Saskatchewan needed one more period to settle its latest showdown with Winnipeg, and the Roughriders made the most of it with a 32-26 overtime victory at Mosaic Stadium.
The Labor Day Classic drew a crowd of 34,352, the largest ever for a CFL game at the venue. Winnipeg forced the extra session when Zach Collaros found Dorian Singer for a five-yard touchdown as regulation expired.
Stevens Delivers the Winning Punch
The Roughriders answered quickly once overtime began. Tommy Stevens powered in from one yard out for his third touchdown of the game and his 15th rushing score of the season, giving Saskatchewan the edge.
The two-point conversion failed, so the door stayed open for Winnipeg. Saskatchewan’s defense did not blink.
On third-and-six from the Riders’ 31-yard line, the Blue Bombers could not move the chains. Jameer Thurman finished the stop by dropping the receiver behind the line, sealing the win for Saskatchewan.
Offense Finds a Rhythm After a Slow Start
Trevor Harris handled the passing workload for Saskatchewan and finished 23 of 33 for 362 yards and a touchdown. He said the attack took time to settle in, but the group gradually found its pace as the game moved along.
Harris said the victory mattered because the club is battling through injuries and needs wins at this point in the season. He added that the offense began to click in the middle of the second quarter and kept building from there.
That resilience showed in the standings as well. Saskatchewan improved to 8-4 and remained second in the West Division behind Edmonton, which entered Monday at 8-3 before facing Calgary. Winnipeg dropped to 6-6.
Depth Players Step Into Bigger Roles
With Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker unavailable, Dhel Duncan-Busby became a major part of the passing game. The third-year receiver caught 10 passes for 140 yards, both career highs, and several of his biggest plays came on important downs late in the fourth quarter.
He credited patience and opportunity, noting that injuries have forced different receivers to take turns carrying the load. His season totals now stand at 35 catches for 504 yards.
The defense also had plenty to say about the result. Aubrey Miller Jr., making his first career start at linebacker, pointed to the offense for setting the tone before the defensive unit finished the job.
- Saskatchewan’s defense recorded sacks from Aubrey Miller Jr., Derick Roberson, and Seyi Oladipo.
- Brady Oliveira, who entered with 956 rushing yards, was held to 28 yards on nine carries.
- Winnipeg’s offense was limited in key moments, especially when the game reached overtime.
Milestones Add Extra Meaning to the Win
The night also carried historical weight for Harris. A 72-yard completion to Daniel Wiebe in the second quarter moved him past Doug Flutie into 10th place on the CFL’s all-time passing yardage list. Harris entered the game needing 127 yards to pass Flutie’s total of 41,355.
He called the moment fitting, saying his career has been shaped by teammates and coaches who helped him get there. Harris now has 41,590 passing yards and sits behind only Matt Dunigan, who holds ninth place with 43,857. Anthony Calvillo remains the CFL’s all-time leader with 79,816.
KeeSean Johnson also reached a personal benchmark. He caught four passes for 32 yards and moved past 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season, giving him 81 receptions and 1,022 yards this year.
Game Details That Shaped the Finish
Collaros ended the night 27 of 40 for 279 yards and two touchdown passes, finding Kevens Clercius and Singer for scores. Saskatchewan also got a touchdown catch from Quali Conley and a safety from Roberson.
Special teams played a role too. Sergio Castillo was perfect on four field-goal attempts for Winnipeg, while Alex Hale connected on just one of three tries for Saskatchewan.
The rivalry continues quickly, with the teams set to meet again on Saturday, September 12, in Winnipeg.