Tevaughn Campbell and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to play the Labour Day rematch in Winnipeg on Saturday.
The Week 14 contest is six days removed from the Riders dramatic 34-30 Labour Day Classic win over their rivals. Campbell intercepted Winnipeg's two-point convert attempt with 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the victory for the Green and White as he returned it 112 yards to the Blue Bombers end zone for pick-two.
With Winnipeg attempting to tie the game with a two-point convert attempt, Campbell knew the defence had to make a stop.
“We looked around at each other and said: 'One of us got to make a play, whether it's batting the ball down, making a stop here, picking the ball, whatever it is.' I remember their receivers came together, DaMarcus Fields and I looked at each other, we didn't really say anything, but we knew what was coming and then I jumped the route.”
At that moment, the 32-year-old Campbell admits he wasn’t quite confident.
“I thought he was going to complete it, to be honest. I remember the ball floating in the air for a little longer than I thought it would. I got my hands on it and started running.”
Campbell, who returned to the CFL this season after six years in the NFL with the New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, admits a primary thought entered his mind when he was running the ball back.
“Don't get caught because if I got caught by [Nic] Demski or [Zach] Collaros, I don't think I'd hear the end of it. I also thought I should go down at the one-yard line, but I remembered it was a two-point conversion, so I'm like let me just score.”
The 112-yard return gives Campbell 201 interception return yards on the season, making him the second Riders player to surpass the 200-yard mark in one year. That puts him 25 yards away from a single-season team record.
“It's a lot of yards, I can feel it in the legs for sure. If I can get over 226, that would be great.”
Campbell began his professional career in 2015 when the Calgary Stampeders selected him in the third round, 22nd overall during the CFL Draft. In that same draft, Winnipeg receiver Nick Demski was selected sixth overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The two will face one another again in the Labour Day rematch. Campbell isn’t surprised by Demski's success in his career.
“I think Nic's been balling out for so long. I remember playing against him in college and going head-to-head with him. It's been a long journey, it's been fun. He's super athletic and it looks like he didn't miss a beat, he still looks young and active.”
While Campbell will watch Demski on Saturday, he will focus on sweeping the home-and-home series.
“It's our game to lose. If we go out there and execute our defence, we'll be okay.”
Saskatchewan travels to Winnipeg to take on the Bombers for the Labour Day Classic rematch on Saturday. Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk, and Wes Cates bring you the pre-game show at 11 a.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 2 p.m. Listen to our comprehensive coverage on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
