Riders look to clean up mistakes in clash with Argonauts

The Saskatchewan Roughriders know some hard conversations needed to be had after the win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

While the Riders won the showdown 20-13, the CFL club felt like it was their own mistakes that allowed the game to be so close.

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“Ottawa is a good team — they are a very physical bunch and make it difficult for you offensively,” Riders quarterback Trevor Harris said.

“We shot ourselves in the foot quite a bit. I think there were four scoring drives where we shot ourselves in the foot … Teams are going to make you hurt from that. Ottawa is a good football team in terms of who they are, their personnel, their scheme and what they do. They don’t make it easy on you — no team does in this league.”

As the team looks to round into form for the playoffs, those things need to be addressed.

“That’s what it’s about — where are we trying to get to and how do we get there? You don’t get there by playing pattycake with each other. Sometimes it’s about having tough conversations and encouraging one and another and lifting each other up.

“In terms of execution, I thought we did a good job offensively but self-inflicted wounds will kill you and we can’t have that as we go down the stretch,” Harris said. “You get in the West final and playoff games, you can’t have those.”

The goal for this Riders team is to be playing in the Grey Cup in Winnipeg on Nov. 16. The Riders can ensure the road there in the CFL West Division comes this weekend. With a win over the Toronto Argonauts on Friday, Saskatchewan clinches first place in the division. If the Riders lose, it can also be accomplished with a Stampeders loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday.

Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 7 p.m.

As the Riders returned to practice on Monday, defensive backs Rolan Milligan Jr. (knee/foot) and Marcus Sayles (knee) did not participate in practice. Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell was back on the field in a limited fashion as he recovers from a head injury.

The Riders did sign defensive back Nafees Lyon to a contract. Lyon was with the Edmonton Elks from 2021-22 before being traded to the Montreal Alouettes in his second season. He was with Montreal through the 2024 season, winning a Grey Cup with the Alouettes in 2023.

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