Trevor Harris stood back and enjoyed the view.
After handing off to A.J. Ouellette during Saturday’s second quarter against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback watched his friend and teammate run 47 yards for a touchdown.
“I was telling him this morning that I was cheering for him,” Harris said on Tuesday. “Then he said something mean to me, so I said, ‘I’m not cheering for you anymore, then.’ ”
Harris was joking, of course, while referencing one of the key plays that enabled the Roughriders to emerge with a 28-23 CFL victory and a 2-0 record.
“I was like, ‘Cut right! Cut right!’ ” the Riders’ signal-caller continued. “Then he cut left and it ended up being the right thing.
“That just goes to show why I don’t run in the open field.”
The 47-yard run — Ouellette’s longest since entering the CFL in 2019 — was an immediate follow-up to a 23-yard punt return by Mario Alford.
“Going into the huddle, we had some guys say, ‘We need someone to make a big play here,’ ” Ouellette said.
“We called the run and I knew it was going to be a good play. I didn’t think it was going to develop into that. But once I saw our monster (right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick) kick out their D-end, I thought, ‘There’s nobody back here.’ ”
Ouellette soon had plenty of company, in the form of offensive cohorts who flocked to the end zone.
“I’m too busy breathing, trying to catch up to A.J. celebrating,” left tackle Daniel Johnson said.
“It’s amazing. I feel like sometimes the celebration is more tiring than the play itself, because you’re so geeked up.
“You’re so happy to see your brothers win and so happy to see us in the end zone and score. I’m yelling the whole way, seeing A.J. run.”
NO EXCUSES
Brett Lauther met with the media on Tuesday and discussed his atypical performance in Saturday’s game.
“It’s a tough one, obviously,” the most accurate placekicker in franchise history told reporters. “It looked like I was playing for Hamilton out there.
“I’m glad the team found a way to win. I’ve just got to get back to work this week and do much, much better.”
Lauther went 2-for-5 on field-goal attempts and hit two of three converts.
“I don’t have any excuses for what happened,” he stated. “It’s solely on me.”
Lauther proceeded to apologize to “everyone, really — the fans, the organization, and everyone who has been so supportive.”
Entering Saturday’s game, Lauther had made 23 consecutive regular-season field-goal attempts. The streak had swelled to 28, playoffs included.
Between seasons, he routinely travels across Saskatchewan as a Roughrider Foundation player ambassador to speak with youngsters about mental wellness.
“A lot of the stuff we talk about with to the kids, I use myself,” he said. “(Saturday) was just another important reminder.
“I go around this province all winter to every small town in minus-40 weather to talk to the kids and try to preach a good message. To not do it myself, what kind of role model is that? You’re kind of a hypocrite if you do something like that.
“The sun came up the next day. I’m still here kicking and trying to work on everything I can to be better.”
The Roughriders are to return to action on Friday against the host Toronto Argonauts (5:30 p.m., CKRM, TSN).
INJURY UPDATE
Receiver Samuel Emilus did not take part in Tuesday’s practice due to a foot injury.
“We’re on a short week, so we’ll see how it goes,” Head Coach Corey Mace said. “I don’t want to promise anything, but I’m never going to say ‘impossible.’
“Tomorrow will probably be a better idea of what it looks like for him.”
The Roughriders practise on Wednesday before leaving for Toronto the following day.
Fullback Albert Awachie (hip) and running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (groin) were limited participants in Tuesday’s session. Awachie has yet to play this season. Bertrand-Hudon scored two TDs in the season opener — a 31-26 victory over the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS on June 5th.
