Gbenda, Adams, Williams celebrate landmark CFL games

Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker David Gbenda granted himself a final few seconds to celebrate a win and, for good measure, his first CFL sack.

Shortly after Saturday’s 16-9 victory over the Edmonton Elks, Gbenda and his teammates turned their attention to a Halloween playoff encounter with the host B.C. Lions.

How quickly did the players plan to turn their full attention to preparations for the Western Semi-Final?

“As soon as this interview is over, it’s on to the next page,” Gbenda said with a laugh.

“We’re focused now and we know what we have ahead of us. We’re excited and ready to play a good team in B.C.”

Saturday’s win enabled the Roughriders to finish the regular season with a 10-8 record — their third consecutive winning slate since Corey Mace coached his first game with Saskatchewan in 2024.

B.C., also 10-8, is second in the West Division. Saskatchewan placed third because it lost the season series to the Lions.

With a playoff spot assured before Saturday’s kickoff, the Roughriders used the regular-season finale to deploy some players in different or expanded roles.

Gbenda, for one, saw plenty of action at middle linebacker after being most conspicuous on special teams over his previous 17 CFL contests. With 15 special teams tackles, he finished in a tie for eighth in the league.

He seized Saturday’s opportunities on defence, registering three tackles in addition to the sack.

“It was another opportunity and my number was called,” Gbenda said. “I’m thankful to God and the coaches for giving me this opportunity to showcase my talents. I’m also thankful for the trust of my teammates around me to allow me to do what I do best — play ball and make sure that I bring my energy, effort and communication to the field.”

Like Gbenda, Devin Adams notched his first sack as a Roughrider on Saturday. In addition to forcing a turnover on downs with the sack, Adams also recovered a fumble — forced by defensive line cohort Desmond Evans — and returned the ball 10 yards to Edmonton’s 23-yard line.

“It was a lot of fun,” said the ever-smiling Adams, who suited up for 13 games with the 2026 Roughriders after spending his first two CFL seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“Being out there with the guys and sharing a lot of play time with the guys in here is just amazing.”

Adams helped the Roughriders register a season-high six sacks.

“We wanted to work and we wanted to get it done,” he said. “That’s all it was. We built something throughout the week, with tips and tricks — how to win this, how to win that — and we just applied it to the field.”

Whereas Adams and Gbenda entered Saturday’s contest with a combined 53 games of CFL experience, offensive lineman Jaison Williams made his professional football regular-season debut.

He started at right tackle after the coaches decided to rest veteran Jermarcus Hardrick for the playoffs.

For Williams, it was the first game action of any description since he played in the May 23 pre-season finale.

“You sit on the practice roster all year and you wait for the opportunity,” Williams said. “When they told me I was up this week, I ran with it. It was exciting to get out there and actually compete with the guys.”

Williams savoured his first regular-season contest since Oct. 24, 2024, when he was a senior at Youngstown State.

“It was great to get back into the feel of a game after practising all year,” he said. “To actually compete live was definitely an experience that I missed.”

Waiting for that opportunity — in a new league and a new country — taught Williams a lot about himself.

“You learn patience,” he said. “You learn to trust the process.

“I had two options. I could either show up and be bitter, be sad, and walk around moping, or I could take advantage of every day, trusting that the opportunity would present itself like it did this week.”

As a bonus, Williams emerged as a winner.

“You want the start, but you also want to come out with the victory,” he said with a smile. “We were able to do that, so that’s always a blessing.”