This grizzled gargoyle of a correspondent remembers a time, long ago, when it took slightly more than 2\u00bd seasons for the Saskatchewan Roughriders to accumulate 10 victories.<\/p>\n
So here we are in 2025, with a 10-3 record and a four-point lead atop the CFL\u2019s West Division.<\/p>\n
Sweet!<\/p>\n
Before this year, the Roughriders had not sported such a superlative slate at the 13-game mark since 1970, when the team was 11-2 and destined to finish at 14-2 and with an enduring franchise single-season record for wins.<\/p>\n
I was in my first year of Grade 1 at Massey School. A year later, I began to follow Canadian professional football and, naturally, the Roughriders.<\/p>\n
Only twice before 1970 \u2014\u00a0in 1967 and 1969 \u2014 had the Roughriders been 10-3.<\/p>\n
So savour this long-awaited 10-3, dear reader, and try to eliminate recency bias from the equation.<\/p>\n
Easier said than done, I recognize.<\/p>\n
Leading into the current bye week, the Roughriders lost 48-31 at home to the Montreal Alouettes.<\/p>\n
The best news of the day unfolded before the game, when a last-second loss by the Edmonton Elks \u2014 who fell 31-30 to the Toronto Argonauts \u2014 secured a playoff berth for Saskatchewan.<\/p>\n
Which brings us back to the \u201cit took slightly more than 2\u00bd seasons for the Saskatchewan Roughriders to accumulate 10 victories\u201d part, et cetera.<\/p>\n
Beginning on July 4, 1979, the Roughriders endured back-to-back 2-14 seasons. I watched every home game from Section 204, Row 14, Seat 23 in Taylor Field\u2019s new west-side upper deck.<\/p>\n
Over those two seasons, I attended seven road games \u2014\u00a0five with Mom and two with my great friend, Tom Fuzesy.<\/p>\n
The good guys were outscored (gulp) 256-93 over those seven contests.<\/p>\n
Then came the tonic that was the 1981 season. On Sept. 12, 1981, the Roughriders defeated Winnipeg 32-25 \u2014 earning two points in the Manitoba capital for the first time since 1975 \u2014 and improved to 6-4.<\/p>\n
Joey Walters caught four passes for 174 yards and two TDs, including the game winner at 10:08 of the fourth quarter. Chris DeFrance added five receptions for 150 yards.<\/p>\n
(Why, oh why, didn\u2019t we go to that game?!)<\/p>\n
Beginning in 1979, it had taken the Roughriders 42 games to get to 10 wins.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s edition needed a mere 12 games to hit a double-digit victory total.<\/p>\n
Hence the appreciation for what has transpired of late, from someone who has experienced the other end of the equation.<\/p>\n
And, oh, about the clinching of a post-season berth \u2026<\/p>\n
From 1977 to 1987, inclusive, the Roughriders did not make the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cEleven years \u2026 that\u2019s enough!\u201d was the refrain in 1988, when the protracted drought finally ended.<\/p>\n
If you are old enough to remember this \u2014\u00a0or just old, period, like yours truly \u2014\u00a0a playoff berth should never be taken for granted.<\/p>\n
And a 10-3 record? After more than 50 years, the wait is over. Enjoy!<\/p>\n
THOUGHTS ON 200<\/p>\n
One highlight of last week\u2019s Montreal game: The Roughriders\u2019 Trevor Harris threw his 200th career touchdown pass.<\/p>\n
Only once before had a quarterback hit the 200 milestone while wearing a Saskatchewan uniform. That was on Sept. 4, 1972, when Ron Lancaster threw a 36-yard TD pass to Bobby Thompson in a 32-21 home-field win over Winnipeg.<\/p>\n
Lancaster\u2019s TD-pass total fattened a league record he had sat when he surpassed Sam Etcheverry with No. 187.<\/p>\n
Fast forward to Sept. 13, 2025: Lancaster\u2019s grandson (Roughriders Offensive Co-ordinator Marc Mueller) called the play that resulted in a milestone-making, 38-yard TD pass from Harris to KeeSean Johnson.<\/p>\n
RECEPTIONS ROLL CALL<\/p>\n
Johnson has an excellent chance of becoming the eighth Roughrider to lead Canadian professional football in receptions.<\/p>\n
Entering Week 16 of the 2025 season, Johnson had 70 catches \u2014 one fewer than the league leader, Keon Hatcher of the B.C. Lions.<\/p>\n
If Johnson surpasses Hatcher and all other contenders, the Roughriders\u2019 No. 3 will join seven players \u2014\u00a0Walters (102 in 1982), Jack Hill (60 catches in 1958), Molly McGee (68 in 1977), Craig Ellis (91 in 1984; 102 in 1985), Don Narcisse (123 in 1995), Curtis Marsh (102 in 2000) and Shawn Bane Jr. (93 in 2023) \u2014\u00a0on the list of Saskatchewan\u2019s CFL receptions leaders.<\/p>\n
Counting Ellis twice, Johnson would give Saskatchewan nine receptions leaders.<\/p>\n
As it stands, Johnson has registered the 55th season of 70 or more receptions in Roughriders history.<\/p>\n
He is the 27th player to reach 70, following Narcisse (8), Weston Dressler (5), Ray Elgaard (5), Jeff Fairholm (3), Lucius Floyd (3), Naaman Roosevelt (3), Walters (2), Chris DeFrance (2), Matt Dominguez (2), Craig Ellis (2), Samuel Emilus (2), Travis Moore (2), Bane Jr. (1), Derick Armstrong (1), Hugh Campbell (1), Duron Carter (1), Shaq Evans (1), Andy Fantuz (1), D.J. Flick (1), Bakari Grant (1), Eric Guliford (1), Curtis Marsh (1), Tim McCray (1), Kyran Moore (1), Taj Smith (1) and Elijah Thurmon (1).<\/p>\n
HALL OF FAME, PART 1<\/p>\n
Two members of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame\u2019s Class of 2025 have local connections.<\/p>\n