Trevor Harris’s back was against the wall.
He sat disconsolately on the floor, leaning on the few inches of concrete that separated a hallway from the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ locker room, after a 26-21 CFL loss to the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 7.
After speaking to the media, there wasn’t another word to be said for a short spell. He just sought some time by himself to process a down-to-the-wire defeat that had extended the Roughriders’ winless streak to seven games.
“Unfortunately, we’ve not done the next right thing a couple of times in key moments,” Harris had told reporters a few minutes earlier. “It’s just a matter of time before that does happen and we get that belief and you inject the belief and the good things start happening and the wins start piling up.
“I know a lot of people probably don’t believe me — and I don’t blame people for not believing me — but at the end of the season we’ll be able to look back and look at moments like this and know that there was a turning point.
“It’s just a matter of what that turning point is.”
The events of the past five weeks have validated the optimism Harris expressed after the Roughriders’ record dropped to 5-7-1.
A run of four consecutive victories has enabled the Roughriders to secure a home playoff game. (Tickets are available HERE.)
And there is a chance of Saskatchewan overtaking Winnipeg on the final day of regular-season play to claim first place in the West Division.
“I really love this team,” Harris told the media at Mosaic Stadium after Saturday’s 39-8 victory over the B.C. Lions.
“I know that you guys probably looked at me sideways four or five weeks ago when I said, ‘We’re going to like where we’re at heading into the playoffs.’
“We’re not there yet. We haven’t arrived. But I like the way we’re trending, for sure.”
No wonder he likes it. He called it!
On Sept. 7, while lamenting “the little run we’re on,” he said, “whenever we can break that, I know it’ll be a waterfall of great things happening.”
The Roughriders reached a high-water mark on Saturday, winning their most important game to this point in the 2024 season.
They did so in dominating fashion, leading 26-8 at halftime and 36-8 after three quarters.
“All season long, we’ve been looking for a complete game out of offence, defence and special teams,” defensive tackle Miles Brown said.
“The score shows that we played a complete game in all three phases. We’ve been looking for that and we’re excited about it.”
Offence: Harris completed 25 of 30 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Ouellette rushed 16 times for 84 yards. Nary a turnover.
Defence: A.J. Allen returned an interception 48 yards for a Saskatchewan TD on the second play from scrimmage. That was the first of six turnovers forced by the Roughriders on Saturday.
Special teams: Brett Lauther connected on all six of his field-goal attempts, one of which was a 53-yarder. Adam Korsak, who was not required to launch his second of four punts until the fourth quarter, had a net average of 41.0.
“It’s nice to finally work together as a team in all three facets, because I feel like a lot of times this season, we’ve been on one or two of them,” Allen said.
“This is what it’s supposed to look like when all three facets of the team are playing complementary football.”
This is what it’s supposed to look like in the fall, period.
Games of considerable magnitude as the regular season winds down.
Legends in the house — Darian Durant, Roy Shivers, Dale West and Angie Reed — to remind us of glory years that are, ideally, replicated.
An enthusiastic crowd, soaking it all in.
A resounding win, on top of that, that adds one more home date to the 2024 schedule.
“I think this province gets a little more juice and this fan base understands that we’ve got a game in November when we get to come out of here in front of the most difficult fans to play in front of for opposing teams,” Harris said.
“It’s the best fan base in the world, so we’re elated to have that opportunity. We need to make sure that Rider Nation’s out loud and proud for us in two weeks against Calgary and making it really difficult on whoever we play at home in the playoffs.”
The Calgary Stampeders are here on Oct. 26. This much we know.
If the Roughriders finish second in the West, B.C. will pay a return visit on Nov. 2 for a divisional semi-final.
If the Roughriders defeat Calgary on Oct. 26, following a Montreal Alouettes home-field victory over Winnipeg earlier in the day, the West final will be held at Mosaic Stadium on Nov. 9.
Either way, a treat is in store — not too many weeks after everyone was shaking their heads.
Even during the 0-6-1 run, you could see that the Roughriders were on the verge of a breakthrough. Four consecutive games were decided on the final play. Only once did the Roughriders emerge with as much as a tie.
Week after week, a play or two tipped the balance.
Then came the turnaround Harris envisioned.
Sept. 20: Roughriders 37, Calgary 29. Ryquell Armstead rushed for 207 yards in his debut with the Green and White. Jameer Thurman extinguished Calgary’s final drive with an interception at McMahon Stadium.
Sept. 28: Roughriders 29, Ottawa REDBLACKS 16. Seven field goals for Lauther at Mosaic Stadium. Nine carries for 72 yards, including a 26-yard TD, by Thomas Bertrand-Hudon after Armstead suffered a shoulder injury.
Oct. 5: Roughriders 28, Edmonton Elks 24. Harris to Samuel Emilus for an 88-yard TD bomb at Commonwealth Stadium. Harris to KeeSean Johnson for a spectacular, 28-yard TD. Nine defensive tackles by C.J. Reavis. A playoff berth, guaranteed.
Oct. 12: Make that a home playoff game.
“More important is the team we’re becoming in the process,” Harris emphasized. “To me, that’s more important than anything at this point.
“As long as you’ve got a spot in the dance, it’s, ‘Who are you becoming every day? Who are you becoming every period, every meeting?’
“From the jump, I’ve told everybody I love the DNA of this team. I love the nucleus of guys that Jeremy O’Day and Kyle Carson and Corey Mace brought in. They’ve done a tremendous job of bringing in the right kind of guys.
“I love this team and we’re just going to continue to get better.”
