‘It should be a war’: Riders and Stamps meet in CFL West Division clash

It’s a showdown for the top spot in the CFL West Division.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders currently hold down that spot, with a perfect 4-0 record to start the season. On Friday, the Calgary Stampeders will gallop into Mosaic Stadium, looking to knock off an undefeated team for the second week in a row.

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Last week, the Stamps beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to hand them their first loss of the season and improve to 3-1.

“I thought Calgary has been a great football team this year from the jump,” said Riders’ quarterback Trevor Harris. “They have a great defence, and it’s a scheme that is giving people trouble.”

Linebacker C.J. Reavis said he’s excited to have a showdown for the top spot this early in the season.

“It’s super fun. These are the kind of games you grow up wanting to play in as a pro,” Reavis said. “I think this is going to make everyone come out and play their best ball.”

The Riders’ offence comes into Friday’s showdown with 117 points scored through the first five weeks of the 2025 CFL season – the most in the CFL at 29.3 per game.

But a rebuilt Calgary defence has been stout this season, and is only surrendering 20.3 points per game – also the best in the CFL.

A big key to both of these offences has been their rushing attack. The Riders are averaging a league-best 138.5 yards on the ground per game, while Calgary is right behind them with 129.8 yards per game.

Saskatchewan running back AJ Ouellette currently leads the league with 347 yards, while Calgary’s Dedrick Mills is in second place at 311.

“It should be a war, no matter if it’s on the ground or if the teams decide to air it out a bit. There are some key match ups for anyone who likes trench play. This is a good one to watch,” Riders’ head coach Corey Mace said.

Saskatchewan Roughriders running back AJ Ouellette leads the CFL in rushing with 347 yards. (The Canadian Press/Peter Power)

This week, Saskatchewan will also have Ka’Deem Carey in the backfield due to an injury to Thomas Bertand-Hudon. This will be the second time Carey will dress as a member of the Riders, after suiting up for the Week 2 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Carey was a member of the Stampeders from 2018-23.

“I’m studying the defence. There’s not a name I know out there,” Carey said. “They completely wiped out their defence starters there. I’m excited to go against a new group and show the dudes what I got and show what (Ouellette) can do out there.”

Along the offensive line, Zack Fry will start this week for the Riders at left guard after an injury to Trevon Tate. With plenty of injuries along the O-line already, Fry credits the way they practice for being able to not miss a beat.

“The intensity is always high, and a lot of guys are getting in different positions,” Fry said. “I think the biggest thing is (coaches) believing in us. In years prior, you’ve seen times where a coach doesn’t really trust you, but there’s never any doubt in any of the players that we have in our room right now.”

One of those playmakers the Stamps brought in on defence was defensive back Damon Webb. The defender was a member of the Riders from 2020-22 before joining the Ottawa Redblacks after he was released. He was an all-star with Ottawa in 2024.

Webb and current Riders’ defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. both completed their first CFL seasons back in 2021.

“He was always about business. I always knew he was a ball player just from talking to him and watching how he moved in practice. He just needed his chance to get that job,” Milligan Jr. said. “He took it and ran with it.”

Milligan Jr. has two interceptions through four games after leading the CFL in that category last season.

Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. has built a reputation as a gunslinger, but this season hasn’t turned the ball over much. Adams Jr. has thrown two touchdowns and three interceptions, but has the Stamps playing winning football.

“We just have to be detail oriented at our drops and schemes, and not let him be who he is,” Reavis said.

The Riders are seeking their first 5-0 start since 2013. The team’s best-ever start came in 2008, when the club went undefeated over the first six games.

But the Stamps have been quite comfortable in Regina recently. They have won games in their last five trips to Mosaic Stadium, and 10 of their last 11 games in Saskatchewan during the regular season.

While it’s only Week 6, Harris said he likes seeing the game promoted as a battle for first place.

“Whatever gets the fans excited and here to watch some great football, I am all for it. Call it whatever you want – call it the Rider Bowl if you want to,” Harris said.

“Let’s have some fun with it and make it more exciting. I think this is a battle of two good teams to start the season, but who we are going to be later in the season is completely different. To me, it’s about what type of team we are becoming.

“So it’s about us just becoming a better team through these 60 minutes, and trying to find a way to get a win. We know they are going to make it more difficult for us, and we are going to do the same, and our fans are going to make it more difficult for them.”

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