Saskatchewan needed overtime to finish off its longtime rival, but Tommy Stevens delivered when it mattered most. His one-yard score helped the Roughriders edge the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-26 in a tense Labor Day Classic at Mosaic Stadium.
The game drew 34,352 fans, the largest crowd ever for a CFL matchup at the stadium. Winnipeg forced the extra session at the buzzer when Zach Collaros found Dorian Singer for a five-yard touchdown on the final snap of regulation.
In overtime, Saskatchewan got the first punch. Stevens powered in for his third touchdown of the day and his 15th rushing major of the season, then the Roughriders came up short on the two-point attempt.
Winnipeg had one last chance to respond, but Saskatchewan’s defense shut it down. On third-and-six from the Riders’ 31, the Bombers failed to convert, and Jameer Thurman finished the play behind the line to end the game.
Trevor Harris handled most of the passing work for Saskatchewan, finishing 23 of 33 for 362 yards and a touchdown. He said the offense did not get rolling right away, but the group found its rhythm after the early stages.
With Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker unavailable, Dhel Duncan-Busby stepped into a bigger role and made it count. The third-year receiver produced career highs with 10 catches for 140 yards, including several key grabs on important late downs.
Harris also moved up the all-time CFL passing list. A 72-yard completion to Daniel Wiebe in the second quarter pushed him past Doug Flutie and into 10th place on the league’s career yardage chart.
Harris said the moment meant a lot because of the people around him, crediting teammates and coaches for helping him reach the milestone. He now has 41,590 career passing yards and trails Matt Dunigan’s 43,857 for ninth place.
Saskatchewan’s defense matched the offense with a strong effort of its own. Aubrey Miller Jr., making his first career start at linebacker, said the offense set the tone and gave the unit a lead it could protect.
Miller joined Derick Roberson and Seyi Oladipo in recording sacks, while the Riders held Brady Oliveira to 28 rushing yards on nine carries. Oliveira entered the game with 956 rushing yards, but Saskatchewan limited his impact from start to finish.
There were also special-team swings on both sides. Sergio Castillo hit all four of his field goal attempts for Winnipeg, while Alex Hale made just one of three tries for Saskatchewan.
Key scoring notes included Collaros finishing 27 of 40 for 279 yards and two touchdown passes, with Kevens Clercius also finding the end zone for Winnipeg. Quali Conley scored for Saskatchewan, and Roberson added a safety.
The teams will see each other again on Saturday, September 12, when Winnipeg hosts the rematch.
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