Taylor Shire
Regina Leader-Post
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are seeking revenge.
On Saturday night in Week 12 of the CFL season, the Roughriders — who are off to an 8-1 start for just the second time in team history — will visit the 6-3 Calgary Stampeders, who have been the only team to beat the Green and White this season.
In that Week 6 game on July 12, which was postponed by a day due to poor air quality, the Stampeders got out to a 17-3 halftime lead before closing out the 24-10 victory.
“We know that we’re better than that,” said Roughriders linebacker C.J. Reavis. “I feel like we’ve got a good chance to come out there and get our lick back.
“It’s always good getting hit in the mouth … I think it was a good reality check for us and at the perfect time.”
Against Calgary, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 428 yards and three touchdowns while running back Dedrick Mills had 85 yards along the ground.
And watching the film on that game as they prepare for the rematch this week has shown the Roughriders a few things they can clean up.
It has also served as a bit of motivation for a team that leads the West Division by four points at the midway mark of the season.
“We’re going to have to watch that tape again this week, and if that’s what it takes to motivate the guys to get it going,” said head coach Corey Mace. “When they go back and watch the (film) in what we identified as our worst game of the year, yeah they’re going to have to see that over and over and over again.
“So we’ll see if that makes a difference.”
Offensively, Saskatchewan was limited to 10 points in that game, which is the only time the Green and White have been held to fewer than 20 points this season.
However it wasn’t as if they were shut out completely as the offence still racked up 427 net yards and 22 first downs.
“We moved the ball very, very effectively, but they do a tremendous job of keeping you out of the end zone,” said quarterback Trevor Harris, whose team was one-for-three in the red zone. “They’ve done that all year.
“But a half click here, half click there on a certain play here or there and it’s an explosive. And on certain plays where we did get explosives, it’s a half click here, a half click there and they probably have a sack or a bat down, or whatever it may be.”
This week, the Roughriders have added a few wrinkles in the offensive game plan, knowing that Calgary will do the same defensively.
“Teams usually play a team slightly different,” said offensive coordinator Mueller. “They do what they do, but they play certain players and certain teams and certain play callers or coordinators a certain way.
“So you always try to look at what you did, what they did, and then just learn from it. And hopefully we’re better since we played them then, and I’m sure they are as well.”
Since that loss to Calgary, Roughriders have rattled off four straight victories including a 29-9 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.
In the last two games, with the other being a 34-6 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 2, Saskatchewan’s defence hasn’t allowed a touchdown as they’ve outscored their opponents 63-15.
“I think it’s urgency,” said Reavis. “I feel like we believe as well.
“I think everybody believing in each other. We’re trusting each other and we’re playing together as much as much as possible.”
While Saskatchewan has rattled off four straight wins since that loss to Calgary, the Stampeders — who are coming off a bye week — last played on Aug. 9 when they beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-27.
Saturday’s contest, which is scheduled to kickoff at 5 p.m. at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium, is the second and final regular season meeting between the two teams.
With how the seasons are going for each team, it could also be a potential playoff preview.
“We’ve just got to come out and be who we are,” said Reavis. “I feel like the last time we played them we weren’t ourselves.
“We weren’t physical enough. We didn’t execute enough. And it came down to that.”
Injury report
Safety Nelson Lokombo (hip) was a spectator during practice on Tuesday while Jaxon Ford got reps with the starters. Defensive end Micah Johnson (load management) also watched practice however neither injury appears serious.
“There’s a couple guys that needed a little extra (rest) today,” said Mace.
Meanwhile, returner Mario Alford (hip) returned to practice in limited for the first time since being injured against Calgary on July 12. Mace wouldn’t confirm when Alford’s return will be but he did say it’s trending in the right direction.
“We’re pretty close,” said Mace. “We’re playing it patient; just making sure we’re doing the right thing.”
With backup running back Mario Anderson (illness) limited on Tuesday, defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr. got some scout team reps at running back on Tuesday, which impressed the head coach.
“He can do a lot of things,” said Mace. “He’s just a heck of a football player and just finding different ways he can help this team.
“We’re just testing some things out, but he’s been doing it for the last few weeks during scout team. It caught a lot of people’s eyes, so just taking a little peek to see what that looks like.”
Offensive lineman Daniel Johnson (shoulder) was also limited while defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore announced on Instagram that his season is over after he suffering a torn ACL in Week 8 against Edmonton.
Riders add defensive back
The Roughriders announced the signing of American defensive back Benny Sapp III on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder comes to the Green and White after spending time with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons last year. Prior to that, the 25-year-old played three NFL games with the Green Bay Packers in 2023.
Collegiately, Sapp, a Florida native whose father Benny Sapp II is a veteran of 110 NFL career games, played for the University of Northern Iowa (2020-22) and the University of Minnesota (2018-19).
In a related move, the Roughriders released American linebacker Braxton Hill from the practice roster.
tshire@postmedia.com
