Saskatchewan Roughriders start slow, fall victim to Tre Ford yet again in loss to Ticats (& other thoughts)

Photo: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography / 3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Saskatchewan started flat and fell flat in Hamilton as the Roughriders lost 26-19 at Hamilton Stadium.

The Riders lacked energy, and it cost them as the Green and White dropped to 6-3 and the Ticats improved to 4-6.

Terrorizing Tre Ford

The Roughriders likely didn’t expect to line up against dual-threat Canadian quarterback Tre Ford, but he started the second half for Hamilton after Harrison Frost suffered an undisclosed injury.

Ford has a 2-0 win-loss record against the Roughriders, and it should be 3-0. The way QB win statistics are given, Frost earns the victory, but it was mostly due to the 2021 Hec Crighton Trophy winner and a stingy defence.

Saskatchewan seemed to be in control when Ford entered the game trailing 19-10. He helped reel off 16 unanswered points, punctuated by a half-roll right, throw-back-left, 41-yard touchdown strike to Keric Wheatfall, who laid out to make a spectacular grab. That gave Hamilton the lead for keeps.

The Riders struggled to contain Ford. He completed 13-of-17 passes for 151 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, plus added four carries for 38 yards. If Frost wasn’t forced to leave the game, it feels like the result could have been in the Green and White’s favour.

Whoa Nelly

Nelson Lokombo’s second start after recovering from an ankle injury was a mostly rough one for him.

Lokombo was inserted into the lineup at cornerback following Tevaughn Campbell’s forearm injury suffered in Week 9 against Edmonton. He wasn’t noticeable versus Ottawa in Week 10, which is often a positive for a cover man. However, Week 11 was much different.

After Dhel Duncan-Busby tipped a pass into the air and Stavros Katsantonis picked it off, Lokombo was burned by Myron Mitchell via a go ball down the numbers for a 27-yard touchdown. In the second quarter, he was flagged for pass interference after making contact with Kiondre Smith prior to the ball arriving, but made up for his mistake by knocking the football away from Kenny Lawler in the end zone to save a touchdown.

Unfortunately for Lokombo, the second half featured another major penalty and a notable coverage error. He contacted Tre Ford’s facemask, which was flagged for roughing the passer. In the finale frame, the University of Saskatchewan product was caught peeking into the backfield as Ford faked a handoff and spotted Wheatfall streaking in the end zone, but the would-be connection was a near misfire by the Canadian QB.

Non-surgical Trevor Harris

Rider Nation has been accustomed to watching Trevor Harris dissect opposing defences with surgical precision, but that was not the case on Saturday night.

The 40-year-old had his team in front through 45 minutes, but could not stay on the field in the fourth quarter. Hamilton forced three two-and-outs and intercepted Harris to seal the win. That INT was thrown into heavy coverage and picked off by strong-side linebacker Reggie Stubblefield.

Harris did have a chance to give some juice to his offence and team, but missed rookie Canadian receiver Dylan Djete streaking down the left sideline on a go ball midway through the fourth quarter. If the 13-year veteran hit No. 80, it could have been a different result.

There was a standout milestone though, as Harris passed Tracy Ham for eleventh place on the CFL’s all-time passing yardage list.

Here’s Johnny

Johnny Johnson III quietly produced his first professional 100-yard receiving performance in Week 10 against the Ottawa Redblacks and backed it up with his first career CFL touchdown in Hamilton.

Johnson III ran a bender route behind the linebackers; Trevor Harris spotted the football perfectly as the 27-year-old slid to make the catch, popped back to his feet and crossed the goal line. He’s quickly developed a trusted rapport with Trevor Harris after being signed by the Riders on May 19, nine days into training camp. The six-foot-one, 200-pound pass catcher missed the first preseason game but recorded four receptions for 64 yards with one touchdown on May 23 at Griffiths Stadium.

No. 88 impressed enough for Saskatchewan to release Jaylen Johnson following his recovery from injury. Johnson III clearly has a drive to continue playing high-level football after his time south of the border. He went unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, but managed to sign an undrafted free agent contract and stay with the Houston Texans for three seasons. He earned over $1 million USD while playing in the NFL.

Johnson III posted five receptions for 45 yards with one major.

Starting Star

With Quali Conley placed on the one-game injured list due to a hamstring issue, fellow American running back Star’Corius Thomas was called upon to make his first career CFL start. He signed with the Green and White on June 24.

Thomas provided two key plays on the Roughriders’ first touchdown drive late in the second quarter. The first came on second-and-10; he check-released from the backfield up the middle, cut right, caught a Harris pass, broke a tackle and powered his way for 15 yards to move the sticks. Four plays later, the five-foot-11, 200-pound back decleated boundary halfback Destin Talbert as he flew off the right side on a blitz and tried to apply pressure. That block allowed No. 7 to find Johnson III for a touchdown, which gave the visitors their first lead in the game.

Thomas finished with nine carries for 36 yards along with three catches for 25 yards.

Pressure creates Hale-size diamond

Critics have been harsh on rookie Global kicker Alex Hale, so it’s only fair to give him props when he performs well.

The embattled Australian entered Week 11 having made 14-of-19 field goal attempts. His 73.7 percentage ranked him second-worst in the three-down league, while he was one-of-five from 40 yards or more in his young career.

Despite swirling winds at Hamilton Stadium, Hale knocked through 48- and 41-yard three-point kicks in the first half. In the third quarter, he added a 14-yard chip shot and then banged home a new career-long 52-yarder.

Canadian kicker Dawson Hodge was signed on August 6 and put through the wringer by the team in practice on Wednesday. However, it’s worth noting that since that transaction, Hale has made all six field goals he’s attempted: two versus Ottawa and four against the Tiger-Cats.

The 28-year-old Hale improved to 18-of-23 on the year

How’s Kee?

In the fourth quarter, KeeSean Johnson pulled up during an in-breaking route. His issue appeared to be in his right leg, but head coach Corey Mace told 620 CKRM post-game that he talked to the 2025 CFL all-star in the hallway and thinks he’s fine.

Football insider, reporter and analyst.