After 13 years in the league, Trevor Harris has finally secured a Grey Cup victory as a starting quarterback. The 39-year-old from Ohio led the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes at Princess Auto Stadium, throwing for 302 yards. Harris completed an impressive 85.2% of his passes, setting a Cup record. He was honored as the game’s outstanding player, marking his third Grey Cup triumph but his first as a starting QB.
Corey Mace, the Riders’ head coach, expressed his belief in Harris from the start, emphasizing the quarterback’s journey to becoming a Grey Cup champion. The future for Harris now raises questions about retirement or a potential return for a 14th CFL season, a topic he skillfully avoided discussing throughout the week.
In the game, Saskatchewan’s Sam Emilus shined as the top Canadian player with 10 catches for 108 yards, while A.J. Ouellette, the Riders’ running back, rushed for 83 yards and secured a touchdown. The victory parade for the Riders is set for Tuesday in Regina after capturing their fifth Grey Cup title and their first since 2013.
Notably, this Grey Cup win marked a historic moment as the Riders became the first CFL team to hand Montreal’s starting quarterback, Davis Alexander, a defeat. Despite Alexander’s impressive regular-season record, he faced challenges during the game, including three interceptions by Saskatchewan’s defense.
The game was not without its tense moments, including a missed field goal by Brett Lauther and a late fumble recovery by Marcus Sayles that sealed the victory for the Riders. Harris commended his team’s performance and strategic plays that led to their success in the championship game.
The enthusiastic sellout crowd at Princess Auto Stadium witnessed a thrilling match between the two teams, with Saskatchewan emerging as the dominant force. The victory marked the Roughriders’ first Grey Cup win in 12 years, sparking celebrations both on and off the field.
