Argos aerial attack takes down Saskatchewan 40-34 in Riders’ first loss of 2026

Toronto Argonauts' Samuel Hicks (25) carries the ball during first half CFL football action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in Regina on Friday, June 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kayle Neis

Featuring their white uniforms for the first time on Friday, “prairie blizzard” conditions didn’t play into the Roughriders’ favour, losing 40-34 to the Toronto Argonauts.

While the game was played in front of over 25,000 fans at Mosaic Stadium, Saskatchewan was actually listed as the road team for this matchup with the Argos ousted from their home stadium BMO Field in Toronto due to the FIFA World Cup.

The Argos stormed out to a 13-0 lead early in the second quarter, thanks in part to a Janarion Grant punt return for a touchdown.

Saskatchewan battled all the way back to take a 17-13 lead into the final two minutes of the half.

Trevor Harris led an eight-play, 61-yard touchdown drive to get Saskatchewan on the board, capping it off with a four-yard pass to KeeSean Johnson.

After the Riders added a field goal, Saskatchewan took the lead on a 17-yard rush from Quali Conley – his first career CFL, and professional, touchdown

With time running out before the break, Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly needed just two plays go 64 yards and score another major – giving Toronto a 20-17 lead at the half.

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Toronto scored the first 10 points of the second half again. Kelly called his own number to complete a six-play, 58-yard touchdown drive to reestablish the 10-point lead.

From there, both teams traded blows through the fourth quarter.

On the ensuing drive, Saskatchewan marched 90 yards down the field to score and draw within a score.

Harris went 7/8 completions on the drive while short yardage pivot Tommy Stevens was automatic at the goal line – punching it in from the two-yard line.

After Toronto added a field goal, Saskatchewan found the endzone again.

This time, Harris finding former University of Saskatchewan Huskie Daniel Wiebe for his first career CFL touchdown.

The Riders’ defense came up with a big stop to force an Argos punt on the following Toronto possession.

However, on the first play of Saskatchewan’s next drive, Jaylen Johnson fumbled the ball deep in Rider territory. The ball, recovered by Toronto, giving Kelly a very short 32 yards to the endzone.

Toronto’s offense did not squander the opportunity, as they added a touchdown to jump out to a 40-31 lead with 4:17 remaining in the game.

Saskatchewan thought they got the ball back with 2:42 inside the Argos’ 30 on a fumble recovery, but a facemask on the tackle reversing the call as Toronto retained possession and advanced 15 yards on the penalty.

Kicker Alex Hale added a field goal late to make it a six-point game.

In the winning effort, Kelly finished the game 23/30, 321 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He added 15 yards on the ground on four carries and ran for one touchdown.

Harris ended the game with 409 yards passing, 34 completions on 43 attempts, two touchdowns and an interception – his first of the season.

Suffering their first loss of 2026, the Riders fall to 2-1 through their first three games; Toronto improves to 2-1.

Saskatchewan’s next test is in Ottawa against the RedBlacks Friday, July 3.

Emilus exits with lower body injury

To add injury to insult, another Roughriders’ star has sustained an injury.

This time, Samuel Emilus left Friday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts late in the second quarter and did not return with a lower body injury.

Emilus was thrust into kick return duties after James Letcher Jr. went down earlier in the game.

Fielding a punt with under three minutes remining in the first half, Emilus was wrapped up on the tackle.

He was favouring his right leg walking off the field.

After being checked by team staff in the medical tent, Emilus walked to the dressing room before the half was completed.

The receiver did not come back onto the field for the second half.

Coming into the Week 4 matchup, the 2025 Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian had 10 catches for 181 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

He added another 65 yards on four receptions Friday.

“I haven’t got the update completely, but hopefully it’s nothing crazy,” head coach Corey Mace told reporters after the loss.