Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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It’s a showdown in Steel Town tonight.
The 6-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders are in Hamilton to take on a 3-6 Tiger-Cats team that is trying to stop its season from slipping away.
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Hamilton Stadium has always been a tough place to play for the visiting team. Riders quarterback Trevor Harris has had to go there as a member of a number of teams, including the Toronto Argonauts, who are the Ti-Cats’ biggest rival.
“It takes me back to early in my career. The place was really rocking, and their fans are great — for their home team, I guess I should say, because they are one of the more rude fan bases,” the 40-year-old veteran said.
“It’s part of the fun. I’m not saying rude as in (a bad way). They get after the players and they make it fun and they make it feel like a hostile environment, so it will be a fun test to go in there because they are a good football team and they are a really good defence.”
While the Riders offence is still without some key players like Sam Emilus, Kian Schaffer-Baker and A.J. Ouellette, the receiver corps. will have some continuity this week. The same five starters as last week — KeeSean Johnson, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Johnny Johnson III, Dylan Djete and D’Sean Mimbs — will all play together for a second straight week.
With that group, Harris threw for 401 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 42-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.
There will be a change at running back, as Quali Conley was listed as out after appearing on Thursday’s injury report with a hamstring injury. That means Star Thomas will make his first CFL start.
While the Ti-Cats have had some struggles on offence, the team’s defence has been one of the league’s top units. Hamilton’s defence is surrendering only 26.2 points per game to opposing offences this season, which is the third fewest in the league.
Saskatchewan has been able to enjoy success against the Tiger-Cats in recent meetings, winning the last five times the two teams have met.
The Riders won the meeting earlier this season 38-7, with Hamilton starting Jake Dolegala at quarterback. Bo Levi Mitchell was injured against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 5.
After the loss to the Riders, Hamilton moved on to pivot Tre Ford for three games, but is now turning to Harrison Frost for a second straight week.
Frost had 239 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Hamilton’s 27-24 loss to the B.C. Lions. Frost was with Hamilton during the 2024 and 2025 seasons but did play for the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks in 2026.
“There’s UFL film available to us, but seeing him inside the system he is in currently, you have to focus on that,” Riders head coach Corey Mace said.
“He’s been entrusted with the job and the ball in his hands each play from a coach (Scott Milanovich) that has had tremendous success in this league and has worked with some really good quarterbacks. They feel that he’s the best option. We have to operate as we are getting a better version of that team.”
Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end Derick Roberson has played against Frost in the UFL. Roberson recorded a sack on Frost as a member of the D.C. Defenders.
“If I remember that game, we got to him pretty good,” Roberson said. “He was a quick passer. He tried to get the ball out quick because he knew about the pass rush.”
Saskatchewan will look to add to its turnover numbers in the game, as the Riders only have three interceptions so far. Last week, Jonathan Edouard was able to haul in a pick — the first by a defensive back. Linebacker Josh Woods had the other two interceptions.
“I beat the curse. We’re just hoping to keep it going. We’re a really tight-knit group. The feeling I got from my brothers when I got that pick, I can’t even find the words to explain it,” Edouard said.
Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.
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