Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end Shane Ray records one of two sacks on Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

By CKOM News

Riders atop West

Sack attack: Riders record eight sacks to beat Elks

Jul 26, 2025 | 10:32 AM

On a game with the theme of Christmas in July, the Saskatchewan Roughriders delivered the gift of a victory to their fans at Mosaic Stadium.

The Riders defeated the Edmonton Elks 21-18 in front of a crowd of 27,933 on Friday night to improve to 6-1 in the 2025 CFL season.

But even with Saskatchewan leading 21-4 after three quarters, quarterback Trevor Harris isn’t happy with everything.

“There’s some positive things to take away but you can probably guess I am not happy with the way we finished the game offensively. If you want to be a championship-calibre team, you have to put the nail in the coffin. We didn’t do that,” Harris said.

“We’ve done that at points this year and we have played strong late in games this year but today was not that … I’m just not too thrilled with how we finished the game offensively.

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“I think this is a team that we can take a look in the mirror and get better. It’s not like we don’t have the guys or we don’t have enough to get it done, it’s just one of those things where we have to take a look in the mirror and be better at the end of the game. We will — mark my words.”

The Riders had five straight three-and-outs late in the third quarter and throughout the final frame.

Riders head coach Corey Mace said that was their kind of performance thus far in 2025.

“I thought there was a time for us to put it away and then just bad timing as far as things that happened for us,” Mace said. “We will keep pushing and treading through these kinds of things. If we can do it with a win, we are happy about that.”

Harris also admitted you needed to find ways to win close games as well if you want to win a Grey Cup.

“You get down late in the season where you need to have some gritty wins, and that’s what that was,” Harris said.

Edmonton was led by former Riders’ pivot Cody Fajardo in his first game against the Green and White as a starter. He finished the game with 346 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those touchdown strikes came in the fourth quarter, with Fajardo connecting with Kaion Julien-Grant for a 57-yard bomb and then a 13-yard touchdown to Steven Dunbar Jr. with under two minutes to go.

The Riders’ defence was all over Fajardo, recording eight sacks in the game. Malik Carney, Micah Johnson and Shane Ray all had two sacks apiece while A.J. Allen and C.J. Reavis each added one of their own. Ray and Johnson both recorded their second sacks of the game on the final two plays.

“We’re definitely happy about it. We have been grinding week after week and I think guys have been rushing good and getting wins but sacks are one of those things where sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t,” Johnson said.

“I’m super proud of how we have been rushing all year. For it to finally come together like that, I am happy for the guys.”

But like Harris, the veteran Johnson knows this team needs to find a way to close out games.

“We have to fix that. We have to finish. That’s probably the word for the rest of the year. We come out hot but for some reason, individually or together, we take the foot off of the gas,” Johnson said.

“We all have to look in the mirror and we really have to fix that because later on in the season, when you are playing the best teams, that can come back to haunt you.

“We have to find a way to keep that same energy throughout the game.”

Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver KeeSean Johnson hauls in a pass in a 21-18 win over the Edmonton Elks at Mosaic Stadium on July 25, 2025. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

On offence, Sam Emilus was the top Riders’ pass catcher in the game, finishing with 113 yards and a touchdown in the contest. KeeSean Johnson also had a big day for Saskatchewan, hauling in eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Emilus left the game in the fourth quarter and did not return.

Harris was once again efficient in the win, throwing for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 75.8 per cent completion rate in the game, extending his CFL record streak to 10 games over 70 per cent.

Despite the Riders having to make a late-week adjustment and starting Noah Zerr at left guard for the injured Zack Fry — the ninth different O-lineman to start a game for the Riders — but the team only surrendered one sack, which came late in the fourth quarter.

The Riders’ rushing defence once again was stout, only giving up 25 yards on the ground.

“Just the scheme we were running and everyone was doing their job. All week we were talking about everyone doing their job and I think it really showed we can be a great defence,” Johnson said. “We think we’re the best rush defence in the league.”

With the Montreal Alouettes defeating the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday, the Riders now sit alone at the top of the CFL West Division.

Riders kicker Brett Lauther was good on two of three field goal attempts and both convert kicks.

Saskatchewan will now travel to Montreal to take on the Als on Saturday.

“I’ve never had an easy road trip out there. It’s going to be a tough one and I am excited for us to love on each other again, watch the film and just get better,” said offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick.