The Saskatchewan Roughriders arrived in Calgary on Saturday night primed to avenge a 24-10 home loss to the Stampeders back in July, but their efforts were thwarted as the home side took a 32-15 win to sweep the season series against the Roughriders while also handing Saskatchewan their second loss of the season.
Starting with the ball and quickly throwing it down the field, the Roughriders earned a pass interference call to start the game with tremendous field position inside Calgary's 20 yard line only two plays in. After a failed run on first down the Roughriders nearly kept the momentum going as Trevor Harris found Keesean Johnson in the back of the endzone, only for the ball to slip through Johnson's hands and set up a short field goal, things going from bad to worse on the opening drive as kicker Brett Lauther missed the 28 yarder.
With a single point on the board Calgary quickly drove the field and punched in a 6-yard touchdown run to go up 7-1, all the scoring the first quarter would see until a Roughriders punt single in the final minute. The two sides traded two-and-outs as the game entered the second quarter, but then Calgary struck again with a four play drive ending in seven to go up 14-2.
After another failed drive, the Roughriders got the ball back with under eight minutes to play and showed life with a nice drive ending in a Dhonte Meyers touchdown reception, and then the defense forced their own consecutive two-and-outs to give Harris and the offense another chance with under three minutes left, another long drive ending in a 10--yard touchdown pass to Dhel Duncan-Busby as Saskatchewan failed the two-point conversion and took a 15-14 lead into the half.
The Stampeders went right to work after halftime as Vernon Adams Jr. came out of the gate hot leading a touchdown drive, and then another long set of plays ending in a field goal to go up 24-15. Calgary's defense caught fire in the third with a sack to force a three-and-out being followed up by an interception and then punt to end the quarter.
The fourth wasn't much better for the Roughriders as Calgary drove the ball from their 17 yard line for an eight play drive ending in Adams Jr.'s third touchdown of the game, a two point conversion putting a bow on the game as the Stampeders sent home supporters on their way cheering, mixed in with a pile of Rider green in what was a 28,000 person crowd in Calgary.
Saturday's showdown was important for the standings. The loss bumped the Roughriders record to 8-2 while the Stampeders improved to 7-3, moving only two points back of Saskatchewan for first place in the West and entire CFL.
The Roughriders will be back home this week as they aim to return to the win column and avoid their first losing skid of the season as we get to the halfway point.
As you can see above the team is already getting in the spirit for the Labour Day Classic against Winnipeg, Sunday's game at Mosaic Stadium the first Riders/Blue Bombers matchup of 2025 outside of two pre-season games. The renewed rivalry will open Week 13 of the CFL season on Sunday at 5:00 PM, and then after that on holiday Monday the Hamilton Tiger-Cats host the Toronto Argonauts at 12:30, before Calgary hosts Edmonton at 4:00 in the Battle of Alberta.