Alford’s 99-yard kickoff return for TD lifts Riders to wild 39-32 win over Argos

Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver Mario Alford (2) runs down the sidelines ahead of Toronto Argonauts defensive back Mark Milton (27) to score a touchdown during second half CFL football action in Toronto Friday, June 20, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jon Blacker (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press)

Mario Alford’s 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with nine seconds to play rallied the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a stirring 39-32 win over the ailing Toronto Argonauts on Friday night.

Alford’s return right came after Toronto’s Nick Arbuckle made it 32-32. Arbuckle capped a 70-yard, nine-drive with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital, then found Dejon Brissett for the two-point convert.

Arbuckle’s heroics came after Brett Lauther missed a 33-yard field goal at 12:58 to put Saskatchewan (3-0) ahead 32-24 and keep Toronto (0-3) in the game.

Tommy Stevens’ two-yard scoring run at 4:38 put Saskatchewan ahead 31-21. Lirim Hajrullahu’s 25-yard field goal at 8:02 pulled Toronto to within 31-24.

Saskatchewan’s wins have all come against East Division teams.

Toronto -- 0-3 for the first time since 2019 -- came into the contest short-handed.

Quarterback Chad Kelly (leg) and receiver/returner Janarion Grant both missed their third straight game for Toronto. Joining them among the Argos walking wounded were linebackers Wynton McManis (knee) and Jack Cassar (adductor), running back Deonta McMahon (ankle), receiver DaVaris Daniels (hip), defensive lineman Demarcus Christmas (Achilles) and offensive linemen Sage Doxtater (knee), Dylan Giffen (back) and Darius Ciraco (foot).

Then in the first half, Toronto lost linebacker Kenneth George Jr. (leg) and defensive lineman Derek Parish (foot).

The contest was a chippy one as the teams combined for 29 penalties for 307 yards (Saskatchewan had 18 for 178 yards, Toronto had 11 for 129 yards) before a BMO Field gathering of 12,025.

Brissett and Jarret Doege also scored touchdowns for Toronto. Jake Herslow added a two-point convert, while Hajrullahu booted a convert and three field goals.

Dohnte Meyers, with two, and A.J. Ouellette scored Saskatchewan’s other touchdowns. Lauther kicked five converts and a field goal.

Hajrullahu’s 24-yard field goal at 8:42 of the third pulled Toronto to within 24-13. But Doege scored on a one-yard run at 12:59 before Arbuckle hit Herslow for the two-point convert to cut Saskatchewan’s lead to 24-21.

Harris opened the second half with a 70-yard TD strike to Meyers at 1:16, giving the Riders a 24-10 advantage.

Hajrullahu’s 56-yard field goal to end the second quarter cut Saskatchewan’s halftime lead to 17-10. It followed Saskatchewan’s goal-line stand with 56 seconds left as Kevin Brown was stopped at the Riders’ one-yard line to end a 17-play, 97-yard drive that took 7:25.

Both quarterbacks were sharp as Harris was nine-of-11 passing for 123 yards and a TD, guiding the Riders to 17 points in their first three drives. Arbuckle completed 13-of-16 attempts for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Saskatchewan converted five-of-eight second-down chances while Toronto was 7-of-12. But it was a chippy half as the two teams combined for 15 penalties (Saskatchewan eight for 79 yards, Toronto seven for 79 yards) for 158 yards.

Lauther gave Saskatchewan a 17-7 advantage with a 16-yard field goal at 1:25.

Harris put Saskatchewan ahead 14-7 with a 32-yard TD strike to Meyers at 11:54 of the first. The two-play, 45-yard drive was set up by Alford’s 35-yard punt return.

Ouellette capped Saskatchewan’s 70-yard, six-play opening march with a 25-yard TD run at 8:26. It was Ouellette’s first carry of the contest.

Arbuckle opened the game completing all six of his passes for 80 yards, the last being a five-yard TD strike to Brissett at 4:50. The score capped a solid 80-yard, nine-play march.

UP NEXT

Roughriders: Host the B.C. Lions on Saturday, June 28.

Argonauts: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday, June 29.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.