Late touchdown lifts Roughriders past Alouettes to clinch CFL playoff spot

REGINA · The Saskatchewan Roughriders clinched a CFL playoff berth with a dramatic 16-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium. KeeSean Johnson caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Harris with just 29 seconds remaining to cap a 74-yard game-winning drive. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for Saskatchewan and improved their record to 9-8, while Montreal, which rested several starters, fell to 13-4. "I had a go ball and once I passed the defender, I saw the ball in the air," said Johnson, who finished with seven catches for 85 yards. "It was moving really slow. I just had to focus and then make the play. I saw the defender coming but I knew the ball would beat him there. Trevor threw a great pass, and I just had to make the catch." The touchdown came after Montreal kicker Jose Maltos-Diaz missed a 44-yard field goal attempt with 1:42 left, which would have extended the Alouettes' 12-9 lead.

Harris, who completed 26 of 38 passes for 231 yards with one touchdown and one interception, also scrambled for a key 22-yard gain on the final drive. It was his first run of 20 or more yards since 2022. "We were at our best when our best was required," Harris said. "They don't ask how; they ask how many. We got a win today. We're thankful. We're never going to apologize for it." The 40-year-old quarterback added that the dramatic finish provided the emotional spark the team needed.

Montreal had controlled much of the game, taking an 11-3 lead into halftime. Backup quarterback Dustin Crum, starting in place of the rested Davis Alexander, connected with Alexander Hollins on a 37-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Shomari Lawrence, starting for the rested Stevie Scott, rushed for 109 yards on 16 carries. The Alouettes also capitalized on a Wesley Sutton interception deep in Saskatchewan territory late in the half, setting up a 25-yard Maltos-Diaz field goal on the final play before the break.

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The Roughriders' offence struggled for most of the contest, with kicker Brett Lauther providing all their scoring until the final minute on field goals of 52, 48 and 31 yards. The game turned when Maltos-Diaz missed his late field goal attempt and injured his left arm while attempting to make a tackle on the return. He was carted from the field with an air cast on the arm. Matthew Sexton returned the miss 46 yards to set up Saskatchewan's decisive drive.

Head coach Corey Mace acknowledged the win was not pretty but was relieved to secure a playoff spot. "Yeah, we won. That was nice, but yeah, obviously not the standard of ball we want to get to," Mace said. "In saying so, being able to solidify ourselves into playing a second season, I'm hoping that that's the momentum that we needed to start shaking back to who we need to be." With the playoff berth secured, Harris will sit out Saskatchewan's final regular season game.

The Roughriders' final seeding will be determined next week. They could finish third in the West Division or cross over to the third-place spot in the East. Johnson's performance continued a standout season, giving him 108 receptions and 1,328 receiving yards. Teammate Kian Schaffer-Baker also surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the season despite being limited to 11 games due to injury. Montreal punter Joseph Zema recorded two singles in the loss. The Alouettes will visit the Toronto Argonauts next Friday, while Saskatchewan will host the Edmonton Elks on Saturday to close the regular season.

With files from The Globe and Mail, Sportsnet and Regina Leader-Post