“Turn on the lights, please”: Roughriders, Stampeders poised for pivotal battle

The Saskatchewan Roughriders hope to improve their victory total from eight to nine on Friday.

Both numbers resonate with Trevor Harris.

As a first-year CFLer in 2012, he was a member of a nine-win Toronto Argonauts team that won the Grey Cup.

After registering eight regular-season victories, the 2016 Ottawa REDBACKS — with whom Harris was named the East Division All-Star quarterback — captured the first championship in franchise history.

Harris celebrated his third Grey Cup win in 2025, quarterbacking the league-leading Roughriders (12-6) to a CFL title.

If the Roughriders repeat, it will be because they were able to overcome a lull — as did the 2012 Argonauts and 2016 REDBLACKS.

It helps to have the experience and perspective provided by Harris, who understands how to navigate the peaks and valleys of a season.

“Social media really became prevalent, as did opinions on every single move you make and thing you do, around 2012, 2013 and 2014,” Harris said in advance of Friday’s home date with the Calgary Stampeders. “Then, around ’15, I feel like it switched, where if you lose a game you’re the worst and if you win a game you’re the best.

“Every team is on a unique journey of its own. I always urge people, ‘Before you make observations or pass judgment on a team, let them develop throughout a season.’ The common denominator of the teams I won those (first two) championships with was that they got hot late. They developed late.

“You become a great team as the season goes on, but sometimes it’s bumpy. You have injuries. You have things to navigate. But who is the best team that comes together and performs as one cohesive unit late in the season?

“This team has all the ingredients of that — and I’ll die on that hill. I believe in this group. We’re going to keep getting better every week. (Friday) is a great opportunity for us to show that we’ve gotten better throughout these last few weeks and really start putting it together.”

The latest edition of the Roughriders had an 8-4 record before suffering back-to-back road losses. The mini-slump has dropped Saskatchewan to third in the West Division.

A reversal of recent results on Friday would enable the Corey Mace-coached Roughriders to clinch a post-season berth.

“Yes, you make the playoffs if you win, but if you’re thinking about just making the playoffs, your focus is off-schedule or off-balance,” Harris said. “Mace has mentioned it, but it’s obviously about us going out and executing (on Friday) and doing what we need to do to win a football game.”

Saskatchewan has won more regular-season games (20) than anyone else in the West since June of 2025.

The B.C. Lions are next in line with 19 wins, followed by the Stampeders (18), Edmonton Elks (18) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (17).

In 2026, the resurgent Elks lead the West at 11-4. B.C. and Saskatchewan are both 8-6, with the Lions moving a notch ahead by virtue of having won the season series with the Roughriders.

Winnipeg is 7-7, followed by Calgary (7-8).

Edmonton is idle this week. On Saturday, Toronto plays host to B.C. and Winnipeg visits Montreal.

MR. OCTOBER

Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette tends to rise to the occasion as the temperature falls.

“There’s a little bit of a cold, brisk wind in the air,” he said. “I saw that Coach had a little bit of goosebumps, or whatever we call them.

“It’s my time of year, running the ball, and I think our team’s built for it.”

Those are words of someone who: (a) Ran for two touchdowns in the Argonauts’ 2022 Grey Cup win; (b) Scored three touchdowns in two post-season games with the Roughriders in 2024; and, (c) Rushed for 196 yards and one score over two November games with the Cup-winning Roughriders of 2025.

“When you have physical running backs, I think they start to smile a little bit more when the weather starts to change,” Mace noted.

The looming Friday night home game under the lights also elicits a grin.

“I feel like a kid again,” Ouellette said. “Turn on the lights, please.”

EXTRA POINTS

• Malcolm Bell, a rookie, will make his second straight start at cornerback. Tevaughn Campbell, who is to miss his eighth consecutive game with a shoulder injury, was limited in practice throughout the week. Mace said Campbell, an All-CFL cornerback last season, was “very close” to getting the all-clear for Friday. “I would anticipate that T.C. is going to be playing pretty quick here,” Mace added.

• Saskatchewan’s KeeSean Johnson needs five catches to reach 100 for the season. Eight catches will give him the second-highest total in franchise history (103). As it stands, the team’s 100-catch club consists of Don Narcisse (123 in 1995), Joey Walters (102, 1982), Craig Ellis (102, 1985) and Curtis Marsh (102, 2000).

• Although Roughriders defensive halfback DaMarcus Fields is listed on the depth chart as a game-time decision, Mace expects him to play. Fields has started every game since joining the Roughriders in 2024.

• With James Letcher Jr. sidelined by a shoulder injury, Mace expects the returning to be handled by Daniel Wiebe, Johnny Johnson III and Quali Conley, depending on the circumstances.

• Despite being below .500, Calgary is the CFL’s leader in points per game (35.7) — marginally ahead of Montreal (35.6). However, the Stampeders have allowed 34 points per game. Only the winless REDBLACKS have a higher average (37.4).

• Saskatchewan has not defeated Calgary in a regular-season game at Mosaic Stadium since winning 40-27 on Aug. 19, 2018. Since then, the Roughriders have won four times at McMahon Stadium. As well, Saskatchewan defeated Calgary in the 2021 Western Semi-Final, played at Mosaic Stadium.