Johnson scores TD in final minute to lift playoff-bound Roughriders to victory

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders kept the best for last Saturday in punching their ticket to the CFL playoffs.

KeeSean Johnson’s 17-yard touchdown reception with 29 seconds left in the game lifted the Riders to a 16-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes and clinched a post-season spot for the defending Grey Cup champions.

Johnson darted down the sideline past cornerback Don Callis to haul in a picture-perfect pass from Trevor Harris for the touchdown. Harris threw the pass before Johnson even turned to look for the ball and the speedy receiver easily hauled it in.

“I had a go ball and once I passed the defender, I saw the ball in the air. It was moving really slow. I just had to focus and then make the play. I saw the defender coming but I knew the ball would beat him there. Trevor threw a great pass, and I just had to make the catch,” said Johnson, who finished with seven catches for 85 yards.

Johnson now has 108 receptions in 2026, the second highest single-season total in Riders history. Don Narcisse holds the franchise record of 123 catches which he set in 1995.

The Riders, who improved to 9-8 with the victory, struggled for the majority of the game but in the final moments they found a way to win.

Montreal held a 12-9 lead late in the fourth quarter but were forced to settle for a 44-yard field goal attempt with 1:42 remaining after the Saskatchewan defence held firm. Jose Maltos-Diaz, who has a field goal conversion rate of 93 per cent this season, missed wide left and Matthew Sexton gave the Riders excellent field position with a 46-yard return.

In the ensuing drive, Saskatchewan made two pivotal plays. Harris connected with Johnson on a third-and-10 play to keep the drive alive and then two plays later Harris scampered 22 yards to the Montreal 17-yard line. For the 40-year-old Harris, it was his first 20-plus yard run since a 26-yard run against the Ottawa Redblacks in 2022.

Harris wasn’t about to apologize for the Riders stealing a victory.

“We were at our best when our best was required. They don’t ask how; they ask how many. We got a win today. We’re thankful. We’re never going to apologize for it,” said Harris.

“Obviously, it wasn’t pretty, but I do think that how we feel, kind of ending this game, was exactly how we needed as an emotion from an emotional standpoint,” said Harris, who finished 27 of 39 passing for 253 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

“We just needed one moment, and whether that be the defence creating a turnover or a big stop in a big-time situation, the special teams making a big hit or flipping the field, or the offence scoring a touchdown when we really truly need it. I think that we had that all today, and I think that one moment kind of flips a lot of belief and attitude and spirit in the team.”

Although the Riders have clinched a playoff berth, they won’t know their exact placing until next week when the final regular-season games are played. Saskatchewan could finish in third place in the West or find themselves crossing over to the East Division.

Head coach Corey Mace was happy to grab the playoff spot, but he understands that if the Riders want to advance in the playoffs, improvement is required.

“Yeah, we won. That was nice, but yeah, obviously not the standard of ball we want to get to. In saying so, being able to solidify ourselves into playing a second season, I’m hoping that that’s the momentum that we needed to start shaking back to who we need to be, but yeah, that was not our standard,” said Mace.

Montreal, which dropped to 13-4 with the loss, rested a number of veterans including quarterback Davis Alexander, tailback Stevie Scott and receivers Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead.

Dustin Crum, starting in place of Alexander, finished 20 of 26 passing for 185 yards and one touchdown. Shomari Lawrence got the start in place of Scott and gained 109 yards on 16 carries.

The Alouettes held an 11-3 lead after a pedestrian first half that saw both offences struggle. Montreal used a handful of big plays to grab their lead with Lawrence having runs of 19 and 23 yards, while Crum connected with Callis on a 37-yard touchdown pass.

The Alouettes also capitalized on an interception by Wesley Sutton deep in Saskatchewan territory late in the half. Maltos-Diaz followed up with a 25-yard field goal on the final play of the half to give the Alouettes the eight-point lead. Maltos-Diaz suffered an injury to his left arm attempting to make a tackle on the missed field goal late in the fourth quarter. He was carted from the field with an air cast on the arm.

Punter Joseph Zema had two singles for the Alouettes.

Riders receive Kian Schaffer-Baker caught four passes for 45 yards and passed the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Limited to 11 games this season due to injury, Schaffer-Baker still managed to post the first 1,000-yard season of his career with 1,006 yards on 67 receptions.

Johnson has 1,328 receiving yards this season, giving the 30-year-old back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He had 1,159 receiving yards in 2025.

Brett Lauther kicked field goals of 31, 48 and 52 yards for the Riders.

UP NEXT

Alouettes: Visit the Toronto Argos on Friday.

Roughriders: Host the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, Oct. 24.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 17, 2026.

Jeff DeDekker, The Canadian Press