Murray Wood: Smile! You're not on camera
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The Saskatchewan Roughriders are now preparing for a Hamilton Tiger-Cats team that will be without one of the top quarterbacks in the CFL.
Hamilton star quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell suffered a serious ankle injury in the team’s loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 36 year old underwent successful surgery for the injury, and the Ti-Cats do expect him to make a full recovery.
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“I think across the country and anyone watching that game, it was tough (to see that),” said Riders head coach Corey Mace, who was a teammate of Mitchell’s in Calgary with the Stampeders.
“As a competitor, you never want anything bad to happen to anybody. But when it’s somebody you’ve shared a locker room with, it’s tough to see. You feel for him, you feel for his family and you feel for his teammates and everyone that’s involved. You never want to see that and hope everyone is OK.”
Hamilton Tiger-Cats head coach Scott Milanovich named former Riders’ quarterback Jake Dolegala as the team’s starter for the week. Dolegala dressed for 13 games for Saskatchewan in 2023, throwing for 2,641 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Since starting his career with the Riders, Dolegala has also spent time with the B.C. Lions, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Ti-Cats.
“Lots of arm strength. Has a smart football mind and moves around a little bit better than you might think,” said Riders quarterback Trevor Harris, whose knee injury in 2023 contributed to Dolegala’s starts that season.
Mace said it’s another quarterback who can stretch the field in the league.
“He can make all those throws. You just have to see him now in Scott’s system. Scott has done an incredible job with a multitude of quarterbacks throughout his career and we’re expecting the best version of Dolegala,” Mace said.
While Dolegala has been named the starter, Mace said you still need to prepare for what Tre Ford can bring to the game. The former Edmonton Elks quarterback joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this past offseason. The dynamic Ford has thrown for 4,651 yards, 29 touchdowns and 19 interceptions while rushing for 1,129 yards and four touchdowns.
“Very unique skill-set so we have to be prepared for everything,” Mace said. “It’s not just those guys. They have really good players. They started out as a hot team. I know losing Bo is tough, but they have a really good defence, they are coached really well in the three phases of football and they have some electrifying receivers and a really good running back and a good O-line so we just have to be at our best.”
Saskatchewan is coming off a 27-22 win over the Ottawa Redblacks, giving them a 3-1 record.
The Riders appear to be getting back one of their key pieces as running back A.J. Ouellette logged a full practice to start the week after missing two games due to an ankle injury.
Defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. (shoulder) was limited in practice as he continues to improve, getting closer to his return.
Kickoff for Sunday’s game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.
