Seventeen was a lucky number for Daniel Wiebe and Quali Conley.
Both players marked their CFL regular-season debuts by scoring 17-yard touchdowns for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Friday’s 40-34 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium.
“You dream of that, being able to play in a pro game, so it meant a lot,” Wiebe said. “Obviously, you want the win, so it stings not being able to get that done, but it was exciting.”
Friday’s game was a win for Wiebe in many respects.
The 2025 draftee became the first eighth-rounder to score a point — let alone a touchdown — for the Roughriders. Of the 26 eighth-round selections in franchise history, only three have made the active roster.
Also consider the home-province flavour. Born in Rosetown and raised on a farm near Herschel, Wiebe starred for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies before ascending to the professional ranks.
He was activated for Friday’s game after fellow National receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby suffered a shoulder injury. When starting slotback Samuel Emilus left the game late in the second quarter, Wiebe became part of the regular rotation on offence.
His first pro catch produced a 31-yard gain. That was a prelude to the 17-yard scoring strike from Harris.
Running a crossing route, Wiebe caught the football on the Argonauts’ 11-yard line and sped toward the end zone, fighting his way over the goal line.
“It still hasn’t really set in,” the 5-foot-9, 185-pounder said. “We’re living it right now, which is crazy.
“I’m excited to just keep going and keep getting better.”
The excitement was shared by several family members.
“Coincidentally, they were coming up for the game even before I knew I was playing,” Wiebe said. “It ended up working out pretty well. Lots of them were out here.”
Like Wiebe, Conley began the season on the practice roster before being activated for Friday’s game. He started in place of two-time 1,000-yard rusher A.J. Ouellette, who is nursing an ankle injury.
Saskatchewan’s first touchdown drive began with an 18-yard run by Conley. The eight-play, 70-march was punctuated by a four-yard touchdown pass from Harris to KeeSean Johnson.
A five-play, 71-yard trek concluded when Conley scored a 17-yard major.
“It felt good, but we didn’t come out with the win, so it’s so-so,” he said.
Conley signed with the Roughriders on May 16 after a short stint with the Montreal Alouettes. He spent the 2025 NFL pre-season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
“You always have to trust in yourself and in your ability to play and always have faith,” the 5-foot-10, 210-pounder said.
That attitude helped Conley achieve a goal of making a regular-season appearance in pro football.
“It’s a big one, because not a lot of people play in the CFL,” he said. “There’s always somebody who wishes they were in my position.
“I’m grateful that I’m here playing football.”
Conley and Wiebe became the first Roughriders teammates to score their first CFL touchdowns in the same game since June 23, 2024. Ajou Ajou caught a TD pass and Jameer Thurman took an interception return to the end zone against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Two offensive players had not scored their first CFL touchdowns in the same game for the Roughriders since July 5, 2015. That afternoon at historic Mosaic Stadium, Brett Smith scored on a run and Ryan Smith (no relation) caught a touchdown pass against the visiting Argos.
The opposing quarterback: Trevor Harris.