Saskatchewan needed an extra frame to settle its oldest rivalry, but the Roughriders delivered the kind of finish that fit Labor Day weekend, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-26 at Mosaic Stadium.
A crowd of 34,352 watched the largest CFL audience ever recorded at the venue, and they got a dramatic ending when Winnipeg forced overtime on the final snap of regulation. With no time left, Zach Collaros found Dorian Singer for a five-yard touchdown that tied the game.
The Roughriders answered first in overtime. Tommy Stevens powered in from one yard away for his third touchdown of the day and his 15th rushing score this season, though Saskatchewan missed the two-point conversion that followed.
That left the door open, but the Riders’ defense shut it quickly. Winnipeg faced third-and-six from the Saskatchewan 31 and could not move the chains, as Jameer Thurman finished the stop behind the line to end the game.
Stevens and the Ground Game Deliver the Decisive Punch
Stevens’ short touchdown capped a physical, hard-earned victory and highlighted how much Saskatchewan leaned on toughness in key moments. The offense did not always flow smoothly, but it found enough rhythm to keep the pressure on Winnipeg.
Trevor Harris handled the passing workload and gave the Roughriders the balance they needed. He completed 23 of 33 passes for 362 yards and one touchdown, then pointed to the team’s ability to keep pushing even while dealing with major injuries.
Harris described the result as especially important this late in the season, noting that the offense was slow out of the gate before settling in during the middle of the second quarter. He also said the group’s ability to keep grinding despite missing key players made the win even more valuable.
Depth Players and a Strong Defense Push Saskatchewan Forward
Dhel Duncan-Busby took full advantage of the expanded opportunity created by injuries to Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker. The third-year receiver caught 10 passes for 140 yards, both career highs, and several of his biggest plays came on critical downs late in the fourth quarter.
His production lifted his season totals to 35 receptions and 504 yards. Duncan-Busby said patience paid off, especially on a roster that already had a deep receiving group before injuries forced others into larger roles.
The defense also played a major part in the outcome. Aubrey Miller Jr., making his first career start at linebacker, said the offense set the tone early and made the defensive job simpler by getting into the end zone and putting points on the board.
- Aubrey Miller Jr., Derick Roberson, and Seyi Oladipo each recorded a sack.
- Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira, who entered with 956 rushing yards, was held to 28 yards on nine carries.
- Jameer Thurman’s tackle for loss on the final series ended the contest.
Milestones, Standouts, and the Road Ahead
Harris also moved up the CFL’s all-time passing list with a 72-yard strike to Daniel Wiebe in the second quarter. That throw pushed him past Doug Flutie and into 10th place on the league’s career passing-yardage chart.
Harris finished the night with 41,590 passing yards in his career, trailing Matt Dunigan’s 43,857 for ninth place. Anthony Calvillo remains the CFL’s all-time leader with 79,816 yards.
KeeSean Johnson reached a personal benchmark as well, finishing with four catches for 32 yards to move past 1,000 receiving yards for the second straight season. He now has 81 receptions for 1,022 yards this year, just behind his 2025 totals of 86 catches and 1,159 yards.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros finished 27 of 40 for 279 yards and two touchdowns, finding Kevens Clercius and Singer for scores. Quali Conley caught Saskatchewan’s other touchdown, Roberson added a safety, Sergio Castillo made all four of his field-goal attempts, and Alex Hale connected on only one of three tries.
The teams will meet again on Saturday, September 12, when the rivalry shifts back to Winnipeg.