Roughriders Dominate Tiger-Cats 29-9 to Secure Fourth Straight Win

The Saskatchewan Roughriders showcased their defensive prowess by defeating the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-9 on August 26, 2023. This victory at Mosaic Stadium, in front of a sellout crowd of 33,350, marked the Roughriders’ fourth consecutive win, improving their season record to 8-1. In contrast, the Tiger-Cats, who had been averaging a league-best 32.3 points per game, fell to 6-4.

Quarterback Trevor Harris delivered an impressive performance for the Roughriders, completing 20 of 26 passes for 298 yards, along with three touchdowns and one interception. The Roughriders’ defense was equally formidable, intercepting Hamilton’s Bo Levi Mitchell twice and limiting him to just 201 passing yards without any touchdowns.

The game started with a challenging wind for Harris, who nearly faced an interception on his opening throw. The Tiger-Cats struck first, with Mitchell connecting on a deep pass to receiver Kenny Lawler, leading to a 24-yard pass interference penalty by Saskatchewan cornerback Tevaughn Campbell. Following a 16-yard run from Greg Bell, Hamilton settled for a field goal from Marc Legghio, taking an early 3-0 lead.

Saskatchewan responded on their second drive, but Harris was intercepted by Destin Talbert, who made a crucial play at the Tiger-Cats’ 41-yard line. Despite this setback, the Roughriders’ defense held firm, allowing only a 21-yard field goal, extending Hamilton’s lead to 6-0.

Harris rebounded on the Roughriders’ third possession, completing a series of first-down passes. However, Brett Lauther’s missed 28-yard field goal attempt resulted in just a single point, bringing the score to 6-1.

As the second quarter unfolded, the Roughriders found their rhythm. Harris connected with Dohnte Meyers for a 58-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful two-point conversion by A.J. Ouellette, pushing Saskatchewan ahead 9-6. The Roughriders then capitalized on a successful challenge for pass interference, allowing Harris to throw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Nield, extending their lead to 16-6.

With time running low in the first half, Mitchell fumbled near midfield after a hit from Shane Ray, allowing Saskatchewan to convert the turnover into a 59-yard field goal by Lauther, concluding the half at 19-6.

The second half began with the Tiger-Cats looking to regain momentum, but Campbell intercepted Mitchell on a deep throw, setting the stage for Saskatchewan’s offense to take control. Although Lauther missed a 42-yard field goal attempt, the Roughriders still managed to add a single point, making it 20-6.

Hamilton struggled to maintain possession, leading to a fumbled punt recovery by Drae McCray, but the Roughriders quickly regained control with an interception by halfback Rolan Milligan Jr.. Harris subsequently led a 90-yard drive, capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Joe Robustelli, putting Saskatchewan ahead 26-6 after an unsuccessful two-point attempt.

The Tiger-Cats attempted to rally, advancing to Saskatchewan’s 26-yard line before being thwarted by a sack from linebacker A.J. Allen. Legghio added another field goal for Hamilton, narrowing the score to 26-9 early in the fourth quarter.

Saskatchewan responded with a missed 46-yard field goal attempt by Lauther, but time was on their side. The Roughriders consumed two minutes of the game clock before Lauther successfully kicked a 14-yard field goal, finalizing the score at 29-9.

In the closing moments, Tiger-Cats’ quarterback Taylor Powell took over but was unable to score before time expired. The Roughriders’ commanding performance reinforced their status as a top contender in the Canadian Football League this season.