Tommy Stevens closes out scrappy Saskatchewan Roughriders win in Ottawa (& other thoughts)

Photo: Gord Weber/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders found a way to record a scrappy 27-22 win over the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 5.

It wasn’t pretty, but the Riders avoided an upset in the nation’s capital and put together a team effort to improve to 3-1 through four regular-season games in 2026.

10-point hole

Saskatchewan had the shovel out and dug themselves a 10-0 hole.

Canadian safety Alonzo Addae did his homework by watching the film and used his notes to jump a Trevor Harris slant throw to Kian Schaffer-Baker on the Riders’ opening drive. Addae’s contact popped the football into the air, and national A.J. Allen made a great heads-up hustle play for an interception.

After bringing pressure against left guard Zack Fry from his linebacker spot and blowing him back, Allen disengaged, found the ball and dove to secure his first INT with the Redblacks. That led to Cade McDonald’s first career CFL touchdown and a 7-0 lead for Ottawa.

Four snaps later, Antoine Brooks Jr. inexplicably released downfield to cover what he thought was an Oscar Chapman punt, but it never got off because special teams ace Brian Cole II came off the left edge to record a block with his helmet. Fortunately for the Green and White, the defence forced a two-and-out, which limited that damage to a Brett Lauther field goal.

Lauther, by the way, has made all 13 three-point attempts he’s tried so far in 2026. The former Rider has found his form.

Kee provides spark

KeeSean Johnson continues to make highlight reel catches, thanks to some help from his trigger man, Trevor Harris.

Harris let go one of his patented anticipatory throws across the middle, and Johnson made a leaping grab for a 24-yard gain early in the second quarter. That seemed to energize the offence and give them the same rhythm which helped Saskatchewan lead the league in net offence per game (472.7 yards) entering Week 5.

Johnson keyed a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a precise Harris throw to Dhel Duncan-Busby. He added a 23-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The 29-year-old recorded nine receptions for 137 yards with one major and has been earning his pay increase.

Banged-up Canadian targets

Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker were clearly playing at less than 100 percent in the nation’s capital. It begs the question: should both have been given the week to recover from an ankle and oblique injury, respectively?

Emilus was targeted six times; three he caught for 46 yards. Schaffer-Baker was targeted five times; one he hauled in for nine yards. The former had one uncharacteristic drop, and the latter let two notable balls slip through his hands and hit the turf.

Daniel Wiebe, who showed well in Week 4 against the Argonauts, could have stepped up into a starting role. D’Sean Mimbs caught both his targets versus Toronto.

Wiebe and Mimbs are not Emilus and Schaffer-Baker, but the season is a marathon, not a sprint.

Special teams impact

The Roughriders had given up a return touchdown in two straight games; Tyreik McAllister took a missed field goal back 120 yards in Week 3, and Janarion Grant returned a punt 68 yards for a TD in Week 4. Canadian linebacker Nick Wiebe was not about to let another return major happen in Ottawa.

Dangerous return man Kalil Pimpleton cut back during a kick return and appeared to find a seam, but Wiebe chased him down. He arrived with a vengeance, forced the ball out with a mean swipe, and even recovered his own forced fumble. That turnover led to a field goal, but perhaps most importantly, thwarted another possible return score.

Saskatchewan was able to produce a return touchdown themselves. After Ottawa started the third quarter with a two-and-out, Mathew Sexton, who was cut by the Redblacks following rookie camp, tight-roped down the sideline for a 101-yard punt return TD, thanks to punter Noah Gettman making a business decision.

Sexton deserves credit for scoring his first career CFL touchdown, but Gettman did not want anything to do with even attempting a tackle as No. 86 sped down the sideline. The 28-year-old Clinton, Michigan, native did a great job staying inbounds to take it to the house.

Third-down stuff

With less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Ryan Dinwiddie decided to go for it on third-and-one. Bryson Barnes came in for a QB sneak and needed to get to Saskatchewan’s 15-yard line for a first down. Regina native Jaxon Ford stuffed Barnes off the right side to force a turnover on downs.

Ford has stood out and looked comfortable making plays since taking over for Nelson Lokombo starting at safety in Week 3.

Tommy the Tank

Tommy Stevens powered his way over the Redblacks to secure the Roughriders’ third win in 2026.

Offensive coordinator Marc Mueller used Stevens to close the game out on the final drive. He had five carries for 29 yards, four using what appeared to be a similar play. No. 17 employed a zone read look in the backfield with rookie American running back Quali Conley, and each time proceeded to follow him towards the line of scrimmage for key yardage up the middle and off the left side.

Yes, Harris completed a tight window throw to Samuel Emilus running a corner route for 27 yards by the left sideline, but Stevens was the closer for the Riders in the nation’s capital. The 112th Grey Cup MVP called it “the Tommy package” post-game on 620 CKRM. Other teams will have to prepare for Stevens and his package in the future.

Moving up the charts

Trevor Harris entered Week 5 averaging over 391 passing yards per game through three starts. That put him on pace to break the single-season passing yards record, which was set by Doug Flutie (6,619) in 1991.

He completed 18-of-31 passes for 243 yards with two touchdowns and one interception against the Redblacks. That lowered his average to 354.5 passing yards per game, but still puts him on pace to post a rare 6,000-yard number in that category.

When looking at career numbers, Harris moved into 12th all-time in passing yards by hitting Johnny Johnson III for 23 yards on a post route which split cover two with less than one minute left in the third quarter. He could realistically pass Tracy Ham (40,534) and Doug Flutie (41,355) to be 10th by season’s end.

What might be more notable: the 40-year-old’s first carry in 2026 went for nine yards in the third quarter. T-Mobile now has 258 carries for 1,206 yards, 4.7 per carry, with 11 touchdowns in his CFL career.