WINNIPEG — Nearly 20 years ago, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were written off faster than my transmission-optional 1973 Mercury Montego.
A younger version of yours truly sat in the press box at Winnipeg Stadium and confidently tied a bow to the Roughriders’ 2004 season following a 27-24 CFL loss to the host Blue Bombers.
“After losing the inaugural Banjo Bowl, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are playing out the string,” I wrote in the best-selling, Sept. 13, 2004 edition of the Regina Leader-Post.
In all vanity, I was proud of the one-liner.
For an entire week.
Then the Roughriders, whose record had dropped to 4-8-0 due to the defeat in Winnipeg, embarked on a five-game winning streak.
After finishing the regular season at 9-9-0, the Green and White posted a 14-6 playoff victory in Edmonton before coming tantalizingly close to upending the 13-5-0 B.C. Lions in the West Division final.
B.C. won 27-25 in overtime to earn a berth in the 92nd Grey Cup Game.
Ummmm … what was that about “playing out the string?”
There is a danger, I am reminded, in passing judgment on a football team at this time of the year.
That sentiment is applicable as the Roughriders prepare to face the Blue Bombers in the 20th consecutive Labour Day Rematch (today, 1 p.m., CTV, CKRM).
At the moment, the teams appear to be heading in opposite directions.
Winnipeg (6-6-0) carries a four-game winning streak into a much-anticipated rivalry game against a 5-6-1 Saskatchewan side that is winless in its last six contests (0-5-1).
Recent events have prompted some observers to opine that the Roughriders’ season, which began with four victories in succession, is irreparable.
Who would dare to suggest such a thing in September?!
(See: 2004. Been there. Done that. Mistake!)
At this time last year, it was reasonable to relegate the Montreal Alouettes to the ranks of mediocrity.
A four-game losing streak, in which the Alouettes were outscored 143-72, left them at 6-7-0.
Montreal won its next seven games, the last of which was a 28-24 Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg.
Like the 2023 Alouettes, the 1989 Roughriders were 6-7-0.
The final game of a 2-6-0 skid was a 32-30 home-field loss to B.C. on Sept. 30, 1989.
Complicating matters, future Hall of Fame receiver Ray Elgaard suffered torn ligaments in his left knee during the third quarter.
The Roughriders imploded at the end of the fourth quarter.
The prognosis was hardly rosy heading into the next game — an Oct. 8 meeting with the host Calgary Stampeders.
With Elgaard and the Roughriders’ other game-breaking slotback (Jeff Fairholm) sidelined by injuries, the Roughriders started James Ellingson and Rob Bresciani at the inside-receiving positions.
Don Narcisse was the only opening-day starting receiver who was available for the early-October game at McMahon Stadium.
Narcisse did his part, catching four passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
His impressive numbers were exceeded by Bresciani, who made six receptions for 194 yards. Bresciani and Narcisse both caught 59-yard touchdown passes against Calgary.
Ellingson, who always stepped up when needed, added five catches for 72 yards.
Kent Austin amassed 492 passing yards even though Elgaard and Fairholm — the Slot Machines — were on the shelf.
A patched-up Saskatchewan team won 39-26.
The injury toll was such that a quarterback, Jeff Bentrim, was used as a receiver and kick returner during the Roughriders’ next two visits to Calgary.
Saskatchewan won both times. Most memorably, the Roughriders defeated the Stampeders 33-26 in the West semi-final.
Next stop: Edmonton.
This scribbler’s reaction at the time: Gulp.
Edmonton entered the game at 16-2-0, having established a league record for regular-season victories.
The Roughriders were 9-9-0.
But Elgaard was back. Fairholm, who caught three passes for 20 yards against Calgary, had another week to get closer to 100 per cent.
Between them, they caught three touchdown passes as Saskatchewan engineered one of the greatest upsets in CFL history, winning 32-21.
The Roughriders defeated the favoured Hamilton Tiger-Cats (12-6-0) a week later, winning the greatest Grey Cup ever, 43-40.
Not even two months earlier, all hope seemed to have evaporated.
The 1989 Edmonton team stood alone as the regular-season victories kingpin until 2023, when the Toronto Argonauts went 16-2-0.
The fates of both teams were also comparable.
Neither one of them made it to the Grey Cup.
In each case, a championship was celebrated by a team that, at one point, was a game below .500.
Saskatchewan in 1989.
Montreal in 2023.
The 2024 Roughriders, we remind you, are 5-6-1.
“Stick with us … bleed green,” Head Coach Corey Mace said when asked whether he had a message for the fans after Sunday’s 35-33 home-field loss to Winnipeg.
“If you’re about it, you’re about it. If you’re with us, that’s what we need, because we’re holding on to each other tight.
“Our fan base is the best fan base in the world, and I believe fan bases stick with their team regardless.
“If you’ve seen anything about this team, we will play our ass off. So if a couple fall our way, being as tight as it is in the West right now, we could be having a different conversation in a month.”
EDGE RUSHER
Bryan Cox Jr. is enjoying a breakout season.
The second-year Roughriders defensive end is among the league’s leaders in sacks, with five.
Cox is one sack behind the pace setters — Saskatchewan’s Micah Johnson and Winnipeg’s Willie Jefferson.
“You saw a lot of things on film to get you excited as a coach, with his rush ability,” said Mace, referencing his early appraisal of Cox Jr.
“His physicality, as well, has gotten a lot better. I kind of pushed him from that standpoint and he has definitely answered the bell.
“I think he has added a couple of tools to his tool belt as far as getting after the quarterback and he’s playing with a lot of intensity.
“I’m excited, again, for his progression. He’s still untapped (in terms of potential) and he’s eager. Above all, he’s competitive.
“He’s always going to find a way to work to get an edge, not only for himself but for his team.”
A veteran of 26 NFL games, Cox Jr. joined the Roughriders last season and had two sacks over his first eight CFL games. Both sacks came in the 2023 regular-season finale.
He carried that momentum into his second go-round in the CFL, having made the transition from four-down football.
“It’s definitely different,” he said. “That yard (off the ball) is huge when you’re talking about pass rushing. You also have one less down to do what you need to do and get sacks.
“It’s an adjustment. It’s the game up here and that’s what it has been. You just have to get adjusted to it.”
Was there a “eureka!” moment when it all clicked in?
“I wouldn’t say that,” he replied. “I feel like it’s kind of a gradual stair-climb — just learning the game, seeing how it goes, and applying what I know from my past experiences to this game.”
All of that is done with an eye toward the future.
“I love it here,” Cox Jr. said. “Sask is a great place. I feel like we’re going to do great things.
“Even this year, I feel like we still have a lot in front of us. We’ve just got to keep going.”
“CHAMPIONSHIP DNA”
Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris was asked earlier this week why he believes in his team so steadfastly.
“Fighters,” he replied. “We’ve been down in double digits so many times this year in the fourth quarter and the second half and this team just continues to keep throwing punches. There’s no die in this team. There’s always fight.
“Whenever you face adversity, you can do two things. You can lay down or you can get up and fight. I know what this group is going to choose to do and I know the talent level we have and I know our leadership.
“That’s a championship DNA, in my opinion. I’ve been around long enough to feel that and know that. It’s on us to go out there and execute and make sure that we’re doing what we need do to get wins.”
KeeSEAN CASHES IN
KeeSean Johnson has caught a touchdown pass in each of his last three games.
That is the Roughriders’ longest TD-receptions streak since 2017, when Duron Carter (six games in a row) and Naaman Roosevelt (four) strung together some gems.
Carter and Weston Dressler (2012) share the team record of six games in succession.
Dressler (2013), Jack Russell (1951) and Hugh Campbell (1969) each had five-game skeins.
With a TD catch today, Johnson can tie Narcisse (1991, 1993, 1994), Campbell (1966), Elgaard (1992), Roosevelt (2017), Jack Hill (1958), Bob Pearce (1972), Rhett Dawson (1975), Joey Walters (1979), Curtis Mayfield (1999), Eric Guliford (2000), Travis Moore (2004) and Chris Getzlaf (2011) at four in a row.
At three games, Johnson has already matched Fairholm (two in 1988, one in 1989, one in 1990, two in 1991, one in 1992), Narcisse (1990, 1995, 1997), Campbell (1963, 1965), Dawson (1975, 1976), Elgaard (1990, 1993), Dressler (2013), Ken Carpenter (1956), Rick Eber (1973), Dwight Edwards (1981, 1983), Ron Robinson (two in 1983), Chris DeFrance (1983), Demetris Bendross (2000), Curtis Marsh (2000), Travis Moore (2003, 2004) and D.J. Flick (2007).
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Miles Brown, Dave Pettigrew, Douglas Hodson, Greg Yuel, Andrew MacCorquodale, Rhonda Ekstrom, Terri Harris-Strunk, Mackenzie Kilshaw, Blair Ross, Regan Exner, Edmund Bellegarde, Susan Flett, Jeff Krever, Dr. Tom Robinson, Ed Tait, Jamal Morrow, Marnie Forsberg, Jim Feeley, Dale Oviatt, Bob Krawchuk, J.C. Garden, Cole Davenport, Darrell Romuld, Neal Hughes, Brenda Edwards, Ashley Prest, Doug Lunney, Jim Hines, Jermese Jones, Nick Wiebe, Jaxon Ford, Jordan Herdman-Reed and Robby Williams.
