The Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-0) kicked off the 2025 season on Thursday night from Mosaic Stadium against the Ottawa Redblacks (0-1). Both teams came into this game with a ton of injuries and unfortunately, the list is about to get bigger.
First Quarter:
Ottawa was penalized for a time count violation to begin the game. After that, they got off to a solid start on the opening series of the first quarter. Quarterback Dru Brown completed seven straight passes for 84 yards leading the team down to the one-yard line. Backup quarterback Dustin Crum came in and scored the one-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead. The drive went 11 plays for 82 yards.
Saskatchewan’s offense was quiet in the first quarter. Ottawa’s defense came up with a turnover when Adrian Frye stripped the ball away from Samuel Emilus and recovered it on Saskatchewan’s 44-yard line. Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown completed one pass for six yards to Anthony Gosselin but they were short of the first down.
Kicker Lewis Ward had a chance to extend Ottawa’s lead but he missed a 45-yard field goal. Saskatchewan returner Mario Alford returned the missed field goal for 60 yards to set them up on their 46-yard line.
Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris completed two passes for 31 yards, and running back A.J. Ouellette had two carries for 17 yards. On the final play of the first quarter, Harris’s pass intended for Samuel Emilus was incomplete but a roughing a passer penalty on Ottawa defensive lineman Bryce Carter gave Saskatchewan a first down to Ottawa’s one-yard line to begin the second quarter down 7-0.
Second Quarter:
Saskatchewan began the second quarter when third-string quarterback Tommy Stevens pushed his way into the endzone for a one-yard touchdown. The game was now tied 7-7 capping off a seven-play drive for 46 yards.
Ottawa’s offense struggled in the second quarter with only 91 yards and no points. Saskatchewan’s defense did a good job and the offense took advantage.
Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris completed three passes for 48 yards, and running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon had three carries for 17 yards to Ottawa’s nine-yard line. Then, Trevor Harris threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Emilus in between two Ottawa players to take a 14-7 lead with 14:32 left capping off a seven-play drive for 80 yards.
Ottawa’s defense on the next series were able to get a turnover when C.J. Coldon intercepted Trevor Harris. Again, Ottawa’s offense could turn them into points. With under a minute of the second quarter, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther made an 18-yard field goal for a 17-7 lead heading into halftime. Saskatchewan suffered a couple of major injuries losing running back A.J. Ouellette and defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr.
First Half Stats:
Saskatchewan had 226 yards of offense (165 yards passing, 61 yards rushing) in the first half. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 11 of 14 passes (79%) for 165 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and one carry for four yards.
Before the injury, running back A.J. Ouellette had three carries for 29 yards, and Thomas Bertrand-Hudon had seven carries for 29 yards. Wide receiver Samuel Emilus made six catches for 106 yards, and one touchdown. The defense made one sack and one tackle for loss.
Ottawa had 179 yards of offense (185 yards passing, 3 yards rushing). Quarterback Dru Brown completed 16 of 19 passes (84.2%) for 185 yards. Backup quarterback Dustin Crum led the rushers with two carries for two yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Justin Hardy led the receivers making three catches for 59 yards. Ottawa’s defense had one interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. The problem Ottawa had was penalties. They were penalized seven times for 68 yards.
Third Quarter:
Saskatchewan returner Mario Alford gave the Roughriders good field position with a 26-yard run to their 42-yard line to begin the third quarter. Running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon rushed up the middle for 37 yards but it was wiped away on a holding penalty backing them up 10 yards.
Quarterback Trevor Harris completed three straight passes for 64 yards, including a 38-yarder to KeeSean Johnson. On the next play, Harris completed a short pass to Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, who followed his blockers up front to score a 14-yard touchdown. It was now 24-7 Roughriders capping off a six-play drive for 68 yards.
Ottawa’s offense needed to respond. Quarterback Dru Brown threw passes for 59 yards. With 7:21 to go in the third quarter, Brown threw a pass to Eugene Lewis for eight yards that looked like he broke the plain into the endzone as he was being pushed back near the five-yard line. The officials reviewed the play and determined that indeed Lewis scored the touchdown. It was now 24-14 with 6:18 left to cap off an eight-play drive for 43 yards.
Saskatchewan’s offense began their next drive on Ottawa’s 43-yard line. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed two passes for 27 yards and running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon had two carries for 16 yards, including a six-yard touchdown for a 31-14 lead with 3:40 left.
Ottawa’s offense had the ball the rest of the fourth quarter. They were able to get to the Saskatchewan’s eight-yard line to begin the fourth quarter down 31-14.
Fourth Quarter:
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Ottawa running back William Stanback rushed for a two-yard touchdown. Kicker Lewis Ward missed the extra point and it was now 31-20 to cap off a nine-play drive for 95 yards.
Ottawa continued to trim Saskatchewan’s lead. Quarterback Dru Brown threw four passes for 58 yards, and running back William Stanback had two carries for eight yards to get them to Saskatchewan’s 27-yard line. On the next play, Brown threw a pass to Justin Hardy, who made a Saskatchewan player miss him to score a 27-yard touchdown. They attempted a two-point conversion but did not get it. It was now 31-26 with 3:55 left of the game.
Late in the game, Ottawa’s offense did not protect Dru Brown. Linebacker Jameer Thurman went untouched on his way to sacking Brown. Brown twisted his hip and Thurman landed on it and Dru had to be helped up. He struggled to move around afterward.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders, despite losing three starters in this game, managed to hold on to a 31-26 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. The third player that got injured was left guard Payton Collins.
Final Stats:
Saskatchewan had 366 yards of offense (277 yards passing, 89 yards rushing). Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 19 of 26 passes (73%) for 277 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and one carry for four yards. Running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon led the rushers with 14 carries for 57 yards, one touchdown, two catches for 17 yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Samuel Emilus led the receivers making eight catches for 133 yards, and one touchdown. Kicker Brett Lauther made one field goal for 18 yards. The defense made 50 tackles, one tackle for loss, and four sacks.
Ottawa had 398 yards of offense (413 yards passing, 30 yards rushing). Quarterback Dru Brown completed 34 of 41 passes (83%) for 413 yards and two touchdowns. Running back William Stanback led the rushers with nine carries for 26 yards and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Justin Hardy led the receivers making eight catches for 133 yards, and one touchdown, while Eugene Lewis made five catches for 57 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 32 tackles, one tackle for loss, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Next week, the Ottawa Redblacks host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday at 7:30 pm on TSN and CFL+, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday at 7 pm on TSN, CBS Sports Network, and CFL+. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub.
