Late TD lifts Riders over Als
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders kept the best for last Saturday in punching their ticket to the CFL playoffs.
KeaSean Johnson’s 17-yard touchdown reception with 29 seconds left in the game lifted the Riders to a 16-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes and clinched a post-season spot for the defending Grey Cup champions.
Johnson darted down the sideline past cornerback Don Callis to haul in a picture-perfect pass from Trevor Harris for the touchdown. Harris threw the pass before Johnson even turned to look for the ball and the speedy receiver easily hauled it in.
“I had a go ball and once I passed the defender, I saw the ball in the air. 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,” said Johnson, who finished with seven catches for 85 yards.
Johnson now has 108 receptions in 2026, the second-highest single-season total in Riders history. Don Narcisse holds the franchise record of 123 catches, which he set in 1995.
The Riders, who improved to 9-8 with the victory, struggled for the majority of the game but in the final moments they found a way to win. Montreal led 12-9 in the fourth quarter but were forced to settle for a 44-yard field goal attempt with 1:42 remaining after Saskatchewan’s defence held firm. Jose Malos-Diaz, who has a field goal conversion rate of 93 per cent this season, missed wide left and Matthew Sexton gave the Riders excellent field position with a 46-yard return.
In the ensuing drive, Saskatchewan made two pivotal plays. Harris connected with Johnson on a third-and-10 play to keep the drive alive and then two plays later Harris scampered 22 yards to the Montreal 1-yard line. For the 40-year-old Harris, it was his first 20-plus-yard run since a 26-yard run against the Ottawa Redblacks in 2022.
Harris wasn’t about to apologize for the Riders stealing a victory. “We were at our best when our best was required. 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,” said Harris.
Although the Riders have clinched a playoff berth, they won’t know their exact placing until next week when the final regular-season games are played. Saskatchewan could finish in third place in the West or find themselves crossing over to the East Division.
Head coach Corey Mace was happy to grab the playoff spot, but he understands that if the Riders want to advance in the playoffs, improvement is required. Montreal, which dropped to 13-4 with the loss, rested a number of veterans including quarterback Davis Alexander, tailback Stevie Scott and receivers Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead.
Dustin Crum, starting in place of Alexander, finished 20 of 26 passing for 185 yards and one touchdown. Shamari Lawerence got the start in place of Scott and gained 109 yards on 16 carries. The Alouettes held an 11-3 lead after a pedestrian first half that saw both offences struggle. Riders receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker caught four passes for 45 yards and passed the 1,000-yard mark for the season, despite playing in 11 games due to injury.