Mario Alford’s biggest plays as a Saskatchewan Roughrider have generated gains of 112, 107, 104, 98, 94, 92, 67, 59 and, for variety, six.
The six-yarder, as much as it is dwarfed by the other numbers cited above, loomed large as the Roughriders defeated the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats 33-30 on Sunday.
On second-and-three from the Tiger-Cats’ 16-yard line, Alford hauled in a low throw from Trevor Harris for a crucial first down.
Harris then found Kian Schaffer-Baker for a 10-yard touchdown. Brett Lauther’s convert created a 30-30 tie with 43 seconds remaining.
Following an interception, Lauther kicked a walk-off, 43-yard field goal to give Saskatchewan its second win in as many games this season.
Seven times over the past 34 games, Lauther has converted an Alford TD. Since joining the Roughriders early in the 2022 season, he has taken four punt returns, two kickoff returns and one missed field goal to the end zone.
Until Saturday, he had not caught a pass in green and white — or since Sept. 3, 2021, for that matter.
But he was pressed into double duty for a handful of snaps after Jerreth Sterns was shaken up on the second play of an eight-play, 88-yard TD drive.
Standing in for Sterns, Alford stood out.
“The fact that he was able to come in and do that at that time shows that he’s not just a returner,” Harris said.
“He’s the best returner in the league, for sure, but the fact that he was able to step in at that moment was truly remarkable for us.”
Initially, the pass was ruled incomplete, but the Command Centre took a closer look and overturned the call on the field. Alford’s hands were clearly underneath the ball, which was a centimetre or three from scraping the turf.
“I had a great angle on it,” Harris said. “I was like, ‘Please, review this,’ because it was under three minutes and I don’t think we could have challenged at that point.
“I clearly saw his arms under it and I was glad they were able to get it right.”
Alford was just happy to be of service at a time when two starting receivers — Sterns and Shawn Bane Jr. — were sidelined.
Bane Jr. suffered a minor leg injury with nine seconds remaining in the first half. Rookie pass-catcher Ajou Ajou stepped in for Bane Jr. and caught five passes for 41 yards, all in the third quarter.
Sterns and Bane Jr. are expected to start in the Home Opener, presented by Flynn, when the Roughriders collide with Hamilton once again (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
But Alford will be ready, able and certainly willing if needed.
“Whatever I can do to help, man,” he said. “I want to contribute to this team. Being able to do that, it feels good to come out and be able to make a big catch in the game.”
On the fourth play of that possession, Harris had looked for Alford on a deep route down the right sideline. The pass was broken up, but Harris proceeded to spot Schaffer-Baker for gains of 37 and seven.
Then Offensive Co-ordinator Marc Mueller sent in a play that called for Alford, who was lined up wide to the right side, to cut toward the middle.
“I looked out there and I thought, ‘I hope he knows what he’s got,’ because ’Rio has got so much on his plate with the return game,” Harris said. “He ran an in route and he was able to get his arms underneath the pass and scoop it.”
Alford came through despite being targeted only three previous times — including twice last season — as a Roughrider.
“It’s just a matter of being a pro whenever your number’s called,” he said. “Coach Mueller always emphasizes, ‘If someone goes down, be ready to play this, this this this …’
“I just make sure I’m ready mentally. My preparation through the week allowed me to jump in and be ready.”
The catch was the first for Alford since Sept. 3, 2021, when he combined with then-Montreal Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. for a 14-yard gain in a 51-29 victory over the host Ottawa REDBLACKS.
Alford was with the Alouettes for two seasons and the start of a third before joining the Roughriders.
He made his CFL debut on Aug. 18, 2018, catching four passes for 47 yards for the Toronto Argonauts in a 24-23 home-field victory over the B.C. Lions.
Alford had seven receptions over his first three games of Canadian professional football before being used almost exclusively as a returner.
And what a returner!
Combining his efforts with the Argonauts, Alouettes and Roughriders, he has scored on 11 returns — 10 in the regular season and one in the playoffs.
In 2022, he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams player after scoring four times in only 13 games with the Roughriders. He followed up last season by taking three punt returns to the house and earning West Division All-Star honours.
In a sense, Alford was too good for his own good.
“I think that’s what it was,” he mused. “I was too valuable as a returner. I’ve been wanting to play receiver and jump in on some packages, but I never got a chance to do it — because, I guess, they didn’t want me to get hurt, which I understand.
“But I’m ready to do whatever, honestly.”
That sentiment has been made clear to Corey Mace.
“Early in training camp, ’Rio said to me, ‘Coach, you know I am a receiver, too,’ so I was happy for him to be able to get it in such a big moment for us,” the Roughriders’ Head Coach said.
“He has been busting his tail. If you watch all the receiver drills and individual (drills), he’s not going through the motions. He’s completely dialed. He has the trust from us to be able to go in and make the play.
“I’m just happy for him. It just validates for us that if something happens, he’s someone we can count on.”
Alford’s receiving skills were on display at the University of West Virginia before he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
The Bengals took note of a senior season in which Alford caught 65 passes for 945 yards and 11 touchdowns in 13 games with the Mountaineers.
The year before, he had logged 27 grabs for 552 yards — an average of 20.2 yards per catch.
“I think I’m a hell of a receiver,” he said. “I run great routes. I still have the ability to catch the ball great.
“I still get paid doing what I do, so it’s all good.”
