Roughriders clinch, awaiting postseason destination entering final week

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are playoff bound after beating the Montreal Alouettes 16-12 on Saturday.

The Riders not only clinched their spot in the CFL postseason but also snapping a four-game losing streak in the process to create some momentum entering Saturday’s regular season finale against Edmonton, and final game of the season at Mosaic Stadium in 2026.

The Roughriders may have their playoff status cemented but will have to wait until after the weekend to book their travel plans. A third-place finish would earn a trip west to face the BC Lions in the league semi-final, while falling into fourth would send Saskatchewan into the crossover spot and a semi-final game out east versus Toronto.

Riders field.JPG Saturday’s meeting was the second in less than a week between the Roughriders and Alouettes
Late rally clinches playoff berth

Saturday’s game was played in strong winds and certainly aided what was a low scoring affair at Mosaic Stadium.

Montreal used that wind to collect an early rouge and take a 1-0 lead, and then late in the quarter backup quarterback Dustin Crum hit Alex Hollins deep down the middle of the field for a 37-yard touchdown to put the visitors up 8-0. The Roughriders offense struggled mightily in the first with only a two-and-out, followed by a drive only getting to their 54-yard line making up the only two possesions of the quarter.

After going two-and-out to start the second the Roughriders defense held strong to get the ball back in good field position, leading to the first positive drive of the day getting down to the Montreal 43 and ending in three-points off the toe of Brett Lauther for his first home field goal of the season. After the Alouettes next drive went scoreless Saskatchewan once again drove the ball into field goal range where Lauther missed a 48-yard kick.

With under three minutes remaining the Roughriders defense made a stop to give the offense one last possession with thirty-seconds left, but instead a first play interception from Harris ended the drive before it began and set up the Als in prime position for a field goal to end the half up 11-3.

The Roughriders defense came through with another stop to start the second half, where after a disappointing first half on offense, Harris and company returned to the field for an eight-play drive ending in another field goal to make it 11-6. The Alouettes next possession ran two minutes before they were forced to punt, pinning the Riders deep inside their own ten where a drive stuttered to give Montreal the ball in time for the start of the fourth.

The change of sides kicked off a tremendous final quarter where the Als scored another rouge to go up 12-6, only for the Riders to turn around and respond with another field goal to get within three points at 12-9.

From there the fourth quarter continued with each team refusing to give an inch, until the Roughriders took the ball back with 1:29 left to play and used six plays to get into Montreal territory, Harris completing a touchdown pass to KeeSean Johnson for the Riders first major of the game to go up 16-12 after the extra point.

With only 29 seconds left the Alouettes made a last-ditch attempt to get the ball down field, but were stuffed at their own 36 to end the game in celebration for the home fans, and players in the locker room afterwards who could breathe a little easier having their ticket punched to the playoffs.

Mace looking to build momentum

Although they managed to secure a playoff spot it was far from a celebratory mood in the Roughriders postgame media scrum.

It was more of a feeling of relief for head coach Corey Mace.

“That was nice,” chuckled coach to the media.

A win is a win, and now it’s time to lock in.

“Not the standard of ball we want to get to… In saying so, I think being able to solidify ourselves into playing a second season,” said Mace. “I am hoping that is the momentum we needed to start shaking back into who we need to be,” he finished, adding once again that Saturday’s performance was far from their standard.

Harris reflects on gritty win

Fresh off his fourth quarter heroics finding Johnson in the endzone, Trevor Harris also talked to the media about what the win meant for the Roughriders.

While he played a big part in the win, his interception before the half directly led to three points for Montreal. That play was just one example of the problems Mace spoke on after the game, but thankfully all that matters is another game in the win column.

“They don’t ask how, they ask how many. We get a win… we are thankful and are never going to apologize for it.”

QB1 says the winning feeling is all that it takes to give the team belief.

“Obviously wasn’t pretty, but I do think that how we feel ending this game was exactly what we needed from an emotional standpoint.”

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