Highlights:

• Samuel Emilus dominated with 8 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown in Saskatchewan’s victory
• Thomas Bertrand-Hudon stepped up for injured AJ Ouellette with two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving)
• Eugene Lewis extended his touchdown streak to nine consecutive games, just one shy of the CFL record

Game Recap:

The Saskatchewan Roughriders kicked off their 2025 CFL season with a hard-fought 31-26 victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS at Mosaic Stadium on Thursday night. After falling behind 7-0 early, the Riders scored 24 unanswered points and held off a late Ottawa rally to secure the win. Saskatchewan starts the season 1-0 while Ottawa falls to 0-1.

Game Highlights Video:

Watch the full game highlights above to catch all the key plays from Saskatchewan Roughriders vs Ottawa REDBLACKS.

Saskatchewan Roughriders Performance:

The Roughriders overcame an early deficit with a dominant second and third quarter performance, scoring 31 consecutive points before Ottawa mounted their comeback attempt. Saskatchewan’s offense showed impressive balance with 277 passing yards from Trevor Harris and timely contributions from backup Thomas Bertrand-Hudon who stepped in admirably for an injured AJ Ouellette.

Top Offensive Players:

• Samuel Emilus: WR – 8 receptions for 133 yards and 1 touchdown
• Trevor Harris: QB – 19/26 for 277 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT
• Thomas Bertrand-Hudon: RB – 14 carries for 57 yards and 1 TD, plus 2 catches for 17 yards and 1 TD
• KeeSean Johnson: WR – 4 receptions for 68 yards
• Tommy Stevens: QB – 1 carry for 1 yard and 1 TD (short-yardage specialist)

Top Defensive Players:

• Jameer Thurman: LB – 10 tackles, 1 sack
• Malik Carney: DL – 4 tackles, 2 sacks
• C.J. Avery: LB – 4 tackles
• A.J. Allen: DL – 4 tackles
• Nelson Lokombo: DB – 4 tackles

Ottawa REDBLACKS Performance:

Despite the loss, Ottawa’s offense showed promise with quarterback Dru Brown throwing for an impressive 413 yards. The REDBLACKS mounted a fourth-quarter comeback that fell just short, scoring 19 points in the second half while their defense tightened up after struggling through the middle portion of the game.

Top Offensive Players:

• Dru Brown: QB – 34/41 for 413 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs
• Justin Hardy: WR – 8 receptions for 133 yards and 1 TD
• Bralon Addison: WR – 8 receptions for 112 yards
• Eugene Lewis: WR – 5 receptions for 57 yards and 1 TD
• William Stanback: RB – 9 carries for 26 yards and 1 TD, plus 4 receptions for 38 yards

Top Defensive Players:

• Adarius Pickett: DB – 6 tackles, 1 fumble recovery
• Adrian Frye: DB – 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble
• Robert Priester: DB – 4 tackles
• Davion Taylor: LB – 3 tackles
• Jovan Santos-Knox: LB – 3 tackles
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Looking at the CFL scores from Week 1, the Roughriders join the win column to start the 2025 season while the rest of the league has yet to play. In the current CFL standings, Saskatchewan sits atop the West Division at 1-0, while Ottawa falls to the bottom of the East Division at 0-1. The remainder of the opening weekend will see the Montreal Alouettes, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders, and Edmonton Elks all begin their 2025 campaigns.

The game showcased the typical early-season unpredictability that CFL fans have come to expect, with momentum swings and explosive plays highlighting the action. Ottawa’s late rally demonstrated the resilience that will likely keep them competitive throughout the season, while Saskatchewan showed the ability to build leads and close out games—a positive sign for their playoff aspirations.

Will the Roughriders build on this momentum when they visit Hamilton in Week 2? Can the REDBLACKS bounce back against the defending Grey Cup champion Alouettes in their home opener? What are your thoughts on this game? Share your comments below.