A Labor Day Classic That Went Down to the Wire
Saskatchewan needed an extra session to settle its latest showdown with Winnipeg, but the Roughriders finished the job in fitting fashion. A goal-line score by Tommy Stevens helped secure a 32-26 overtime victory at Mosaic Stadium in one of the most dramatic editions of the Labor Day Classic.
The setting matched the stakes. A crowd of 34,352 packed the venue, setting a new high-water mark for attendance at a CFL game there, and they watched Winnipeg erase the deficit in the final seconds of regulation. Zach Collaros found Dorian Singer for a five-yard touchdown on the last play of the fourth quarter to force overtime.
Saskatchewan answered first once the extra period began. Stevens powered in from one yard out for his third touchdown of the game and his 15th rushing score of the season. The Riders then came up short on the two-point conversion, leaving the door open for Winnipeg to steal the night.
Instead, the home defense shut that path quickly. On third-and-six from the Saskatchewan 31, the Blue Bombers failed to convert, and Jameer Thurman finished the sequence with a tackle behind the line to seal the win.
Trevor Harris Keeps the Passing Game Rolling
Trevor Harris handled the bulk of the aerial work for Saskatchewan, completing 23 of 33 passes for 362 yards and a touchdown. He said the offense did not fully click right away, but it found a better rhythm as the game unfolded.
Harris also stressed how much the result meant at this point in the schedule, especially with several key contributors unavailable. The win, he said, came from the group’s ability to stay steady and keep grinding until the offense settled in during the middle of the second quarter.
That victory moved Saskatchewan to 8-4 and kept it in second place in the West Division behind Edmonton, which entered the week at 8-3 before a Monday meeting with Calgary. Winnipeg slipped to 6-6 with the loss.
Duncan-Busby Makes the Most of His Opportunity
With Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker sidelined, Dhel Duncan-Busby stepped into a much larger role and produced the best game of his career. The third-year receiver caught 10 passes for 140 yards, with several of his grabs coming on crucial downs late in the fourth quarter.
Both numbers were career highs, and they lifted him to 35 catches for 504 yards on the season. Duncan-Busby said patience paid off because the receiving group has had to adjust around injuries, and he was glad to seize the chance when it arrived.
The defensive side of the ball also played a major part in the outcome. Aubrey Miller Jr., making his first career start at linebacker, pointed to the offense for setting the tone before the defense closed things out.
Miller was part of a pass rush that included sacks from Derick Roberson and Seyi Oladipo. The group also limited Brady Oliveira to 28 yards on nine carries, a major contrast to his 956-yard season total entering the game.
Milestones Pile Up in a Memorable Win
Harris’ big day carried significance beyond the scoreboard. A 72-yard strike to Daniel Wiebe in the second quarter pushed him past Doug Flutie and into 10th place on the CFL’s all-time passing yardage list. He entered the game 127 yards shy of Flutie’s total of 41,355.
Harris said the moment felt especially appropriate given how much help he has received throughout his career. He credited teammates and coaches for supporting him, teaching him, and helping him reach the milestone.
He now has 41,590 career passing yards, which leaves him behind Matt Dunigan’s 43,857 in ninth place. Anthony Calvillo still owns the league record with 79,816.
KeeSean Johnson reached a personal marker of his own by catching four passes for 32 yards, pushing him over 1,000 receiving yards for the second year in a row. He has 81 receptions for 1,022 yards this season, a pace that trails only slightly behind his 2025 totals of 86 catches and 1,159 yards.
Key Numbers and What Comes Next
Collaros finished 27 of 40 for 279 yards and two touchdown passes, finding Kevens Clercius and Singer for scores. Saskatchewan also got a touchdown catch from Quali Conley, while Roberson added a safety. Sergio Castillo was perfect on four field goal attempts for Winnipeg, and Alex Hale hit only one of three tries for Saskatchewan.
The rivalry continues quickly, with the teams scheduled to meet again on Saturday, September 12, this time in Winnipeg. The rematch offers Winnipeg a fast chance to respond and gives Saskatchewan another shot to strengthen its hold in the standings.
