Riders know every game matters in tight CFL playoff race

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris didn’t say there was added urgency to Friday’s game against Calgary Stampeders compared with the other ones they have played, but he knows the current situation the Riders are facing.

“We know where we are at in the standings, and know our backs are against the wall to some degree and it’s on us to come out swinging. That’s what this team is going to be,” the veteran quarterback said after he returned to practice after missing Monday’s session with an illness.

Read more:

“With four games left if you’re not coming out swinging, who are you? Do you even want to contend? Do you want to win a championship? Do you want to be the team that’s there at the end?

“I know what this team is made of. We are going to come out with great ferocity and intensity regardless of where we are at in the standings, but we know where we are at.”

Head coach Corey Mace said the team talked about the implications the final stretch of the season would have.

“As it goes by week-to-week we can talk and talk but the old adage is winning kind of takes care of itself. We know every game is crucial for us at this point in the season. We are attacking it like that,” Mace said.

Saskatchewan dropped to third place in the CFL’s West Division after a 31-24 loss to the B.C. Lions last week. With the loss, the Riders don’t own the tiebreaker in the standings between those two clubs.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers also have the tiebreaking advantage in the standings after beating the Riders in the Banjo Bowl 19-6.

Another tiebreaker will be up for grabs this Friday at Mosaic Stadium. With the Riders 40-37 win over the Stampeders all the way back in Week 3, Calgary would have to beat the Riders by more than three points to get that tiebreaker.

If Saskatchewan win, the Riders will clinch a playoff spot but it remains up in the air if they will be playing in the West or East come playoffs.

“We’ve put ourselves in this position to accomplish what we want to accomplish and to me, it’s on us. How are we going to respond to this mini-adversity that we have?” Harris said.

“I know who we are and who the guys in this locker room are. Jeremy O’Day, Kyle Carson, Mace, (Marc) Mueller do a tremendous job of making sure we have the right guys here. I’m excited to see our response in these last four games. It starts this week with hopefully getting a big win at home in front of an awesome crowd.”

Offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick was a non-participant with an illness. Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell (forearm), running back Quali Conley (wrist), returner James Letcher Jr. (shoulder), defensive end Benoit Marion (shoulder), and defensive end Derick Roberson (knee) were all limited in practice.

Kickoff for the game is set for 7:30 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m.

Read more: