13 years later, Trevor Harris is finally a Gray Cup-winning starting quarterback.
The 39-year-old Ohio native threw for 302 yards to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders over the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 on Sunday at Princess Auto Stadium. Harris completed 23 of 27 passes (Cup record 85.2% completion average) and was named the game's outstanding player.
This marked Harris' third Gray Cup title, but his first two (Toronto in 2012, Ottawa in 2016) were reserves.
“Listen, the first meeting I ever had with a player was Trevor Harris, and I told him this was going to happen,” said second-year Riders head coach Corey Mays. “I understood that everyone was talking about him, but he never understood.
“You can't tell [expletive] none other than the Gray Cup Champion, Starting Quarterback, MVP. And you better put the Hall of Fame next to that name. I love this guy.”
Harris' future remains a big question mark right now. Will he retire to the top of his game or return for a 14th CFL season?
It's a question he's cleverly dodged all week. On Sunday, he would not discuss any feelings of recognition surrounding the Gray Cup win.
“I think you guys should talk about this,” Harris said. “I’m just grateful for my teammates, I’m so grateful for my teammates.
“We did it. It wasn't the prettiest game, but it never was.”
The 39-year-old celebrates with his team and family after winning his first Gray Cup against the Montreal Alouettes in Winnipeg on Sunday.
Saskatchewan wide receiver Sam Emilus led all Canadians in the game with 10 catches for 108 yards. Riders running back AJ Ouellette rushed for a game-high 83 yards and a touchdown.
The Riders are scheduled to return home on Monday, with a victory parade scheduled for Tuesday in Regina.
In winning their fifth Gray Cup title — and first since winning in Regina in 2013 — the Riders did something no other CFL team had done before: hand Montreal starter Davis Alexander the loss.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 at the 112th Gray Cup in Winnipeg.
Alexander entered the competition having won 13 straight starts (11-0 in two years in the regular season, then playoff wins over Winnipeg and Hamilton in 2025). Alexander's regular-season record—the best career start in league history—will continue into 2026.
Alexander made big news this week after injuring his left hamstring in the East Division final win over Hamilton. Alexander was treated all week and played on Sunday, but was intercepted three times by the Saskatchewan defense.
This year, Alexander had to play only seven matches in the regular season, as a hamstring problem put him on the injured list twice. Alexander started and finished Sunday's game, but his lack of mobility was noticeable: He was 22 of 34 passing for 284 yards with two rushes for 14 yards.
“I thought he ran pretty well,” veteran Riders defensive lineman Micah Johnson said. “I think we did a good job of taking things away from him.
“In my opinion, he ran decently and was healthy.”
However, Saskatchewan made the game interesting with a Brett Lauther 39-yard miss with 6:36 left. Montreal drove to the Riders' three-yard line before fullback Marcus Sayles recovered Shea Patterson's fumble in the end zone, giving the West Division a possession at their own 30-yard line with 2:53 left.
Montreal regained possession at their own 23-yard line with 58 seconds left when Alexander ran for four yards but visibly limped back into the crowd. Alexander remained in the game despite his mobility deteriorating further.
“I didn’t play well enough to win this game for us,” Alexander said. “I did a couple things I haven’t done all year, like turning the ball over three times.
“When you get outplayed at quarterback, you immediately put your team at a deficit.”
Mace earned his first Gray Cup victory as a head coach. But as the Riders' defensive coordinator, he took great pleasure in the team's performance.
The Roughriders captured the Gray Cup for the first time in 12 years, leading to wild celebrations with head coach Corey Mays in the locker room after the game.
“We just didn’t want to give up fragmented games,” Mays said. “We gave up some, but they picked up the ball and these guys [Riders defenders]they capitalize.
“We have hawks there. Incredibly proud of all these guys. “At the end of the game they had to lift the ball and I trust my front four and our back half to anyone in the league.”
Jose Maltos Diaz's 23-yard field goal at 7:08 of the fourth cut Montreal's lead to 25-17.
“We had some big conversions in the second,” Harris said. “I didn’t throw any touchdowns, but we had some impressive second downs through the air.
“We ran the ball well, were able to stay on the field, and on the last drive we were able to get some first downs and spend some time to really put pressure on them.”
Another sale in Winnipeg
Saskatchewan was the clear favorite with an enthusiastic sellout at Princess Auto Stadium with 32,343. It was the 15th consecutive sold-out event at the property dating back to August 2024, including the Western Division Final.
This was the third Montreal-Saskatchewan Gray Cup match. The Alouettes won both previous meetings in 2009 and 2010.
Tommy Stevens scored Saskatchewan's other two touchdowns. Lauter hit three converts and a field goal, and Jesse Mirko added one.
Patterson and Stevie Scott III scored the goals for Montreal. Maltos Diaz hit the converts and scored a field goal.
Scott capped the third quarter with an 11-yard run to bring Montreal within 25–14. Lauther's 48-yard kick at 11:01 gave the Riders a 25-7 lead.
Saskatchewan opened the second half when Stevens completed a four-play, 48-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run at 2:48 of the third for a 22-7 lead. That followed Mario Alford's 38-yard kickoff return.
Saskatchewan outscored Montreal 14-0 in the second quarter and led 15-7 at halftime.
Ouellette scored on a five-yard run at 12:22 to extend Saskatchewan's lead to 15-7. The 11-play, 92-yard drive took more than six minutes off the clock and included Ouellette's 32-yard reception.
Stevens' one-yard run with 3:52 left gave Saskatchewan an 8-7 lead. That followed a successful pass interference challenge by the Riders after Montreal's Kabion Ento picked off Harris' third pass to Donte Meyers.
Harris was a solid 13-of-16 passing in the first half, catching 10 straight passes at one point for 155 yards. Ouellette rushed for 54 yards on nine carries with a 32-yard catch.
Alexander completed nine of 14 passes for 97 yards but was intercepted twice. He ran 10 yards one time in the first half.
Patterson gave Montreal a 7–1 lead with a one-yard touchdown run at 13:48 of the first, capping a six-play, 54-yard march. Mirko's 69-yard solo kick opened the scoring at 4:55.
