The Saskatchewan Roughriders put together a team performance to beat the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 in the 112th Grey Cup.
Below are my thoughts and analysis about the 2025 CFL championship game.
Trevor Harris finally wins the big one
Harris painted a Grey Cup masterpiece for the Riders, but there was nearly one major blemish.
After Marcus Sayles intercepted Davis Alexander on the game’s opening offensive possession, the 39-year-old nearly gave the ball right back and then some. He flipped his hips to the left side in the pocket and delivered a high swing pass to A.J. Ouellette. Alouettes’ defensive back Kabion Ento read and reacted perfectly but dropped a would-be interception touchdown.
“Do you think it was a drop or do you think he batted it down?” Harris asked 3DownNation postgame with a wry smile on his face.
It took No. 7 time to become comfortable against Noel Thorpe’s defence. Montreal disguised and mixed up coverages — Harris admitted the Als kept him guessing. There were defenders playing low to the side of blitzes when dialled up with spot drops underneath to the low routes and depth drops to intermediate routes — staples against Saskatchewan’s passing attack all year.
“You saw me flipping sides of the field that I was trying to read, trying to cancel concepts and get back. They did a really good job of levelling those things and then driving from the top down,” Harris said. “It took us a little bit to find our rhythm and once we did, I knew it was a matter of time before we’d start blowing the lid off, but we left some plays out there. (Offensive coordinator) Marc Mueller’s the man.”
On the last play of the first quarter, Harris found Dohnte Meyers, who beat Ento, streaking on a post route between the hashes for a 29-yard gain. That kickstarted an eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. Corey Mace successfully challenging for pass interference on third-and-two from Montreal’s four-yard line and the Roughriders took an 8-7 lead and led until the green and white confetti hit the turf a few hours later.
Harris set a Grey Cup record by completing 85 percent of his passes, finishing 23-of-27 for 302 yards. He hit Samuel Emilus for 24 and 31-yard gains, Ouellette for 32 yards on a catch-and-run flat route, Tommy Nield for 34 yards, and Meyers for 23 yards — critical chunk gains. Those air strikes led to the veteran QB winning his first Grey Cup as a starter and game MVP honours.
During his postgame press conference, Harris made sure to give credit to his offensive line, which went unnoticed because the unit played at such a high level. Payton Collins, Trevon Tate, Logan Ferland, Jacob Brammer, and Jermarcus Hardrick protected Harris so well he said there was no need for him to wear shoulder pads.
Sidekicks for life
Trevor Harris and A.J. Ouellette are now linked forever in Riders history.
Ever since the two stars made the 23-hour drive from Ohio to training camp in Saskatoon to prepare for the 2024 season, the pair have been the best of football friends — so much so that Ouellette and his girlfriend moved into the basement of Harris’ house in the fall when the water was shut off for the year due to cold weather at his Regina campground.
The housemates led Saskatchewan to a championship, offensively. There was a case to be made for Ouellette as game MVP, especially following the opening half. He ran nine times for 54 yards with one slick jump cut touchdown — making former Riders linebacker Darnell Sankey miss in the hole — in the first 30 minutes, while hauling in one pass 32 yards. He carried the football eight times for 29 yards in the second half as Harris took over.
It should not be forgotten that the 30-year-old ball-carrier was a major part of a 10-play, 92-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter. He accumulated 56 yards on five touches, including four carries for 24 yards, as his physical, downhill style helped Saskatchewan build a 15-7 lead.
Marcus Sayles deserved defensive MVP
Veteran cornerback Marcus Sayles was sensational for the Roughriders, coming up with an early interception that changed the game.
Tyson Philpot was streaking down the right side of the field on a post route as Sayles closed the gap to intercept Alexander on an under-thrown pass. He made the play and took possible points off the board.
The 31-year-old cornerback made arguably the biggest fumble recovery in franchise history after Shea Patterson coughed the football up with help from Canadian defensive back Tevaughn Campbell at the goal line, which ended Montreal’s comeback bid.
The two-time CFL all-star added an exclamation point to his performance by breaking up Alexander’s Hail Mary pass on the game’s final play in the end zone. He out-jumped Tyson Philpot and Alexander Hollins to seal Saskatchewan’s fifth Grey Cup win.
C.J. Reavis flashes his range
The 29-year-old defender, who moved from strong-side linebacker to safety in Week 18, made low-key the best defensive play in the 112th Grey Cup.
Midway through the third quarter, Tyler Snead was flying down the left side on a corner route, creating separation from Rolan Milligan Jr.. Reavis saw him from his safety spot and covered a mile of green turf in a hurry, ranging over to knock the ball down on a well-placed throw from Alexander.
The score was 22-7 Saskatchewan at the time. If Snead hauls the ball in for a long gain or TD, the entire momentum in the game could have shifted. Instead, Reavis flashed his impressive range and ball skills.
Ratio-breaker
Tevaughn Campbell came back after five seasons in the NFL and became an elite cover man in the CFL. He respected the talent level coming north of the border and tied for the three-down league lead with six interceptions during the regular season.
Campbell had an up-and-down performance in the Grey Cup. He seemed to be part of a bust in coverage in the first quarter on a 37-yard gain by Tyson Philpot running wide open down the seam but recovered to make a touchdown-saving tackle.
In the third quarter, he made a leaping interception on a pass intended for Philpot, which led to a field goal. One series later, he tried to make a play on the football but Philpot won the battle on a slant route and went for 22 yards. Two plays later, Campbell was called for pass interference on Snead as he hooked his shoulder while the diminutive pass-catcher was running a slant-and-go.
The 32-year-old’s effort ended on a high as he forced Patterson to fumble at the one-yard line with less than three minutes left in the game.
Masterful Mace
Corey Mace put his defensive game plan into action and it worked for the Green and White.
Mace essentially challenged Davis Alexander to try and consistently beat the defence from the pocket. He employed a controlled rush, knowing No. 10’s left hamstring was an issue entering the game, with lots of zone looks behind, allowing his defenders to have eyes on the elusive Alexander.
However, the QB who entered with a 13-0 win-loss record did not leave the pocket until inside the final minute in the second quarter. There were two glaring coverage busts, which led to a 37-yard gain by Philpot in the first quarter and a 51-yarder to Snead in the fourth quarter, but those were not enough to equal a loss.
Even though Saskatchewan did not record a sack, Mace’s vaunted front four created consistent pressure on Alexander and helped force two interceptions. Habakkuk Baldonado was in his face, which forced a short throw and a Sayles interception in the first quarter. Baldonado stayed after him in the third quarter to help cause Campbell’s pick.
Fans in Rider Nation regularly called into the 620 CKRM Rider Broadcast Network postgame show all year long wanting Mace to play less zone, but it was ultimately a main part of the game plan that helped the Roughriders hoist the big silver trophy.
Spectacular Samuel
Emilus was perfect in the 112th Grey Cup: 10 targets, 10 receptions. The 28-year-old put his speed, route-running, blocking, and athleticism on full display.
The six-foot, 200-pound pass-catcher made timely catches to help his offence move the sticks and score points. He had two second-down conversions for first downs, which were critical because the CFL leader in that category during the regular season, KeeSean Johnson, was out of the lineup with a knee injury.
His 24-yard catch-and-run, speeding way from Robert Kennedy III on a crossing route from left to right, set-up Saskatchewan’s first touchdown in the game. He punctuated his performance with a 31-yard grab along the sidelines with less than eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Emilus came up two receptions short of the single-game Grey Cup record, but he was a very deserving Most Valuable Canadian.
Super Mario still has some power
Some in Rider Nation may have greatly exaggerated Mario Alford’s demise.
The 34-year-old delivered a 38-yard return to start the second half and set the offence up with great field position at Montreal’s 48-yard line. Four players later, Tommy Stevens powered his way into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown in the Grey Cup.
That return by Alford helped Saskatchewan build a 22-7 lead and hit the Alouettes with an upper cut to start the third quarter.
Grey Cup offseason
General manager Jeremy O’Day has lots of work in front of him. The Riders have close to 40 pending free agents who were key parts and played roles in Saskatchewan’s fifth Grey Cup title. Top among them: Trevor Harris.
Harris will approach his football-playing future in a similar way to recent years, have conversations with the coaching staff, front office, family, and friends, then make a full committed decision.
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