Once the CFL playoffs arrive, “the rest is history” will apply to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Resting players will not be an option as the preoccupation becomes to make history by capturing the fifth Grey Cup championship in franchise history.
In the meantime, and in between time, the Roughriders are winding up the regular season with back-to-back games that do not have any influence on their post-season positioning.
Just over a week has elapsed since Saskatchewan secured first place overall and the honour of playing host to the Western Final (Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
By then, the details from last night’s 17-16 loss to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have been rendered trivial, if that.
For now, however, the game is fresh in our minds.
Any reasonable, rational evaluation of the proceedings must take into consideration the Roughriders’ decision to rest an assortment of starters and take precautions with some other front-liners.
Quarterback Trevor Harris, running back A.J. Ouellette, centre Logan Ferland, right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, receiver Samuel Emilus and defensive tackle Micah Johnson — all of whom could have played under conventional circumstances — were either scratched or welded to the sideline.
KeeSean Johnson and Dohnte Meyers, both of whom have topped 1,000 receiving yards this season, were also out of the lineup. Johnson has a knee injury. Meyers rested a bothersome ankle.
Cornerback Marcus Sayles, who has played through an ankle injury of late, joined both Johnsons, Emilus, Hardrick, Meyers, Ouellette and defensive halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. on the one-game injured list. (Milligan Jr. has sat out the past two games while recovering from foot and ankle injuries.)
Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker dressed for Friday’s game but was largely an observer.
With so many principal players excluded from the equation, Saskatchewan nonetheless threw a serious scare into a Winnipeg squad that could not nail down Friday’s victory until Sergio Castillo kicked a chip-shot field goal on the final play.
Along the way, Saskatchewan limited Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros — who absorbed a series of jarring hits in a gutsy performance — to 182 passing yards. Winnipeg’s net offence was an atypically modest 278 yards.
It says something for the Roughriders’ depth and determination that the Blue Bombers, in an uncharacteristic late-season battle for a playoff berth, were pushed to the limit on home turf before a sellout crowd.
That is one scribbler’s take, anyway.
“We lost, so I’m not good,” linebacker A.J. Allen told reporters at Princess Auto Stadium after registering a career-high nine tackles.
“I’m proud of how we battled until the last second, but that’s not our standard. More work to do.”
One more regular-season game remains — an Oct. 25 appointment with the B.C. Lions (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
It is not yet known what roster decisions will be made for next week’s game.
This much is certain: The Roughriders have clinched first place for only the ninth time in team history.
Only one home-field win, on Nov. 8, separates them from appearing in the 112th Grey Cup Game.
The CFL’s showcase event will be held in Winnipeg, where — as a pronounced contrast to Friday — both teams will have everything at stake.
QUICK SIX
Jack Coan has just registered the ninth-fastest touchdown in Roughriders history.
He scored on a one-yard run just 50 seconds into Friday’s game.
Saskatchewan capitalized quickly after Kerfalla Exume forced and recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff. Winnipeg was then flagged for pass interference in the end zone, moving the visitors to within one yard of six points.
Coan scored on the next play, making Saskatchewan 6-for-6 this season on first-and-goal runs from the one-yard line. (Tommy Stevens has four such touchdowns. Ouellette has the other one.)
The Coan TD was the Roughriders’ fifth-fastest offensive touchdown. The list, which begins with four kickoff returns, also includes a pick-six.
12 seconds: Corey Holmes, 81-yard kickoff return vs. Winnipeg, June 25, 2005.
0:13: Albert Brown, 97-yard kickoff return vs. Edmonton, July 12, 1991.
0:13: Marcus Thigpen, 97-yard kickoff return vs. Ottawa, Sept. 15, 2018.
0:14: Mario Alford, 101-yard kickoff return vs. Edmonton, Aug. 3, 2024.
0:30: Joe Barnes to Joey Walters, 72-yard pass at Winnipeg, Sept. 12, 1981.
0:30: Kerry Joseph to D.J. Flick, 62-yard pass vs. Calgary, Nov. 11, 2007 (playoffs).
0:33: Ron Lancaster to Gord Barwell, 102-yard pass at B.C., Oct. 24, 1965.
0:36: Jackie Mitchell, 47-yard interception return at Calgary, Aug. 17, 2001.
0:44: Tom Burgess to Jeff Fairholm, 79-yard pass vs. Winnipeg, July 29, 1988.
0:50: Jack Coan, one-yard run at Winnipeg, Oct. 17, 2025.
Coan became the second alumnus of the famed Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program to reach the end zone in a regular-season game for Saskatchewan.
Quarterback Frank Tripucka scored his fifth and final touchdown as Roughrider on Oct. 21, 1957 in Winnipeg.
A mere 24,833 days later, Coan became the next former Fighting Irish footballer to cross the goal line for Saskatchewan.
THERE’S SNOW PLACE LIKE LEIBEL FIELD
Caleb Barajas thundered toward the end zone six days ago.
The Regina Thunder offensive lineman — also a member of the Roughriders’ practice roster — rushed for an 11-yard touchdown in a 56-3 Prairie Football Conference victory over the Edmonton Wildcats at Leibel Field.
“That was my first career touchdown,” the 6-foot-4, 285-pounder said. “My first career pass, run … whatever you want to call it.”
The toss was initially recorded as a pass before the statisticians concluded it was a run.
It was that type of day for the Thunder, which amassed — get this — 632 rushing yards to shatter a Canadian Junior Football League single-game record.
“To be honest, our starters got pulled out at the half, so (credit) goes to the whole O-line room — not just the starters,” Barajas said with a smile. “It’s a great feeling.”
Barajas, 22, is the rare junior player who hails from California.
He spent two seasons at Ventura College, located in his hometown, before joining the Thunder last season and being named a second-team CJFL All-Canadian. He was also on the Roughriders’ practice roster for a portion of last season.
Although Barajas is now accustomed to life north of the border, he was able to experience something new when the Thunder played host to the Huskies.
“This past Sunday’s game was my first time ever seeing snow and, obviously, playing in a snow game,” he said with a smile. “I absolutely love it. It’s probably my new favourite weather game.”
Why?!
“It’s just something different,” Barajas responded, “and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. You kind of get numb to the cold after a little while.
“It’s just so fun being out there with the guys. You’ve got to take advantage of the moment.”
That being done, Barajas was quick to respond to some incredulous messages from back home.
“I had quite a few phone calls and texts saying, ‘What the hell is going on up there?’ ” he said with a laugh. “Over in California, we barely even get rain, so this is something new.”
The big news in PFC circles this weekend pertains to this weekend’s semi-finals, both of which are set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
The first-place Thunder (7-1) is to meet the fourth-ranked Edmonton Huskies (3-5) at Leibel Field. Meanwhile, the second-place Saskatoon Hilltops (6-2) will oppose the third-seeded Winnipeg Rifles (4-4) at SMF Field.
The Thunder and Hilltops receive assistance from the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, which supports amateur football throughout the province.
REMEMBERING TOM PATE
Fifty years ago today, Hamilton Tiger-Cats rookie Tom Pate suffered a brain aneurysm during a game against the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.
Pate passed away three days later. He was only 23.
His first CFL destination was Saskatchewan, which signed the Omaha-born linebacker on June 10, 1975. The former University of Nebraska Cornhuskers standout was impressive during the Roughriders’ training camp and in the pre-season.
At one point, Pate looked like a virtual lock to make the Roughriders’ roster, but everything changed when the Stampeders surprisingly released future Plaza of Honour enshrinee Roger Goree.
With the 1975 season opener looming, Saskatchewan claimed Goree on waivers and reluctantly released Pate. He quickly resurfaced with Hamilton and played in 12 games for the Tiger-Cats.
In 1976, the Tom Pate Memorial Award was established by the CFL Players’ Association to annually recognize a player for exemplary sportsmanship and contributions to his team, his community and the CFLPA.
The first two winners were George Reed (1976) and Ron Lancaster (1977). A Roughriders player was also recognized in 1981 (Ken McEachern), 1985 (Jerry Friesen), 1990 (Richie Hall), 2008 (Jeremy O’Day) and 2023 (Brett Lauther).
REID ALL ABOUT IT
Robert Reid, whom the Roughriders selected in the first round (ninth overall) of the 1984 CFL Draft, is to be inducted into the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 6.
Born in West Bromwich, England, Reid is a long-time resident of Aurora, Ont., which is 50 kilometres from Toronto.
He starred at Simon Fraser University before being drafted by the Roughriders and signing with them on May 9, 1984.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back played in 15 games with Saskatchewan over two seasons before being traded to the Ottawa Rough Riders as part of a six-player blockbuster on Sept. 23, 1985.
Reid, receiver Stephen Jones and defensive end Jeff Roberts were sent to the eastern Riders for defensive tackle Gary Lewis, receiver Daric Zeno and defensive back Junior Robinson.
Lewis, a member of the Roughriders’ 1989 Grey Cup championship team, remained with the Green and White through the 1994 season. He entered the Plaza of Honour in 2006, alongside Rhett Dawson and Ken Reed.
After the trade, Reid spent the remainder of his playing career with Ottawa. His finest of six CFL seasons was 1986, when he rushed 70 times for 314 yards and added 27 receptions for 341 yards. He rushed for two TDs and added two more majors on receptions.
Reid is the first former CFLer to enter Aurora’s sporting shrine since its establishment in 2013.
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Bill Perentes, Rodney Stark, Anthony Partipilo, Caleb Barajas, Tevaughn Campbell, Mario Alford, Jake Maier, Greg Mayer, Dallyn Shields, Dalton Clarke, Brooke Kosolofski, Jason Johnson, Jenn Senger, Denis Evmenenko, Robert Reid, Gary Lewis, Aubrey Miller Jr., A.J. Allen and, celebrating a birthday today, Laura Steadman (my sister, whether she admits it or not).