Saskatchewan Roughriders look to clinch West Division in Argos clash

The Saskatchewan Roughriders can check off one goal from their list this weekend.

If the Riders (11-4) can beat the Toronto Argonauts (5-11) in Friday’s CFL showdown at Mosaic Stadium, the Green and White wins the West Division and ensures the road to the Grey Cup runs through Regina during the West Final.

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“It’s cool we are in a situation that can lead from one thing to the next… We stick to our process of trying to win each week, and the rest of it just kind of takes care of itself,” Riders head coach Corey Mace said.

“Would it be really nice for our organization, our guys and the fan base to host a Western Final? I’m sure, but what’s more important right now is going undefeated this week, and that’s how everyone feels.”

If the Riders win the division, it would be the first time any team other than the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has done so since 2019, when Saskatchewan hosted the West Final. The Bombers ended up winning that game, kick-starting a run of five straight Grey Cup appearances.

One of the only players from that 2019 Riders’ squad who’s still with the team is kicker Brett Lauther, who is back in the lineup on Friday after missing last week’s 20-13 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

“That was a special year and a special team,” Lauther said.

“You get lots of opportunities to get in those games, and we haven’t gotten over the hump since I’ve been here. We’ve been in a lot of close ones with Winnipeg, and getting through Calgary or B.C. a couple years, but this group is really good and really special. We’re going to have a good shot at it, but it just starts with going 1-0 this week.”

Saskatchewan’s defence has been the stingiest in the CFL this season, surrendering only 23.1 points per game. The Riders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are tied for the CFL lead with 21 interceptions.

The Argos will have a new quarterback at the helm for this contest, as Jarret Doege makes his third career CFL start and his second of the season. Toronto quarterback Nick Arbuckle has been shut down after suffering a shoulder injury, while Chad Kelly didn’t dress this season after suffering a serious leg injury in last season’s East Final.

“They have a system of what they like to do, and even if we just go back a couple games of what he may like to do or what their offensive system is built for, that’s what we’re going to prepare for,” said defensive back Marcus Sayles, who is dressing this week despite not practicing due to a knee injury.

“If he can go through those certain reads, that’s good for him, but we have our reads as our defence and we think we can come out on top most of those times.”

The Argos have been elminated from postseason contention as a team from the west will cross over to the east. Saskatchewan can also clinch the West Division if the Calgary Stampeders lose to the Tiger-Cats on Saturday, but Sayles said they don’t want to have to wait.

“We don’t want to have to rely on anybody to help us win these games. As long as we take care of business, we feel we should be fine,” Sayles said. “This is just our next test that is on our road to the Grey Cup.

The Argos will also be without their leader on the defensive side of the football, as linebacker Wynton McManis has also been shut down to a knee injury.

“We have to be ready to execute, because if not, they will let us know,” Riders quarterback Trevor Harris said. “I expect us to come out fast and be effective.”

Harris threw for 341 yards in last week’s game, his fifth game over 300 yards this season. His 4,097 passing yards also marks the first time since 2022 that he has gone over 4,000 yards in a season.

The Riders will be without 1,000-yard receiver Dohnte Meyers in the game as he deals with an ankle injury.

Running back AJ Ouellette has over 1,000 yards on the ground this season, the second time in his career he has crossed that mark. His 1,110 yards is only 10 behind CFL rushing leader Dedrick Mills.

With the playoffs on the horizon, Harris said the Riders are feeling hungry.

“Now is the time we need to be ramping up and playing our best football. Sometimes you start going up that ramp, but now it’s time to shoot off that ramp,” Harris said. “Our focus is on being the best football (Friday) that we can be.”

Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 5 p.m.