The Saskatchewan Roughriders continued their impressive start to the 2024 CFL season with a convincing 36-20 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday night at Mosaic Stadium. The win keeps the Riders perfect at 3-0, while the Ti-Cats fall to 0-3 on the season.
Key Points: • Saskatchewan’s defense forced 3 interceptions and scored a pick-six • AJ Ouellette rushed for 98 yards and added 47 receiving yards for the Riders • Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 295 yards and 2 TDs but was picked off 3 times for Hamilton
Results
Team
1
2
3
4
OT
T
Outcome
SSK
17
1
7
11
—
36
Win
HAM
0
7
0
13
—
20
Loss
The Roughriders set the tone early, jumping out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and never looking back. Head coach Corey Mace earned his first home victory as Saskatchewan’s new bench boss, as his team put together a complete performance on both sides of the ball.
Saskatchewan’s Dominance
The Riders’ offense was efficient and balanced, with quarterback Trevor Harris completing 16 of 21 passes for 177 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Running back AJ Ouellette had a breakout game, rushing for 98 yards on 20 carries and adding 4 receptions for 47 yards.
Defensively, Saskatchewan was opportunistic, forcing three turnovers including a pick-six by linebacker Jameer Thurman. The Riders’ pass rush was also effective, recording 2 sacks against Hamilton’s offensive line.
Top 5 Defensive Players for Saskatchewan: • Jameer Thurman: 5 tackles, 1 INT (returned for TD) • Deontai Williams: 8 tackles • C.J. Avery: 5 tackles • Charbel Dabire: 3 tackles, 2 sacks • Rolan Milligan Jr.: 3 tackles, 1 INT
Hamilton’s Struggles Continue
The Tiger-Cats had their moments but ultimately couldn’t overcome a slow start and costly turnovers. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell put up solid numbers, throwing for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns, but his 3 interceptions proved too much to overcome.
Wide receiver Shemar Bridges was a bright spot for Hamilton, hauling in 9 receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Top 5 Defensive Players for Hamilton: • Kyle Wilson: 10 tackles, 1 sack • Trevon Mason: 5 tackles • Destin Talbert: 4 tackles • Richard Leonard: 4 tackles • Kenneth Jr George: 4 tackles
This game further solidified Saskatchewan’s position atop the CFL standings, while Hamilton continues to search for answers early in the season. The Roughriders will look to maintain their momentum, while the Tiger-Cats must regroup quickly to turn their season around.
As we look ahead, Rider Nation is left wondering: Can Saskatchewan maintain this level of dominance throughout the season? For Tiger-Cats fans, the question remains: What adjustments will Hamilton make to get their first win of 2024? Share your thoughts.
Mark Perry is the founder and editor of CFL News Hub. A dedicated and experienced football analyst, he has been providing comprehensive coverage of the sport since 2018.
The Roughriders spent some money on their O-line during the Off-season and it is paying dividends. Teams like Winnipeg lost in free agency due to their not wanting to offend the League salary cap. Winnipeg is not going to profit $5 million like they did last year.
David Tress
June 24, 2024 at 11:48 am
The Roughriders spent some money on their O-line during the Off-season and it is paying dividends. Teams like Winnipeg lost in free agency due to their not wanting to offend the League salary cap. Winnipeg is not going to profit $5 million like they did last year.