{"id":779323,"date":"2026-07-04T07:23:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T07:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/779323\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T07:23:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T07:23:15","slug":"live-blog-saskatchewan-roughriders-at-ottawa-redblacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/779323\/","title":{"rendered":"LIVE BLOG: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Ottawa Redblacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

A moment-by-moment look at the Canadian Football League contest between Saskatchewan and Ottawa in the nation\u2019s capital<\/p>\n

8:24 p.m.

\nRiders are in victory formation, the final whistle goes, Saskatchewan has the win in another close battle. More than a few plays that loomed large in the final quarter, but Riders bend but don’t break and are 3-1 on the season.<\/p>\n

8:19 p.m.

\nStevens has runs for six and seven yards to get up to midfield with 1:30 remaining. That forces coach Dinwiddie to use his final timeout, and Stevens comes out again and runs for nine yards to the Ottawa\u00a040. Stevens gets the yard,1:01 remaining<\/p>\n

8:18 p.m.

\nEmilus hauls in a pass to the sideline that is nearly intercepted but instead goes for 27 yards with 2:15 remaiining.<\/p>\n

8:17 p.m.

\nOh my, what a turn of events. Barnes attempts to go for it on a short third down at the Riders 16, but Ford is there to meet him, and he gets the top. Turnover on downs with 2:41 to play in the game.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Riders’ defence comes up with a huge stop in the final three minutes!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CZud16dNkx<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

8:12 p.m.

\nSayles almost intercepts the next pass, but Lewis catches it at gets up to the Riders 25 at the three-minute warning.<\/p>\n

8:10 p.m.

\nHardy has a 29 yard catch, Pimpleton a 16-yard catch and Ottawa is up to the Saskatchewan 40 with 3:29 to play in the game.<\/p>\n

8:07 p.m.

\nRiders get up to midfield but drive stalls there. Riders punt, Ottawa gets the ball back on their own 25 with 5:05 remaining.<\/p>\n

8:03 p.m.

\nAdeboboye\u00a0runs for 21 on the first play, but Maier is sacked for a three-yard loss, and one play later Redblacks are punting. Riders get the ball back on their own 35 with 6:31 to play in the game.<\/p>\n

8:01 p.m.

\nA near interception and a sack on Harris and the Riders punt. Ottawa’s next drive starts on their own seven after an illegal block penalty.<\/p>\n

7:56 p.m.

\nRiders get the ball on their own 36 to start their next drive.<\/p>\n

7:55 p.m.

\nTouchdown Ottawa. Barnes plunges in from one-yard out, but the two point convert is stuffed. Eight plays, 80 yards, 27-22 Saskatchewan with 10:47 to go in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Ottawa punches one in to keep things close \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/JIWQvBSou6<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

7:53 p.m.

\nAdeboboye has the ball come lose on a first-and-goal attempt, but it’s ruled that he’s down by contact. One play later, Maier throws a pass to nobody in the back of the Ottawa endzone, but a roughing the passer gives the Redblacks another chance. Marginal penalty at best, but what are you going to do?<\/p>\n

7:49 p.m.

\nLewis beats a couple of Roughriders in double coverage and hauls in the ball at the 10-yard line before getting up to the three.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Better catch or throw? \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

Lewis makes the grab to set Ottawa up inside the red zone.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rphMu0QU2k<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

7:48 p.m.

\nPair of passes to Hardy and Ottawa has the ball in Riders territory at the 45.<\/p>\n

7:44 p.m.

\nTOUCHDOWN ROUGHRIDERS! Harris finds KeeSean at the Ottawa three and he goes the rest of the way to the end zone. Eight plays, 70 yards, 27-16 Saskatchewan at the end of the third quarter. Starting to pull away a bit here, but fourth quarters have been tough on the Riders, so we’ll see how things play out.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A dart from Trevor Harris \ud83c\udfaf<\/p>\n

Trevor Harris finds KeeSean Johnson in a tight window for the Riders touchdown!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Y0ysgAcCDI<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

7:41 p.m.

\nJohnson III has a 23-yard catch to get up to the Ottawa 23. Harris now has 39,051 yards for his career, moving into 12th overall on the all-time passing leaders chart.<\/p>\n

7:38 p.m.

\nA nine-yard run by Harris and the Riders are up to midfield after a first-down run by Stevens.<\/p>\n

7:34 p.m.

\nRiders defence stiffens there, Lauther has an 18-yard field goal and it’s good. 20-16 Saskatchewan with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter.<\/p>\n

7:28 p.m.

\nBarnes gets to the outside on a third down gamble and goes for 12 yards down to the Riders 39. One player later a pass for nine yards to Hardy has Ottawa in the red zone at the 18-yard line.<\/p>\n

7:25 p.m.

\nTwo plays and Saskatchewan punts, Ottawa gets the ball in great field position at the Riders 48.<\/p>\n

7:22 p.m.

\nHardy appears to have a big first down over midfield on a juggling catch but it’s called back due to an offside call. Redblacks\u00a0end up punting two plays later, Riders get the ball back on their own eight after an illegal block penalty.<\/p>\n

7:19 p.m.

\nOttawa gets the ball back on their own 32 to start their next drive.<\/p>\n

7:16 p.m.

\nTOUCHDOWN ROUGHRIDERS! By the Power of Greyskull! Ottawa goes two-and-out, Sexton takes the punt at the Saskatchewan nine, he gets to the sideline and goes the rest of the way to the endzone! That’s a 101-yard punt return for Sexton in his first-ever CFL game. Saskatchewan leads 20-13 with 12:20 to play in the third quarter.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

RING RING… WE GOT A HOUSE CALL!!! \u260e\ufe0f<\/p>\n

Matthew Sexton tiptoes the sideline and returns it the distance!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RnZKY1RVXL<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

7:10 p.m.

\nKickoff for the second half is complete, Ottawa gets the ball on their own 35 to start the second half.<\/p>\n

6:56 p.m.

\nWith the way Saskatchewan started this game, it looked as if it was going to be a long and ugly night for the Green and White, but they’ve stabilized things since. Whole lotta questions to be answered in the second half, to say the least.<\/p>\n

6:51 p.m.

\nRiders get the ball up to their own 51 but no further, punt sees Ottawa get the ball on their own 26 with 58 seconds to play in the half.<\/p>\n

6:46 p.m.

\nTwo-and-out, Ottawa punts, Riders get the ball back on their own 18 with 2:39 left in the half.<\/p>\n

6:41 p.m.

\nTwo more passes, including a 25-yard catch by KeeSean, and the Riders are up to the 35 with 3:01 to play in the first half. A short run and batted down pass and Saskatchewan is settling for a 36-yard field goal at the three minute warning. It’s good, 13-13 with 2:50 to play in the first half.<\/p>\n

6:40 p.m.

\nJohnson III appears to have a diving pass to the sideline to midfield, but it’s called back on review. Riders get a pass interference play on a pass to DDB on the next play, though, and Sask is up to their own 50.<\/p>\n

6:37 p.m.

\nOttawa drives up to the Riders 33 before things stall, and Hale has a 40 yard field goal attempt. It’s good, 13-10 Ottawa with 6:21 to play in the first half.<\/p>\n

6:31 p.m.

\nDrive stalls after a short run by Conley and dropped pass to Emilus at the nine. Hale has a 21-yard field goal attempt and it’s good. 10-10 tie with 8:52 to play in the first half.<\/p>\n

6:25 p.m.

\nNine yard run by Conley and four yard gain by Stevens and Saskatchewan is in the red zone at the Ottawa 16.<\/p>\n

6:23 p.m.

\nA Conley run for seven and KeeSean catch for four and Riders are up to the Ottawa 29.<\/p>\n

6:22 p.m.

\nWell now. Pimpleton makes a great move to the sideline for a big return on the kickoff, but Nick Wiebe strips him of the ball and then recovers the fumble. Saskatchewan ball on the Ottawa 40.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

WIEBE FORCES THE FUMBLE \ud83d\ude24<\/p>\n

Saskatchewan comes away with the recovery!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8bIZiA8q7t<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

6:18 p.m.

\nTOUCHDOWN ROUGHRIDERS! Now that’s more like it! Harris finds DDB in the front corner of the end zone for Duncan-Busby’s first major of the season. 10 plays, 75 yards, 10-7 Ottawa with 12:48 to play in the first half.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Saskatchewan strikes for six! \u26a1<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/7rPZC0p7gB<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

6:15 p.m.

\nKeeSean has a catch for 19 yards and the Riders get up to the Ottawa 13.<\/p>\n

6:12 p.m.

\nDrive continues, Riders get a good spot on a Conley run, Stevens finishes off the first down and the Riders are on the Ottawa 37 at the end of the first quarter. Something a little bit good after an atrocious first 15 minutes for the Green and White.<\/p>\n

6:08 p.m.

\nThere we go. Harris finds KeeSean over the middle on second down, and he makes the catch to get down to the Ottawa 46. First time Riders have been over the midfield stripe this game.<\/p>\n

6:05 p.m.

\nOttawa goes two-and-out and punt, Saskatchewan ball on their own 35 with 3:02 left in the first quarter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

6:03 p.m.

\nRiders go two-and-out and punt, Ottawa ball at their own 34 with 4:38 to play in the first quarter.<\/p>\n

6:00 p.m.

\nSomething finally goes right for Saskatchewan, they get a two and out deep in their own territory. Former Rider kicker Lauther has a 32 yard field goal, and it’s 10-0 Ottawa with 6:06 to play in the quarter. Lauther is 11-for-11 on field goal attempts this season, btw.<\/p>\n

5:57 p.m.

\nThree plays and the Riders are punting… and the awful start continues. The punt is blocked by Cole, and Ottawa has the ball on the Riders 31. That’s a terrible miscue in every facet of the game before it’s even eight minutes old.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

HE BLOCKED THE PUNT WITH HIS HEAD \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/CAoOYEDMWz<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

5:51 p.m.

\nTouchdown Ottawa. Back at it after a power glitch, and man, the news isn’t good. After the interception, Maier’s offence pretty much moves the ball at will, ending with a 15-yard touchdown pass to McDonald. Probably the worst start of the season for the Riders, given how poorly things went on both sides of the ball. Eight plays, 42 yards, 7-0 Ottawa with 10:09 to play in the first quarter.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Welcome to the CFL, Cade McDonald \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f<\/p>\n

The first TD of his CFL career!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/fdkhnKv46o<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

5:44 p.m.

\nWelp, that didn’t take long. Former Rider A.J. Allen snatches a Harris pass off the turn, and after a review, it’s upheld. Redblacks ball on the Saskatchewan 42.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

WHAT A START FOR A.J. ALLEN AGAINST HIS FORMER TEAM \ud83d\ude2e\u200d\ud83d\udca8<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs REDBLACKS LIVE NOW

\n\ud83d\udcfa: TSN, RDS2 and CFL+@fanduelcanada<\/a> Canada Day Weekend | #CFLGameDay<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BwTyx69b3U<\/a><\/p>\n


\n\u2014 CFL (@CFL) July 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

5:36 p.m.

\nRiders win the coin toss, and they’re putting their offence to start the game. Makes sense in that the Redblacks have one of the worst defences in the league, so putting up points quick is an idea.<\/p>\n

5:28 p.m.

\nBack to football, here are Luc’s Three Keys to the Game for the Roughriders:<\/p>\n

1 – Special teams coverage has to be better. After giving up touchdowns the last couple of games, don\u2019t let that happen in this game. Khalil Pimpleton specifically can\u2019t be allowed to be his usual dangerous self.<\/p>\n

2 – Win the first down battle. Get Jake Maier into second and long as much as possible, he struggled in the second half in those situations last week, so putting the former Riders QB in second-and-seven situations could lead to a bonanza for the Riders DBs.<\/p>\n

3 – Protect Trevor Harris. Give him time to throw the ball and he can do a good job, but if he keeps getting hit like he did in Toronto, something is going to go wrong and soon. Offensive lines have been good all over the league, Saskatchewan needs to match that calibre after an off game last week.<\/p>\n

4:42 p.m.

\nOriginal tornado warning has now spread to the Bushell Park – Baildon – Briercrest area.<\/p>\n

\"tornado-warning-3-july-3\"<\/p>\n

4:32 p.m.

\nAnother tornado warning from Environment Canada, this for the Outlook area. Going to be an interesting night in Saskatchewan, it looks like.<\/p>\n

\"tornado-warning-2-july-3\"<\/p>\n

4:22 p.m.

\nBroadcast was just interrupted for an Environment Canada warning of a tornado in the Old Wives Lake area south west of Moose Jaw. If you’re in that area, keep an eye on the skies and stay safe!<\/p>\n

\"weather-july-3\"<\/p>\n

2:33 p.m.

\nOttawa is currently under a heat warning, and that means it\u2019s going to be a warm one at field level today. Temperatures will be around 28 C to 25 C at kickoff, with a 40 per cent chance of a thunderstorm. The winds will be brisk at game time at 30 km\/h gusting to 50, but dropping to 10 km\/h out of the west later in the evening. And as one might guess with the ridiculous amount of rain in western Canada, air quality is of no concern.<\/p>\n

2:32 p.m.

\nThe Rider Broadcast Nation pre-game show with Teagan Witko, Wes Cates and plenty of special guests is currently on the air, and you can catch the game call with Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder at kickoff at 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Week 5 of the Canadian Football League season, it\u2019s a showdown between the West and East, it\u2019s the Saskatchewan Roughriders taking on the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa!<\/p>\n

The two teams are both coming off close losses in Week 4, with Saskatchewan having dropped a 40-34 decision to the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa having fallen 37-35 to the Montreal Alouettes.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s where the similarities between the teams end, though, as the Riders have looked impressive at times this season on the way to their 2-1 record, while the Redblacks\u2019 flashes of brilliance have been few and far between, even though they have a couple of close ones in their 0-3 mark.<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll be a battle of two former teammates in the Saskatchewan quarterback room, with Trevor Harris putting together another incredible season with 1,175 yards passing and eight touchdowns through the first three games in the season. As a result, Harris has the third best quarterback efficiency at 127.3.<\/p>\n

Things haven\u2019t gone as well for former Riders QB Jake Maier in Ottawa, something that has been a mark of contention in the nation\u2019s capital through the first few weeks of the season. Maier has only 820 yards passing, with five majors and three interceptions, and the worst efficiency rating in the CFL at 89.0.<\/p>\n

Many games, it\u2019s how the quarterback goes, the team goes, and that\u2019s no exception here.<\/p>\n

Saskatchewan\u2019s depth chart:<\/p>\n

\"week-5-riders-ottawa-depth-chart\"<\/p>\n

Ottawa\u2019s depth chart:<\/p>\n

\"week-5-ottawa-depth-chart-july-3\"<\/p>\n