and the Riders went up 17-1. B.C.'s offence finally found its footing with just seconds to go in the first. Rourke escaped the pocket and fired a 40-yard pass to Ayden Eberhardt, who stepped over the goal line for the Lions' first TD of the night. The two sides traded field goals in the second quarter, with Lauther connecting on 27- and 41-yard attempts and B.C. kicker Sean Whyte sending a 47-yard kick through the uprights. Saskatchewan headed into the locker room up 23-11. The Riders picked up right where they left off out of the break. Less than four minutes into the third quarter, Harris found Meyers deep in the red zone for a 30-yard touchdown. Saskatchewan's biggest problem of the game came midway through the third when Carey was taken down by Lions linebacker Micah Awe, in a play that left the running back writhing on the turf in obvious discomfort. He was eventually helped off the field by two trainers, putting no weight on his right leg. B.C. got a spark late in the quarter when Eberhardt reeled in a 39-yard pass from Rourke. The Lions capped the drive with a gutsy play, going for pay dirt on third down where Rourke sent a rocket soaring to Stanley Berryhill III deep in the end zone. The home side then attempted a two-point convert, a move that paid off when the QB spun off a tackle and connected once again with Berryhill on a three-yard toss that cut Saskatchewan's lead to 33-19. Any faint hope of a late Lions comeback was quashed with just under three minutes on the game clock when Rourke's long bomb to Eberhardt ticked off the fingers of a Riders defender and was intercepted by Marcus Sayles. With 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter, B.C. added one last major with Rourke handing off to Eberhardt and the receiver rushing in for his second TD of the night. Running back James Butler muscled his way through traffic for a two-point conversion that sealed the score at 33-27.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
‘It'll be explosive': Ouellette, Carey hope dual threat may turn fortunes of Riders' run game
Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette (45) stiff arms B.C. Lions defensive back Ronald Kent Jr. (21) during the first half of CFL football action in Regina, on Saturday, October 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu Saskatchewan Roughriders running backs A.J. Ouellette and Ka'Deem Carey believe they can be the next great backfield tandem in the Canadian Football League (CFL). '[Ka'Deem] is a Grey Cup champion running back,' Ouellette said about his teammate. 'He knows how to play no matter the score, pressure of the game - he knows the offense. [He] is a smart, physical running back.' 'It's nice knowing [I] don't have to stay out there the whole game,' he added. Together, the two running backs have more than 10 years of CFL experience, two Grey Cup rings and three 1,000-yard rushing seasons. 'It's been great just being in the same room as [A.J.], honestly,' Carey said. 'I'm learning a lot from him. I can look at A.J. and see how he gets it done and put that in my arsenal.' 'I love having him right next to me and we just make each other better that way,' the running back added. Ka'Deem Carey Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Ka'Deem Carey (29) before the start of the CFL football action against the Hamilton Tiger Cats, in Hamilton, Ont., Saturday, June 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power (Peter Power/The Canadian Press) Ground game struggles The tandem's confidence may not be coming at a better time. Last week against Calgary, Saskatchewan managed just 16 yards rushing, averaging less than two yards per carry. Ouellette had just nine yards on nine carries. 'It wasn't what they were doing,' he told reporters Thursday. 'It was more what we were doing. We just have to play better.' 'Wake calls are good every now and then,' Ouellette added. Riders' offensive coordinator Marc Mueller believes his team was outplayed at the line of scrimmage against the Stamps. 'They got good players,' Mueller said. 'It was something maybe we needed. And it is good to have one of those early in the year, rather than later.' Despite the troubles on the ground, Saskatchewan did put up 425 passing yards. 'We have to be balanced while doing what we're good at,' the offensive coordinator added. Marc Mueller Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive coordinator Marc Mueller looks on before CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Regina, on Friday, August 16, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press) Looking up field Now the Riders turn to the B.C. Lions in hopes of turning things around, particularly in the run game. 'We have to stay on the field,' Mueller reiterated. 'Early [against Calgary], we had three or four three and outs in a row. When we had a little momentum, they got us off the field with turnovers.' Saskatchewan played B.C. just three weeks ago – a 37-18 win over the Lions. 'They're a good defense and it's going to be a great challenge for us,' Mueller said. The coordinator hinted Carey could see an expanded role in the backfield, now with the team for a few weeks. 'We're comfortable putting both [A.J. and Ka'Deem] out there, whether it's together or individually – we showed that a bit last game,' Mueller said. 'They're not much different [from each other]. They're both really good, well-rounded backs and we trust them to run the offense the way we run it.' Carey says the transition to Saskatchewan has been smooth as he awaits his larger role in the play calling. 'We're just trying to figure out what is the best plays to put out there with me and A.J. and attack the defense,' Carey said. 'We're slowly getting into it. But the time [is] coming and it's going to be pretty explosive when it does.' A.J. Ouellette Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette (45) leaps before CFL football action against the Calgary Stampeders in Regina, on Saturday, July 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press) Against the Lions in Week 4, Ouellette rushed for 139 yards – his first 100-yard rushing game as a Rider. However, he welcomed the possibility of adding another 1,000-yard rusher to the offense on a regular basis. 'That'd be nice,' Ouellette said with a chuckle. 'I would love some more deep threats down the field.' Saskatchewan has one final practice Friday morning, before travelling to Vancouver for Saturday's game. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CST at B.C. Place.
CBC
15-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
The unbeaten Riders keep finding a way to rise above injuries. Next up, their biggest test yet
You could forgive a Saskatchewan Roughriders fan for holding their breath when quarterback Trevor Harris tackled running back A.J. Ouellette in a bear hug after last weekend's win against the B.C. Lions. The Riders have had terrible luck with injuries this season, so it wouldn't be too surprising if the team's star running back was injured due to a freak accident. Going over the Riders' injury list, it seems as though one of the only members of the team yet to spend time in the trainer's room has been Gainer the Gopher. In spite of the injuries, the Riders are heading into Week 6 at the top of the standings, having cemented unbeaten status with a 37-18 win over the BC Lions to improve to 4-0. They are the last remaining unbeaten team in the CFL after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lost to the Calgary Stampeders last week. A team dealing with as many injuries as the Riders shouldn't be this good. But for those that have been tuned into the team since Corey Mace became the head coach, it's difficult to be surprised. In the locker room last season, Mace would tell his players that they were "built for this." Well, here's another situation they were built for. All-star centre Sean McEwen went down before the Riders had even played a game. No problem. Right guard Logan Ferland will slide over to take McEwen's place. Ferland was used to changing places, having seemingly played every position on the offensive line last season. Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker suffered an injury in the first game of the season. Samuel Emilus was ready to step into the spot. When Emilus suffered an ailment, Dohnte Meyers, KeeSean Johnson and Dhel Duncan-Busby picked up the slack. The backfield has also been crowded this season, with Ouellette, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon and Ka'Deem Carey each getting to carry the ball thanks to various bumps and bruises. Perhaps the biggest injury of all was to quarterback Trevor Harris, who was sidelined for the game against the Lions due to a head injury. The Riders didn't press the panic button, as Jake Maier replaced Harris. Just in case it felt like the ship might be taking on a bit of water, special teams dynamo Mario Alford to delivered a walk-off kick return touchdown. Four wins. No losses. Zero excuses. This weekend, the Riders will be looking for their fifth win of the season as the Calgary Stampeders pay a visit to Mosaic Stadium. Trevor Harris has taken first team reps at practice and looks poised to make his return to the lineup. It will be interesting to see if there's any rust on Harris's game. Coming back from an injury — especially a head injury — is always a challenge. This game is Saskatchewan's biggest test to date. A win would give them a cushion in first place. The team would also be off to its best start since 2013. A loss would allow Calgary to claim top billing. So far this year, the team has faced adversity and kept going strong. In a way, this year's edition of the Green and White could be seen as a reflection of the people of the province. During Saskatchewan's cold winters, the people don't complain, they put on extra layers and go about their lives. When a player goes down on the field, the Riders plug in the next guy and keep going. More importantly, they just keep winning. Riderville is pinning their hopes on that streak continuing.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., Stampeders face another unbeaten challenge
Vernon Adams Jr. and the Calgary Stampeders face another undefeated challenge. Calgary (3-1) visits the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-0)—the CFL's lone remaining unbeaten squad—on Friday night. Last week, Adams and Co. defeated Winnipeg 37-16, handing the Blue Bombers their first loss of the season. Saskatchewan is not only at home—where it has won four of its last five games—but also comes off a bye week, having amassed a 4-1 record following a week off the last two years. And veteran starter Trevor Harris (head/illness) resumed practising this week after missing the Riders' 37-18 home win over B.C. on June 28. Backup Jake Maier stepped in and threw for 170 yards and a TD but AJ Ouellette was the main offensive threat, running for 139 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Saskatchewan rushed for 188 yards on 33 attempts (5.7-yard average) overall. The ground game is important for Saskatchewan, which is averaging a CFL-best 138.5 yards per game. Ouellette, is the league's rushing leader with 347 yards (6.2-yard average per carry, three TDs). Saskatchewan is also averaging a CFL-leading 29.3 offensive points per game while having committed a league-low five turnovers. But the Riders are eighth overall in penalties (9.5 per game) and last in yards (109.8). Adams threw two TD passes—his first this season—versus Winnipeg and stands third in the CFL in passing (1,025 yards). He's also Calgary's second-leading rusher (116 yards on 14 carries, 8.3-yard average). Dedrick Mills carries the rushing load for Calgary. He's second overall behind Ouellette with 311 yards (4.9-yard average) but leads the CFL in touchdowns (five) and runs of 10-plus yards (nine). Calgary's defence also got into the act versus Winnipeg with Damon Webb and Derrick Moncrief returning interceptions for TDs. The Stampeders are allowing 18.3 offensive points per game and have given up just five total touchdowns, both league lows. Saskatchewan's defence is surrendering 66.5 rushing yards per game, the fewest in the CFL. The Riders are not only 3-0 this season with Harris but the veteran quarterback has completed 72.5 per cent of his passes. He's also averaging a league-best 10.1 yards per passing attempt. This marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the West Division rivals. They'll square off at McMahon Stadium on Aug. 23. The Riders and Stamps split their two games last year, with each winning on the road. Calgary has history on its side, sporting a 7-1 regular-season record at Mosaic Stadium since it opened in 2017. Overall, the Stampeders are 10-1 in their most recent regular-season visits to Saskatchewan. Pick: Saskatchewan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025. Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
