As one who is incapable of setting records, I derive solace from inventing them.

Consider the case of Trevor Harris, who has attained pace-setter status over his first 24 regular-season starts with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

He is, example, tied with Glenn Dobbs and former Ottawa REDBLACKS quarterbacking cohort Henry Burris for the most touchdown passes (42) after 24 starts with Saskatchewan.

Harris and Burris are also deadlocked in the category of 300-yard passing games (10) through 24 starts.

“I can always count on you to make a new record and make me look better in the media, so I appreciate that,” Harris said with a laugh.

“To be mentioned in the same breath as somebody like Henry Burris, I’ll never be on his level in terms of what he has accomplished in his career. I got to witness him first-hand. He’s just a tremendous guy.”

The same applies to Harris, who is also the Roughriders’ 24-game leader in passing yards (7,028). Burris is next at 6,860, followed by Cody Fajardo (6,149).

Fajardo and Harris are deadlocked for the best win-loss record (17-7) after 24 starts. Darian Durant (16-7-1) also makes the podium.

DEEP DIVE: DOHNTE DATA

Another (invented) Roughriders record is within Dohnte Meyers’ grasp.

Meyers has registered 100-plus receiving yards in three consecutive road games as he awaits today’s CFL collision with the host Calgary Stampeders.

The only Roughrider to reach triple digits in four road games in row is Joey Walters, who accomplished that feat in 1981.

With four games of 50-plus yards on behalf of the 8-1 Roughriders, Meyers is catching deep passes at a pace exceeded by only one player in franchise history.

Jeff Fairholm had four gains of least 50 over the first seven games of the 1993 campaign. He finished the season with eight such receptions, a team record.

Fairholm also owns a share of second spot in this (invented) category, having produced six receptions of 50-plus in 1992. Ray Purdin (1962), Bobby Thompson (1969) and Curtis Mayfield (1997) also had six 50-yarders. (Thompson added a seventh in the 1969 playoffs.)

Five, you ask? Gord Barwell (1967) and Bob Pearce (1972).

With four, Meyers is already tied with Mayfield (1996), Jack Hill (1958), Ray Elgaard (1988), Curtis Marsh (2000), Derick Armstrong (2010), Ryan Smith (2015) and Samuel Emilus (2023).

FANTASTIC FOOTBALL FOOTAGE

As a milestone Labour Day Classic nears, the occasion will be marked with an event that is presented by the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame and Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan.

“The First 60: A Classic Labour Day Rivalry” will be held at the Provincial Archives (2440 Broad St.; inside the CBC building) on Tuesday. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the two-hour presentation to begin at 7 o’clock.

The centrepiece will be a colour film of the first Labour Day Classic — a Sept. 5, 1949 Western Interprovincial Football Union game between the Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Originally a 16-millimetre film, footage of what has come to be known as the first official Labour Day Classic was donated to the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.

The film was digitized in 2021, thanks in part to funds received by the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Heritage Organizations.

“The Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is pleased to be able to partner with the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan to show this great historical footage of the first official Labour Day Classic to the public,” said the Hall’s executive director, Erin Stankewich.

“The Hall of Fame’s mandate is to preserve sport history and educate the public about its role in the province’s cultural fabric. This 76-year-old colour footage and this event are great examples of the work we do.”

I will be joined on a panel by fellow Roughriders historian (and former next-door neighbour) Tom Fuzesy and the Hall’s communications co-ordinator, Matthew Gourlie.

(SPOILER ALERT: The Roughriders won 20-0 at Taylor Field.)

(DRAMATIC PAWS: There are three different clips of a dog running on to the playing surface at Taylor Field.)

These are, after all, the dog days of summer.

Hope to see you on Tuesday!

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

Regina Thunder running back Peter Boersch has enjoyed a spectacular start to the 2025 Prairie Football Conference season.

Boersch rushed for 310 yards on 26 carries to help the Thunder post a season-opening, 31-16 victory over the host Edmonton Huskies on Aug. 10.

He followed up a week later with a 29-carry, 210-yard gem as the visiting Thunder defeated the Calgary Colts 46-21.

After two weeks, Boersch has 520 rushing yards! Five hundred and twenty!

He is averaging a staggering 9.6 yards per carry — second only to the Saskatoon Hilltops’ David Collins (10.4).

Both of Saskatchewan’s junior football teams are at home for 1 p.m. games on Sunday.

The Thunder is set to oppose the Huskies (at Leibel Field) while the Hilltops are scheduled to entertain the Winnipeg Rifles (SMF Field).

Regina and Winnipeg are tied for first place at 2-0. The Hilltops and Edmonton Wildcats are 1-1.

IT’S ALL GRAVY FROM HERE

Payton Collins did not spend an extended period of time in Canada until he joined the Roughriders this past spring.

Has the Ohio-born offensive tackle noticed any quirks about our home and native land?

“Nothing major, but there are some of the food options,” the former Eastern Kentucky University standout said.

“When we go out to eat, they’ll ask me if I want gravy on my fries. I’m like, ‘No! No gravy on my fries.’ It’s stuff like that.”

Hold on … fries with gravy isn’t a thing south of the border?

“I’m sure you could ask for it,” Collins said, “but I’ve never been asked by a server at a restaurant if I want gravy on my fries.”

(This item, by the way, is written by someone with gravy on his collar.)

SHORT SNORTS

• What do you get when the surname of Roughriders defensive back DaMarcus Fields is combined with his hometown of Taylor, Texas? Taylor Fields!

• Under-rated Roughriders players (second in a series): C.J. Reavis, Jorgen Hus, Stew Fraser, Roy Wright, Ed Buchanan, DaMarcus Fields, Don Bahnuik, Neal Hughes, Greg Fieger, Fred Perry, Martin Fabi, Bill Clarke, Dwight Edwards, Steve Dennis, Stan Williams, Albert Awachie, Harry Skipper, LaDouphyous McCalla, Terrell Maze, Xavier Fulton, Danny Banda and Ken Clark.

• My favourite players who never wore green and white in a regular-season game: Jim Young (Dirty 30, co-written with Jim Taylor, was the first sports book I ever read), Milt Stegall, Marquay McDaniel, Kelly Bates, Terry Evanshen, Luke Tasker, Donnavan Carter, Ricky Ray, Eric (The Flea) Allen, Joe Poplawski, Brian Kelly, Doug Flutie, Jackie Parker, Jim (Long Gone) Thomas, Russ Jackson, Willie Burden, Cody Grace, Johnny Rodgers, Ken Ploen, Chris Brazzell, Tony Gabriel Bill Hatanaka, Danny McManus, Rolly Lumbala, Paul Masotti, Roger Reinson and Duane Forde.

ROLL CREDITS …

• Nice people who deserve a plug: Craig Smith, Cathy Smith, Brett Lauther, Jill Lauther, Vicki Hall, Jim Young (held over from the preceding item), Trevor Harris, Henry Burris, Cody Fajardo, Tommy Nield, Caleb Sanders, DaMarcus Fields, Kosi Onyeka, Godfrey Onyeka, Maddy Thiele, Peter Thiele, Kathy Thiele, Kenda Richards, Janice Dockham, Dohnte Meyers, Joey Walters, Erin Stankewich, Matthew Gourlie, Tom Shepherd, Coralie Hodgson, Nicole Bissonnette, Sandra Berkan, C.J. Reavis, Payton Collins and Tom Fuzesy.