Riders can become first team to punch playoff ticket with win over Alouettes

By Canadian Press on September 12, 2025.

REGINA — Despite having the best record in the CFL, the Saskatchewan Roughriders aren’t taking any time to bask in their success.

The Riders, who led the West Division with a 10-2 record, can become first team to clinch a playoff berth this season with a win over the struggling Montreal Alouettes on Saturday.

But that’s not an achievement that motivates the Riders.

“That doesn’t move the needle for me. We have some goals this year, like sweeping the Labour Day Classic and the Banjo Bowl. We did that, it’s great but we’ve moved on from that,” said Riders quarterback Trevor Harris. “Now, what it’s like now? What are you going to do?

“And so now our mindset is we’ve got to go win this game and go 1-0 this week. We’re building something, and this year we’re on the clock, and it’s our time to kind of continue to press the pedal, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The Riders actually have several avenues to clinch a playoff spot this weekend. Should the Alouettes defeat the Riders on Saturday, Saskatchewan can still grab a post-season berth through any of the following three scenarios this weekend: A combination of a Winnipeg loss and a B.C. loss; a combination of a Winnipeg loss and an Edmonton loss; and a combination of a B.C. loss and an Edmonton loss.

The Riders enter Saturday’s game on a good run, having won six of their last seven games. The 5-7 Alouettes, on the other hand, are on a five-game losing streak after starting the season 5-2. Injuries under centre have made the campaign difficult for the Alouettes, who have had four different starting quarterbacks this season.

Davis Alexander started the campaign as the No. 1 pivot, but a hamstring injury has sidelined him since July 17. McLeod Bethel-Thompson took over only to be sidelined after suffering an elbow injury on Aug. 8. Next to step into the role was Caleb Evans who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee on Aug. 19. James Morgan, who started the season as the fourth quarterback on Montreal’s depth chart, shifted into the starting role to replace Evans.

Morgan started the next two games, losses to Winnipeg and Hamilton, and will be the backup Saturday as Bethel-Thompson returns to the lineup.

Although Bethel-Thompson hasn’t played in four weeks, once he was given medical clearance to play Montreal head coach Jason Maas made the decision to put the 37-year-old veteran quarterback into the lineup.

“He has won for us and he’s a veteran in the league. That veteran presence, you can’t buy that, and I think he has it,” Maas said.

“He was dealing with some stuff and playing at the same time. We sat him for a reason, and we knew it was going to be a timeline to get him back. I’m thankful the timeline is good for us.”

While the Alouettes have been dealing with injured quarterbacks, the Riders had an interesting week with injuries to their defensive backs. On Tuesday, Tevaughn Campbell, Marcus Sayles, CJ Reavis, Nelson Lokombo and Jaxon Ford were held out of practice due to injury.

By Thursday, Reavis was deemed available, Campbell and Sayles were listed as questionable and Lokombo and Ford were ruled out for Saturday’s game.

When the Riders released their depth chart Friday morning, Campbell and Sayle, Saskatchewan’s starting cornerbacks, were listed as game-time decisions. Should they not be available, possible replacements for Campbell, who leads the CFL with six interceptions, and Sayles are veteran Lerfalla-Emmanuel Exume and rookie Bennie Sapp II, who signed with the Riders on Aug. 18.

Riders defensive lineman Malik Carney said the uncertainty regarding the makeup of the defensive backfield didn’t make preparation for Saturday’s game difficult.

“It’s not hard at all. We’re loaded on the back end and very confident in our guys up front,” said Carney, who has seven sacks and 31 defensive tackles in 12 games this year. “It’s not a challenge at all, because I know what they can do.

“I’ve seen it all year. If they’re playing, they’re playing. If not, it’s the next man up mentality. It doesn’t change the standard. The standard is high and I’m very confident in the guys who play.”

Carney’s seven sacks equal his career high which he set in 2022 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES (5-7-0) AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (10-2-0)

Saturday at Mosaic Stadium

CARDIAC KIDS: Saskatchewan has the best record in close games this season, posting a 7-0 record in games decided in the final three minutes. Since 2023, 32 of Saskatchewan’s 48 games have gone to the final three minutes before being decided.

RIGHT ON TARGET: Montreal kicker Jose Maltos is the CFL leader with 37 field goals made and 40 field goals attempted for a success rate of 90 per cent. In his last seven games Maltos has been successful on 21 of 22 field goal attempts.

MILESTONES IN SIGHT: Harris is closing in on two career passing marks — he is sitting at 199 career touchdown passes and 2,981 career completions. In 11 games this season, Harris is averaging 21 completions and 1.7 touchdown passes per game.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published September 12, 2025.

The Canadian Press