as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Ottawa Red Blacks in CFL action in Regina, SK, June 5, 2025. Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
Trevor Harris is pleased to toss footballs and compliments in the direction of Saskatchewan Roughriders teammate Mitch Picton.
“I think Mitch Picton is one of the better receivers in this league,” the CFL team’s starting quarterback said. “I love throwing the ball to him.”
Harris will get that opportunity once again on Saturday, when the Roughriders visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5 p.m., CKRM, TSN).
Picton has assumed a front-line role following a foot injury sustained by Kian Schaffer-Baker early in the June 5th regular-season opener against the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS.
“We’ll be excited to get Schaff back once he’s ready, but we don’t bat an eye,” Harris said.
“We want to go out there and perform for him. He’s behind us and wanting us to succeed all the way, so we’re going to go out there and represent him the best way we can.
“We have tremendous guys.”
Including this week’s five starting receivers — Picton, Samuel Emilus, KeeSean Johnson, Dhel Duncan-Busby and Dohnte Meyers.
“I feel like it helps our receiver room a lot that he (Harris) has the utmost confidence in us,” Picton said. “He says, ‘Whoever’s on the field, we’re going to throw it.’
“We have confidence that he’s going to put us in good positions as well to be able to make plays. We’re very, very fortunate to have Trev.
“In return (for the earlier compliment), I would say he is top of the league in what he does.”
Harris was 19-for-26 for 277 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 31-26 victory over Ottawa. Picton caught two passes for 31 yards in his 51st CFL regular-season game.
Now the former LeBoldus Golden Suns and University of Regina Rams standout is poised for his 31st career start.
“That’s how we approach it all the time — preparing as if you are a starter,” Picton said. “Things happen and things change really quickly.
“It’s something I’m comfortable with. The more time I get on the field and the more reps I get, I’m happy with it.
“These are unfortunate circumstances, obviously, with what’s going on (with Schaffer-Baker), but I’m ready to go and step in when I’m needed.”
That holds true leading up to the Roughriders’ next visit to Hamilton Stadium, where Picton established career highs in receptions (eight) and targets (10) in the 2021 regular-season finale.
Picton caught a pass on four consecutive plays during one third-quarter series.
“I remember I was pretty tired, with a lot of targets back-to-back,” he recalled with a smile.
SPECIAL OCCASION
Roughriders linebacker A.J. Allen, last season’s CFL co-leader in special teams tackles, took note of one development in particular when the Montreal Alouettes played host to the Toronto Argonauts last Friday.
Montreal’s Alexandre Gagne tied a CFL single-game record by making seven special teams tackles.
“I watched that game fully,” Allen said. “That hurt.
“I didn’t know that so many people had that as well. There are eight people with seven. My highest is three and that was a great day for me.
“I saw it and I was like, ‘He’s got four … five … what is going on?!’ I couldn’t believe it!
“It was a hell of a game by him. I could not believe they let him free seven times. I wish someone could do that for me.
“I’ve got to talk to him and chop it up. I need some tips at this point.”
Derek Krete set an enduring Roughriders single-game record when he made six special teams tackles against the host Calgary Stampeders on Oct. 6th, 2000.
Nine Roughriders have registered five special teams tackles in a game — most recently Brian Peters, in Saskatchewan’s 45-23 Grey Cup victory over Hamilton on Nov. 24th, 2013 at historic Mosaic Stadium.
