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The Saskatchewan Roughriders will look to put their recent woes in Montreal behind them.
Saskatchewan goes into the game with a 6-1 record and currently sit at the top of the CFL standings.
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This week the team heads to Montreal to take on the 5-2 Alouettes. Percival Molson Memorial Stadium hasn’t been kind to the Riders, with the last win for the Green and White there coming back in 2021. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.
Current Riders quarterback Trevor Harris was the backup for the Alouettes in that contest.
“Those fans are great and ever since they have turned it around — they started to turn it around in ’19, made the playoffs in ’22 and then won the Cup. It’s an ascending team and fans are coming out and making it tough to play there,” Harris said.
One of the things the Riders will look to improve on this week is their play in the fourth quarter. The team has been outscored 66-40 in the final quarter of regulation and hasn’t put up a point in the frame in the past two games.
That has led to some close calls for the team, with the Riders seeing big leads disappear recently but still managing to hold onto the wins. That includes both of the team’s last two games — a 33-27 win over the B.C. Lions and then the 21-18 victory over the Edmonton Elks.
“All it takes is one play,” Harris said. “When you’re off the field in two plays and you’re sending your defence back on the field, you feel like you’re out there for two seconds and then back on the sidelines. Then you start getting pissed off because its been a few series and it’s not going to well.
“Finding the rhythm is moving the chains — getting in the rhythm and finding ways to get their defence off-balance and not let them pin their ears back and be super fresh every play.”
The Als’ defence has been one of the best units in the CFL this season. They are only allowing opposing offences to score 20.7 points per game — only the Calgary Stampeders’ defence has surrendered less.
Montreal will also have Shawn Lemon back in the lineup. He was reinstated by the CFL after being suspended for gambling on a game he was playing in, and then served a two-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
“They are well coached and they try to take away things that teams are really good at,” Riders’ head coach Corey Mace said.
“They are fast as ever, and are relentless to the football. They do a good job of causing turnovers and causing confusion, and they beat protections and have enough guys on the back end that can cover a lot of ground as well.”
There are some changes to the Riders’ offence this week. The Riders will be without pass-catcher Sam Emilus, who has been added to the six-game injured list with a knee injury. Tommy Nield will start in his place.
Saskatchewan do get some bodies back along the offensive line as both left guard Zack Fry and left tackle Payton Collins return to the lineup.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders defence recorded eight sacks in the team’s 21-18 win over the Edmonton Elks. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
On defence, the Riders will look to put the pressure on Alouettes veteran quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson in the contest. Bethel-Thompson is starting his second straight game after starter Davis Alexander was put on the six-game injured list with a hamstring injury.
“They like to do a lot of seven-man protections and stuff like that,” said Riders defensive end Malik Carney.
“Coach has done a great job of preparing us for this game so it’s up to us to go out there and execute and get the win.”
The last time out, the Riders recorded eight sacks to increase their total to 20 on the season — the most in the CFL.
“A lot of the hard work we put in showed out that game but we are over that and onto the next game and the next performance,” said Carney, who had two sacks in the game and is tied for second-most in the CFL with four.
“Just continue to build our chemistry, continue to be physical and continue to get wins.”
Following the game, the Riders will head out onto their second bye week of the season.
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