Riders start 2024 season with win over Edmonton

The Saskatchewan Roughriders got a big play when it mattered to beat the Edmonton Elks on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.

Defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. forced and recovered a fumble from Elks quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson with under two minutes to go to give Saskatchewan the ball.

Then slotback Shawn Bane Jr. caught his third touchdown of the game to earn a 29-21 win in head coach Corey Mace’s regular-season debut.

“It’s one that will always be special to him,” said quarterback Trevor Harris, who threw for three touchdowns in the game. “I know he’s going to come up here and talk about the things we could get better at and ways we can clean up because we’re on a mission to build something special.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled for him.”

While it wasn’t what they envisioned, Mace wouldn’t apologize for the win.

“We’re always looking at things we can do better, penalties being the big one,” Mace said. “We’re happy we’re walking away 1-0.”

Harris was playing in his first regular-season action since July last year after suffering a knee injury. He threw for 305 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

On offence, the Riders’ were led by Bane Jr. who had three touchdowns to go with 125 yards — a day before his 29th birthday.

“It feels really good,” Bane Jr. said. “I didn’t think (three touchdowns would come) in the first game of the season. I’m glad it happened — my birthday is tomorrow so that’s a gift itself.

“It was an ugly win but we were able to do it.”

The Riders’ offence struggled to put points up for much of the game, only mustering eight in the first three quarters.

But then it exploded for 21 in the fourth to help power the team to the win.

“The mark of a good team are the teams that find ways to win whatever the circumstance is, you just find a way to get it done,” Harris said. “A lot of times you don’t know how it’s going to happen but this team is a team of guys that just don’t flinch.

“No matter what the situation is, we’re going to keep swinging and we’re going to keep throwing.”

Running back AJ Ouellette was one of the Riders’ key signings this offseason but Edmonton keyed in to stop the physical rusher. He had 18 carries for only 40 yards but also a touchdown.

While Mace has preached accountability, penalties proved to be an issue for the Green and White. They committed six penalties for 84 yards according to CFL stats, which included a 25-yard disqualification penalty against guard Logan Ferland.

“It’s the most frustrating thing. It’s kind of put a cloud over what is happening here. It’s very frustrating,” Mace said. “It will be handled. I will keep that in-house but we have to be better.”

Bethel-Thompson was making his first CFL start since the 2022 Grey Cup, which he won as a member of the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium. He threw for 336 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Riders kicker Brett Lauther didn’t attempt a field goal but was good on all four of his convert attempts.

Elks kicker Boris Bede went two-for-three on field goal attempts. Edmonton punter Jake Julien and Riders punter Adam Korsak each added a rouge to their team’s point totals.

The Riders (1-0) will be in Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats (0-1) next Sunday.

“We will be able to take a look at the film and see things we can clean up and get better at and hopefully we can go into Hamilton next week and get a win,” Harris said.