Led by 207 rushing yards from Ryquell Armstead, the Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Calgary Stampeders 37-29 at McMahon Stadium on Friday.
Saskatchewan improved its record to 6-7-1 and snapped a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1).
“I’m as happy as ever for those guys,” Head Coach Corey Mace said.
“Things obviously hadn’t been in our favour in weeks prior. It sucks, because you see the work that these guys put in.
“You like to see them reap the reward of their work and certainly tonight, I was happy as ever just to see those guys in the locker room.”
Many of the congratulatory messages were directed toward Armstead, whose rushing yardage total was fourth-best in Roughriders history — behind George Reed (268 at B.C., Oct. 24, 1965), Curt Schave (225 at Saskatoon, Sept. 26, 1931) and Darren Davis (220 at Edmonton, Oct. 28, 2000).
“I’m very grateful and very thankful,” Armstead said.
“For me, I was just doing my job. I know it sounds cliché but, at the end of the day, we had a shootout game.
“Would I have liked to put these guys away and be up by 20? Yes, but ultimately (the Roughriders) needed me to keep going so that’s what I had to do.”
Armstead became the ninth player to rush for 100-plus yards in his Roughriders debut.
The previous best for a first-time Roughrider was set by Anthony Allen against the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 29, 2014.
“It was fun to see,” Mace said of Armstead’s dazzling debut. “It’s nothing that we’re really surprised about, because you’ve seen him do it in games with his previous team.
“We’re happy he’s here with us, currently.”
Armstead was released by the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Sept. 3 despite being fourth in the CFL in rushing yards.
After Friday, he remains at fourth (with 830 yards) and easily within striking range of the 1,000-yard milestone.
Armstead helped the Roughriders register their highest overall rushing-yardage total (244) since the 2013 Grey Cup (268).
“In the second half, I thought we really just dominated them physically up front,” said quarterback Trevor Harris, who threw just five of his 18 passes over the final 30 minutes.
“Our offensive line moved people and our wide receivers were blocking downfield. Ryquell’s explosive and he was breaking tackles.”
On Friday, the Roughriders also got a razor-sharp performance from Harris, who completed 16 of 18 passes — an 88.9-per-cent accuracy rate — for 248 yards and one TD. He also ran three times for 17 yards and another major.
C.J. Reavis was the Roughriders’ defensive leader, with eight tackles and a sack.
Jameer Thurman added a crucial interception with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter to extinguish the Stampeders’ final possession.
EXTRA POINTS
• Harris moved ahead of Tracy Ham into 14th on the CFL’s all-time completions list. The Roughriders’ pivot finished the game with (2659) completions. Kent Austin (2,709) is 13th.
• Harris also extended his touchdown-pass streak to eight games. That ties him with Ron Lancaster (1975) for the 10th-longest in franchise history.
• Global defensive end Habakkuk Baldonado, playing in his 14th game with the Roughriders, registered his first CFL sack. He played in four games last season. Friday’s appearance was his 10th of 2024.
• Shea Patterson, who scored on two short runs, registered his second two-TD game in the CFL. Both games have been at McMahon Stadium. His previous two-TD game was on June 24, 2023.
• Saskatchewan’s Brett Lauther has connected on 11 of his past 12 field-goal attempts. The lone miss was a 60-yard attempt. Lauther’s third field goal of the game produced his 900th point as a Roughrider.
• Kosi Onyeka led the Roughriders in special teams tackles, with three.
NEXT UP
The Roughriders are to return to action on Sept. 28 against Ottawa (1 p.m., Mosaic Stadium). Three of the Roughriders’ final four regular-season games are at home.
SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
Cal — TD Stevens 69 run (convert failed) 1:37
Stevens went the distance on a second-and-one run
Sask — TD Patterson 1 run (Lauther convert) 6:25
Harris went 4-for-4 for 45 yards on Roughriders’ first possession
Sask — FG Lauther 33 10:15
Harris to Duncan-Busby for 27 put Roughriders in field-goal range
Cal — FG Parades 41 14:27
Calgary moved 36 yards in seven plays
SECOND QUARTER
Sask — TD Patterson 2 run (Lauther convert) 12:58
35-yard reception by Johnson and 34-yard run by Armstead set up TD
Sask — TD Harris 1 run (Lauther convert)
Harris capped seven-play, 92-yard drive with runs of 14 and one
THIRD QUARTER
Cal — TD Barnes 8 pass from Maier (Paredes convert) 4:15
Maier was 5-for-5 on Stampeders’ opening possession of second half
Sask — TD Schaffer-Baker 25 pass from Harris (Lauther convert) 10:00
Schaffer-Baker TD was the only pass on 10-play, 77-yard scoring drive
FOURTH QUARTER
Cal — TD Philpot 8 pass from Maier (Paredes convert) 1:01
Stampeders converted third-and-four gamble two plays before Philpot’s major
Sask — FG Lauther 32 3:43
Field goal set up by Armstead’s 39-yard run
Cal — TD Mills 2 run (two-point convert failed) 8:39
29-yard run by Philpot was the big play
Sask — FG Lauther 40 13:17
Receptions for first downs by Bane Jr. and Johnson set up Lauther’s three-pointer
