The Saskatchewan Roughriders boast an 8-1 record for only the second time in franchise history.<\/p>\n
The first time \u2014\u00a0in 2013 \u2014 the Green and White went on to win the Grey Cup.<\/p>\n
Saskatchewan reached the midpoint of its 2025 CFL regular-season schedule by defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-9 before Saturday\u2019s sellout crowd of 33,350 at Mosaic Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really cool to have eight wins halfway through the season, but eight wins is not something that we had on our list of items to check off,\u201d Trevor Harris said after completing 21 of 27 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cUs winning eight games is great, but all it is is eight wins. It\u2019s 16 points and we\u2019re getting toward our goals. It\u2019s awesome that we\u2019re able to do that and continue getting wins, but it doesn\u2019t score us any points for next week.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll enjoy this one today, but there\u2019s things we want to clean up and get better at next week.\u201d<\/p>\n The Roughriders are to return to action next Saturday (Aug. 23) against the host Calgary Stampeders (6-3), who are second in the West Division. Calgary won 24-10 at Mosaic Stadium on July 12.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan enters the rematch against Calgary without having allowed a touchdown in more than two games (121 minutes 56 seconds).<\/p>\n A Roughriders opponent has been held without a TD for the first time since 1970. Saskatchewan opened the season with a 42-9 victory over the host B.C. Lions (July 28) and defeated Edmonton side 23-11 three days later at Taylor Field.<\/p>\n In 2012, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers did not score an offensive touchdown in back-to-back games against the Roughriders (Sept. 2 and 9). Winnipeg reached the end zone on a punt return in the latter game.<\/p>\n So, yes, this is quite a roll.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guys are just doing their jobs,\u201d Head Coach Corey Mace explained<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s not anything cooler than that.<\/p>\n \u201cWe talk about complementary football in the three phases of the defence. When the back end needs to hold it down, the front\u2019s getting the pressure. If there\u2019s a bust in coverage, the front\u2019s getting the pressure. Vice versa, (the defensive backs) are buying time for the front to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n That formula has helped the Roughriders hold the foe to a single-digit point total in each of their past two games \u2014 also taking into account a 34-6 victory over the host Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 2.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan had not limited back-to-back opponents to a single-digit points total since the first two games of 2007 \u2014 the third championship season in franchise history.<\/p>\n \u201cOK \u2026 that\u2019s a big year,\u201d linebacker A.J. Allen said with a smile.<\/p>\n The Roughriders\u2019 defence cooled off a Hamilton offence that had been purring until Saturday.<\/p>\n Bo Levi Mitchell, whose 21 touchdown passes lead the league, did not throw for a score for the first time this season as Hamilton emerged with a 6-4 slate. He went 16-for-31 for 201 yards, with two interceptions.<\/p>\n On top of that, Saskatchewan limited Kenny Lawler, Tim White and Kiondre Smith \u2014 three top-drawer receivers \u2014 to a combined five catches for 91 yards.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s attention to detail,\u201d Allen said after registering one sack and a team-high seven defensive tackles. \u201cIt\u2019s a matter of getting a good grasp of what\u2019s coming at you on the football field and just communicating with each other.<\/p>\n \u201cIt helps us play faster, and playing faster equals no points.\u201d<\/p>\n Not many of them, anyway.<\/p>\n \u201cOur defence was awesome,\u201d Harris said.<\/p>\n The Roughriders amassed six sacks \u2014 including two by Micah Johnson<\/a> \u2014 and added two key interceptions on Saturday.<\/p>\n Sixteen of the Roughriders\u2019 27 sacks have come in the past three games.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a really, really deep team,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cIt\u2019s a bunch of dogs on this team, man, and I think it\u2019s kind of showing on the field.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got guys fighting and clawing to get tackles, sacks, stats. It\u2019s a competition. Everybody\u2019s really going to get it. It\u2019s just a testament to the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n The Roughriders led 19-6 at halftime after scoring 18 second-quarter points with an advantageous wind.<\/p>\n Harris threw touchdown passes to Dohnte Meyers (58 yards) and Tommy Nield (26) over the first 30 minutes. Brett Lauther added a 59-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.<\/p>\n