What a game, what a Grey Cup and what a celebration!
The Saskatchewan Roughriders came through and took home the 112th Grey Cup, beating the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 in a night full of big plays, momentum swings, and pure heart. As a long-time Argos fan who picked Montreal to win, I’ll admit: I was definitely impressed. This was a heck of a way to cap off the season.
What made this Grey Cup extra special
- Momentum shift: Saskatchewan rattled off 24 unanswered points after trailing 7-1 in the first quarter, showing poise, grit, and a championship-calibre mindset.
- Defensive dominance: The Riders forced four turnovers, three interceptions (by Marcus Sayles, Rolan Milligan Jr., and Tevaughn Campbell) and a key fumble recovery in the fourth quarter to completely derail Montreal’s comeback bid.
- Red-zone efficiency: Saskatchewan was perfect in the red zone, racking up three rushing touchdowns (one by A.J. Ouellette, two by Tommy Stevens) and never letting the opportunity slip.
- A perfect connection: Trevor Harris was nearly flawless with 23-of-27 passing for a total of 302 yards, earning Grey Cup MVP honours.
- National pride shining: Samuel Emilus, the Canadian receiver for Saskatchewan, caught all 10 passes thrown his way for 108 yards, and took home the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Canadian award.
Key players & standouts
- Trevor Harris – the veteran QB showed why experience matters, managing the game, avoiding turnovers, and distributing the ball smartly.
- A.J. Ouellette – physical, resilient, and decisive as his rushing touchdown came at just the right time to build the lead.
- Tommy Stevens – two one-yard sneaks, two majors and big-time contribution in a big-time game.
- Samuel Emilus – a rock in the passing game, high-effort plays, and dependable hands.
- On the Alouettes’ side: Davis Alexander looked sharp at times, but threw three interceptions and couldn’t quite escape the Riders’ pressure.
- Stevie Scott III added a rushing score, but it just wasn’t enough.
What about the entertainment?
The build-up was electric as Our Lady Peace kicked things off in the SiriusXM Grey Cup Kickoff Show, bringing in those familiar Canadian vibes. I’ll keep saying it: I would much rather see Canadian talent not just in the pregame, but actually headlining the halftime. After all, this is our game, our culture, and there’s no shortage of homegrown stars who deserve that big spotlight.
What the Argos can learn
As a Toronto Argonauts fan, watching this game gives me hope and some real takeaways:
- Finish strong under pressure: Saskatchewan didn’t panic when things went sideways early. That’s the kind of composure I want to see in Toronto next season.
- Balanced attack wins championships: They leaned on the run, leaned on experienced QB play, and leaned on timely passing. Variety = strength.
- Defense wins big games: Turnover margin was decisive. The Argos need to build a ‘take-the-ball-away’ identity.
- Canadian talent matters: Emilus’ performance was a gorgeous reminder that Canadian players don’t just belong — they excel. Toronto, are you listening?
Looking ahead
- Rider Nation is riding high as this is their 5th Grey Cup title, and the first since 2013.
- Montreal will regroup, but they’re proving to be perennial contenders.
- Toronto … well, here’s to next season. I’m holding on to the lessons, the belief, and the hope that we’ll be in this conversation next year, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll be writing a post like this celebrating OUR win?
Final thoughts
This Grey Cup was a statement for Saskatchewan, for the league, and for Canadian football. It wasn’t a blowout, but it was authoritative. It wasn’t pretty every second, but it was gritty. As much as I wanted Montreal to pull it off, I tip my hat to the Roughriders as they truly earned it.
Here’s to a great game, great memories … and, for me, a long offseason of rooting harder than ever for The Toronto Argos to do better. Be Better!
