Taylor Shire, Regina Leader-Post
The Saskatchewan Roughriders can clinch a playoff spot this week for the first time since 2021.
However, there’s more than one thing that needs to happen in Week 18 of the CFL season.
The Roughriders not only need to beat the host Edmonton Elks on Saturday (5 p.m., TSN), but the Green and White will also need the B.C. Lions to beat the Calgary Stampeders and have the Winnipeg Blue Bombers beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Both of those matchups are set for Friday night.
“You know what the situation is but if you start thinking about those things and talking about them too much and don’t focus on your process right now this week, then you’ll lose focus on what’s important,” said quarterback Trevor Harris. “If you start an inch of the path, after so many hours, you’re way off path.
“You can kind of look and see what the horizon is like but really, it’s just about one foot right in front of the other.”
After picking up their second straight victory last week over the Ottawa Redblacks (8-6-1), the Riders improved to 7-7-1 and leapfrogged the Lions, who lost to the Tiger-Cats, for second place in the West Division standings.
With three games remaining, Saskatchewan sits one point up on the B.C. (7-8) and next week, those two teams will meet on Oct. 12 in Regina, in a game that could very well determine who hosts the West Division semifinal on Nov. 2.
So while a Lions win this week could help Saskatchewan secure a postseason spot, the Riders might want B.C. to lose to increase the chances of a playoff game at Mosaic Stadium.
“We’ve talked about since the beginning of the season not to be scared of talking about our ambitions,” said running back Frankie Hickson. “But at the same time, when it gets down to it, the daily grind of things is to only focus on Edmonton; to only focus on being 1-0 this week.
“Ultimately, the rest of it will take care of itself when we just control what we can control.”
Meanwhile, the Lions can also clinch a playoff spot this week with a win over Calgary combined with a Tiger-Cats loss (vs. Winnipeg) and an Elks loss (vs. Saskatchewan). At 6-9, Hamilton still has a chance at the crossover while the Elks (5-10) are also mathematically still contention. In fact, no team in the league has been eliminated yet.
Additionally, if the Bombers (9-6) win this week and Saskatchewan loses, Winnipeg will clinch top spot in the division. If either the Riders or Lions lose this week, Winnipeg will secure at least second place.
There’s also an outside chance the Green and White can catch the Bombers for first place as Saskatchewan trails Winnipeg by three points with three games to go.
“It’s kind of a fine line,” said defensive tackle Micah Johnson. “You have to walk where you are but you’ve always kind of got that big picture because that’s what kind of keeps you focused and keeps you going on the day-to-day.
“But also, you understand that the only thing you can do about it is to come out and go 1-0 that week.”
After facing Hamilton this week, Winnipeg, who has already secured a playoff berth, ends the season against the Toronto Argonauts (8-7) and Montreal Alouettes (11-3-1), who have already clinched first place in the East Division.
After playing Edmonton and B.C., the Riders have a bye week before finishing the season against the Calgary Stampeders (4-9-1).
The Lions will play the Stampeders this week, Riders next week before finishing against the Alouettes.
And while the Green and White are aware of what’s at stake in the final four weeks of the season, the team is just trying to take it one game at a time.
“It’s just 1-0 every week,” said linebacker C.J. Reavis. “We’ve just got to keep doing our thing but if we go 1-0 every week, then we’ll be alright.
“We can control our own fate so that’s the best spot to be.”
Williams fined
Roughriders defensive back Deontai Williams will be forced to miss this week as he has been suspended for one game by the CFL.
With six seconds left in last week’s game, Williams delivered what the CFL called “an illegal and dangerous tackle on Ottawa wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton.” He also committed “a non-football act by striking another Ottawa player,” which led to the suspension.
At practice this week, the Riders have been planning on playing without him as Williams was working with the scout team.
Injury report
After missing last week’s game against Ottawa with a knee injury, Reavis is available play on Saturday in Edmonton after two straight practices of being a full participant.
Meanwhile, the Green and White will be without running back Ryquell Armstead (shoulder) as he has not practised this week after suffering an injury against the Redblacks. Frankie Hickson will draw the start at running back in Armstead’s absence.
Receiver Shawn Bane Jr. (knee) has also been ruled out along with offensive lineman Jacob Brammer (knee).
Defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado (knee) is questionable for the game, while defensive lineman Bryan Cox Jr., who missed last week with an illness, is also available to play Saturday as is linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed (elbow).
After missing Day 1 and being limited on Day 1, punter Adam Korsak (hamstring) is expected to play.
And it appears running back A.J. Ouellette (hip) and receiver Mitch Picton (ankle) will have to wait at least another week to get back into the lineup as both have been ruled out after logging three straight “limited” practices this week.
tshire@postmedia.com
