Mitchell Blair
The best rivalry in the Canadian Football League will take center stage Friday night when the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders butt helmets for the first time this season with the Riders looking to keep chances of finishing first in the West alive.
The task of moving the football for the Riders has fallen on Seth Doege. Coming out of camp as the third string quarterback, Doege has been elevated to number one thanks to the injury suffered last month by Darian Durant and the ineffectiveness of Tino Sunseri during his time under center.
Doege is looking forward to his first pro start and says the scenario reminds him of his days in Texas.
“The Rider Nation fan base reminds me a lot of big time football in Texas just because people are crazy about it here and they love it and have a lot of passion for it,” Doege said. “In Texas, all of the movies you’ve seen, it’s pretty similar. If you’re winning, anyway, that’s what it’s like.”
The 25 year old is going in feeling like he can do the job and that his teammates have his back.
“I’m excited!” Doege proclaimed. “I feel like the team and the coaches have a lot of confidence in me and I’m excited. We’ve had a really good week of practice and everyone knows the challenge in front of us. It’s a big game for us and we’re ready to compete.”
Head Coach Corey Chamblin made the tough decision to go with Doege instead of Sunseri and he’s hoping his gut feeling to make a change is the right one.
“It was a combination of things leading right back from training camp to now, “Chamblin told reporters Thursday afternoon. “I’ve watched him develop from training camp to now and I think he has some intangibles that he has both physically and mentally that I decided it’s his time to see just where he is. It’s just one of those things where I think it’s his time and I hope that gut feeling is right and he can put us in a good position.”
The Riders have spun their wheels since Durant got injured and with the first place team coming in, there is a definite challenge being put forth to the green and white. Chamblin says he isn’t putting any extra significance into it because he knows his guys know what games against Calgary mean.
“Each game is important, but at the end of the day it’s a home game against one of the tougher teams in the league.” Chamblin said. “In meetings today, I told the guys that over the last five years what team have you always had to fight with at this time of year and the answer is Calgary so guys know we have to battle them down the stretch. This is a game where we will find out where your character, heart and determination is. They will be a measuring stick for us again this year.’
If the Riders are to be successful, they have to keep Jon Cornish in check. The Calgary running back is having another great season, albeit this one has been shortened by injury. He can win a game by himself and the defence knows that. Linebacker Brian Peters knows Cornish is not the be all, end all, but they have to be very disciplined.
“This is a great challenge for our defence and we’re ready for it.” Peters said. “He’s a good athlete inside and outside the box, he breaks a lot of tackles and he makes good cuts. We have to fill the gaps, make some plays and prevent him from breaking off some long ones. If he does that consistently, chances are they walking out of here with a win.”
Game time at Mosaic Stadium is 8 o’clock and it will be the back half of a Friday Night Football doubleheader on TSN. 620 CKRM will bring you the best, longest and most continuous and comprehensive game day coverage starting at 530 with Michael Ball and “Roughrider Gameday” from Pilsner Place. The show will once again be streamed live on Riderville.com. At 7 o’clock, Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri will get you ready for what should be a great night of football with “Rider Nation Pregame” followed by the play-by-play.
GAME NOTES:
- Doege’s senior season at Texas Tech saw him throw for 42-hundred yards and 39 touchdowns. He capped it off by being named the MVP of the Meineke Car Care Bowl as his Red Raiders beat Minnesota 34-31.
- In the last six times Saskatchewan has won the final margins have been by no greater than 6 points and an average of only 4.8 points (6, 5, 4, 5, 6, & 3 points). Their average loss margin overall is by 23.8 points.
- The Riders are 5-1 at Mosaic Stadium this year, but the Stampeders are 5-1 when on the road
- The passing game could be silent tonight as the Riders and Stampeders are #’s 1 and 2 in rushing attempts this season.
