The Saskatchewan Roughriders opened up their 2025 campaign with a 31-26 win against the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday night. It was the first game overall on the Canadian Football League's regular season calendar, and certainly didn't disappoint with things coming down to the wire in Riderville.
Outside of one pre-season game, Thursday was the Roughriders first time in front of home fans at Mosaic Stadium in Regina since last season's playoff win against BC. A slow start saw the green and white down 7-0 after the first quarter, but the Roughriders responded immediately to start the second quarter with a Tommy Stevens QB plunge.
After a defensive stop the next drive, Saskatchewan went nearly the full length of the field to go up 10 points courtesy a touchdown pass from Trevor Harris to Samuel Emilus. The TD reception was one of the Canadian receivers eight catches on the night for a total of 133 yards.
The Riders came out firing after halftime. The offense pieced together a drive that started at their 42-yard line into another touchdown as running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon caught a ball from the backfield and took it in for six. Bertrand-Hudon ended up with 14 carries for 57 yards and another touchdown on the ground, assuming the starting role after AJ Oulette left the game and returned in street clothes.
Down 31-14 entering the fourth quarter, the Redblacks capitalized on good field position during the opening drive as off-season addition at running back William Stanback broke the plane for 6. The extra point attempt failed to make the game 31-20 with over 13 minutes left to play.
Saskatchewan's offense went cold in the fourth quarter as Harris and company went 3-and-out the next two drives, giving the ball back to Ottawa with eight minutes to go. A long drive for the Redblacks ended in six as QB Dru Brown threw his second touchdown pass of the night and moved closer to his eventual 413 yards passing on the night, but he was unable to connect with his receiver in the endzone after Ottawa went for the two-point conversion to make it a three-point game.
The Roughriders offense continued to struggle after getting the ball back up five points. A pair of three and outs gave the ball back to Ottawa, but Saskatchewan's defense clutched up with sacks to stifle Ottawa in each of those final two possessions.
The CFL Week 1 action continues Friday night with the Toronto Argonauts facing the Montreal Alouettes, and then tomorrow a doubleheader features the Hamilton Tiger-Cats visiting the Calgary Stampeders, and the Edmonton Elks in BC to face the Lions. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are on a bye.
The Roughriders next two games are in Ontario, facing Hamilton on June 14 at 5:00 PM, and then Toronto the following week at 5:30 PM.