Trevor Harris, who was recently named to the Honour Roll, would rather be on a roll — from a team-oriented perspective.
“(Personal recognition) doesn’t matter to me if we don’t win football games,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback told CKRM’s Dave Thomas after the team arrived in Toronto on Wednesday.
“It’s really about us putting wins in the win column and getting two points and putting ourselves in position to be able to play at Mosaic in the last home game of the year for everybody.
“The West final is really where we want to be, in Mosaic Stadium. If we can do that, that’s what it’s about. It’s not about any sort of Honour Roll accolades. That sort of stuff doesn’t move the needle for me.”
Harris certainly moved the ball in his return to the lineup after missing six games with a knee injury.
He completed 31 of 39 passes for 355 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 27-24 CFL loss to the visiting Montreal Alouettes.
On Tuesday, Harris was recognized by Pro Football Focus when he made the Honour Roll as the top-rated offensive player for Week 11. He was also recognized for having the best grade (93.9) of any quarterback.
Harris, however, is focused on other matters — the most pressing being Thursday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts (5:30 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
Saskatchewan enters the game with a 5-4-1 record, which is good for first place in the West Division.
Despite that preferred placing, the Roughriders are looking to snap a four-game winless streak (0-3-1).
“To me, it’s just about belief in what we’re doing,” Harris said.
“With (Offensive Co-ordinator) Marc Mueller leading us and Corey Mace as our head coach and the guys we have in the huddle who have been there from Day 1, or guys who come back into the huddle, they believe in what we’re doing. To me, belief and culture are the two most important things.
“What does it look like and feel like in our organization? What does it look like and feel like in our huddle? I think it looks and acts and feels like a championship-calibre team. I think those guys come in the huddle and they can feel that.
“The belief is palpable and it’s contagious and I think we’ve got guys who really do believe in what we’re doing.”
That has been evident to Mace, who noted that the players’ approach to day-to-day preparation has not changed in recent weeks.
“I think it’s a good thing,” he said. “Well, not that we haven’t won, but whether we win, tie or take an L, (a consistent approach) is what you want.
“You want everything to look the same. You want to keep your head down and work. Just find ways to get better every week, regardless of the result.
“But we’ve just got to get back to it and find a way to put the W’s up there.”
That was the trend early in the season as the Roughriders enjoyed a 4-0-0 start. Even then, it was hardly a joyride. Saskatchewan rallied from 13-point deficits to win its first two games.
The last two games have also been nailbiters. Friday’s matchup with Montreal was preceded by a 22-22 tie with the host Ottawa REDBLACKS on Aug. 8.
“To be able to go through some of the situations that we’ve been in towards the halfway point of the season, in my experience those are things that you can lean on towards the back end of the season, and further if we earn that right,” Mace said.
“It builds you and kind of calluses you up for when things get a little tight and when the games get a little bigger. You definitely want the wins, but you’ve got to learn to take lessons, too.”
One lesson stands out for defensive halfback Rolan Milligan Jr.
“We have to make sure we stay focused and do our job,” he said, “and not for 3½ quarters.”
