Saskatchewan Roughriders: 3 Standout CFL Seasons

The Roughriders’ 2019 season ended in disappointment as Craig Dickenson’s side were unable to make it to the Grey Cup game following a 20-13 defeat by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Despite this disappointing defeat, the Regina-based side could take plenty of positives from another decent campaign with an improved 13-5 seasonal record and a win percentage of .722% suggesting that there is plenty more to come from the green and whites. Whilst the Riders weren’t able to go all the way this time around, they have enjoyed plenty of recent success, and we reflect on some of most memorable moments from the past 15 years.

2007

#FlashbackFriday: Blue Bombers and Roughriders fans in Toronto for the 95th Grey Cup on Nov. 25, 2007: https://t.co/mAhX2nWgCt pic.twitter.com/vgd1qmFIqn

— Watch CTV News (@WatchCTVNews) November 25, 2016

The Riders ended the 2007 campaign with a 12-6 record, finishing behind the BC Lions in the West. Although there many memorable match-ups throughout the course of the season, their dramatic victory over the Blue Bombers is unlikely to be forgotten by the majority of fans.

Kerry Joseph was in electric form, scoring the winning touchdown with six seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The QB was declared the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player that season, and his heroics in the Labour Day Classic certainly played a major part in helping him clinch this much-deserved accolade.

The 46-year-old remains a legend in Regina, and has recently landed an NFL coaching role. He will be working with the Seattle Seahawks as an offensive assistant, and will be hoping to help guide them to the post-season once again. His side are currently 11.00 fifth favourites in the latest NFL odds on bet365 to win NFC Championship this season.

After edging past the Stampeders in the Divisional semi-finals, the Riders made light work of the Lions to book their place in the Grey Cup game. With Winnipeg having lost QB Kevin Glenn in the Eastern final, Saskatchewan took full advantage, running out 23-19 winners at the Rogers Centre in Toronto to secure their first Championship in 18 years.

2013

The Riders went into the 2013 season off the back of an underwhelming 12 months, and although an 11-6 record was only sufficient to see them finish second in the West, they had very few problems dispatching the Lions in the divisional semi-final.

With the Grey Cup game being held locally, they appeared determined to secure their place in the showpiece event, and a thoroughly convincing 35-13 victory over the Stampeders gave them the chance to take on the Wildcats at Taylor Field.

It turned out to be a memorable day for the local side with Kory Sheets being named MVP and setting a new Grey Cup record with 197 yards and two touchdowns. A blistering second quarter enabled them to run out 45-23 winners and become the third consecutive Championship winner to triumph on home turf.

2009

Although the Riders weren’t quite able to repeat their 2007 heroics, this season can be considered a fairly memorable one for fans. It was the first time since 1976 that Ken Miller’s side had finished top of the West, courtesy of an impressive 10-7-1 record during the regular season.

They eased their way past the Stampeders in the Division Finals before just falling short against the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup game. Leading with barely ten minutes left on the clock, the green and whites somehow conspired to throw it away in the dying embers, and were left to reflect on a missed opportunity. Although it’s a difficult one to take for Riders fans, the season as a whole can be chalked up as a successful one, and having made up for their misfortune four years later, the 2009 campaign should be remembered for a number of extremely efficient and high-quality performances.

The Riders will go into the 2020 campaign with plenty of confidence, and the fans will be hoping for plenty more memorable moments when the football finally gets underway later this calendar year.