The Saskatchewan Roughriders are playing themselves into a dangerous situation.
Their 31-24 loss last week at the BC Lions dropped them into a tie for second in the West at 8-6 with BC, which owns the tiebreaker after winning the season series. And the Riders’ last four games include a home-and-home with the CFL-leading Montreal Alouettes.
So it’s go time for Saskatchewan as it hosts another desperate outfit, the Calgary Stampeders, on Friday night in Regina.
The Roughriders have a little wiggle room, with the fourth-place team in the West assured of crossing over into the East playoffs. But that margin of error is thinner than the record appears.
“You can definitely feel it,” said veteran offensive lineman Logan Ferland when asked about urgency to win. “I’d be lying if I said you couldn’t feel it. But the important thing is we just get back to work and focus on the details.”
Saskatchewan made the biggest move at a quiet CFL trade deadline by bringing back kicker Brett Lauther from Ottawa for a fifth-round draft pick. Lauther starred for the winless Redblacks, converting 32 of 34 field goals; he was cut by the Roughriders in the offseason after eight years.
While Saskatchewan searches for answers, Calgary (7-8) tries to build on consecutive wins over Ottawa. The Stampeders earned a 45-31 decision on Saturday behind 422 passing yards and three touchdowns from Vernon Adams Jr.
Any kind of victory for Calgary Friday night would be big, but a win by four points or more could be useful at season’s end. That’s because it would earn the tiebreaker with the Roughriders due to point differential in their matchups. Saskatchewan outscored Calgary 40-37 in overtime on June 20.
“It seems like we’re settling into a good groove,” coach Dave Dickenson said. “I guess we have destiny in our hands but we’re just trying to win a game. We did feel like we needed the two wins versus Ottawa.
“These are huge games for us, but let’s start with the first one.”
The Stamps have just three games remaining to most teams’ four as they have a bye in the final week.
–Field Level Media
