The Saskatchewan Roughriders have secured first place in the CFL’s West Division and are now setting their sights on the championship. Their 27-19 victory over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday propelled them to the top spot with a 12-4 record. This achievement means the Riders will host the West Division final in Regina on Nov. 8.
On the other hand, the Argonauts, who were eliminated from playoff contention last week, fell to a 5-12 record. Quarterback Trevor Harris, who had an impressive performance with 23 completions out of 29 attempts for 340 yards and two touchdowns, emphasized the importance of using the remaining three weeks to fine-tune the team for the upcoming final on Nov. 8.
The Riders will wrap up their regular season with an away game in Winnipeg on Oct. 17 and a home game against B.C. on Oct. 25. The West semifinal is scheduled for Oct. 1, with the winner advancing to face the Riders in the West final on Oct. 8 in Regina.
Head coach Corey Mace expressed the team’s plan to utilize the next four weeks to prepare for the playoffs, focusing on getting injured players back in time for the crucial games. Despite the challenging matchup against the Argonauts, the Riders managed to secure the win in the closing minutes of the game, with kicker Brett Lauther sealing the victory with his fifth field goal.
Lauther, who had faced struggles earlier in the season, received praise for his performance, with teammates showing their support and confidence in him. Argonauts quarterback Jarret Doege, filling in for the injured Nick Arbuckle, showed resilience despite taking several hits during the game.
Doege’s efforts were acknowledged by Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, highlighting his toughness and determination on the field. The game also saw impressive performances from Joe Robustelli and Tommy Nield, who scored touchdowns for the Riders. Additionally, Liram Hajrullahu continued his exceptional season with four successful field goals, bringing his total to 55 out of 60 field goal attempts this season, including ten from 50 yards or more.