Mitchell Blair
The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders will hook up in a Western Division showdown in what is the latest chapter of perhaps the fiercest rivalry in the CFL. Both teams won’t be dressing some key regulars for the contest, but Riders Head Coach Corey Chamblin bristles at the thought of the game being a meaningless affair with both starting to make preparations for the playoffs.
“If it was, it means it wouldn’t count and it counts for me if we get a win.” Chamblin said with a laugh before the team departed Regina. “Its football and at the end of the day the winner gets points and the loser doesn’t. There are changes that have to be made. In an exhibition game, you are evaluating, but we aren’t doing that now. Right now, there are two teams starting to position themselves for playoffs. They are in a place where they can give guys breaks while we are in a place where we are trying to find players who will help us win football games at this time of year.”
While several new players come onto the roster, Chamblin emphasizes that while some come on to see what they can do, others like Weston Dressler and Chris Best are legitimately nicked up to the point that he doesn’t know if some of the guys who are sitting would be playing this game even it were a playoff contest.
One of the players making his debut will be Keith Toston. The Oklahoma State product had a good training camp and had seemingly won the running back job, but he had to watch Anthony Allen and others get a chance while he patiently sat on the practice roster. Toston isn’t bitter about being a spectator all season long as the running back carousel has gone round and round without him on it, but he is ready to show Coach Chamblin what he can do.
“Anytime you get an opportunity to get into a game, you get excited so I am ready to get out there and give it my all.” Toston said. “I’m not dwelling on what has happened this year because I am a team guy. Its been frustrating not playing, but I’ve been helping the other guys out when they need it so I’m hoping they will be there for me when I get out there.”
Toston will be taking the place of Anthony Allen while on the other side of the field, Matt Walter will take the place of Jon Cornish. The Stampeders are resting the league’s outstanding player from last season who has been battling injury all season long. Linebacker Brian Peters says Cornish may be on the shelf, but it doesn’t change their agenda as far as he is concerned.
“They’re still a tough team with or without him.” Peters said. “Matt isn’t the same type of player as Jon and he may not run as downhill the way Jon does, but they are still a very talented offence and we know they can throw the ball to a lot of good receivers. We know how tough it is to win in this league and we aren’t expecting anything different right now. We’re in playoff mode right now and we hope to put an end to this losing streak and start building some momentum.”
Kerry Joseph is also hoping to build some momentum as he continues his journey as the team’s starting quarterback. After having some moments in his first game against Edmonton, Joseph feels as if another couple of practices have helped him immensely as he gets ready to take on a Stamps team that he says is beatable despite the immense talent they have.
“They’re beatable, but so is every team in this league.” Joseph said. “The opportunities are there and if you eliminate the mistakes and take what you are given you will be successful. That defence will come at you, they believe they can win and they play like it so give them their props, but we have to believe we can beat them too because winning the Grey Cup means going through Calgary so lets do it now so we know what its like.”
A win by the Riders would put an end to a four game losing streak and clinch 3rd place and a spot against Edmonton in the Western semi-final while a loss would mean the team could still be the cross-over team in the East.
Friday’s game will begin at 730 and will be shown on TSN. Radio coverage will begin on 620 CKRM at 5 o’clock when Michael Ball hosts “Roughrider Gameday” live from the Four Seasons Sports Palace on 909 Arcola Avenue East. That show will be streamed live once again on Riderville.com. At 630, Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri will bring you all the information you need to know leading up to kickoff before bringing you the play-by-play.
GAME NOTES:
- The Riders have not won a regular season game at McMahon Stadium since 2009.
- In his CFL career, Kerry Joseph is 7-6 against the Stampeders. He is 18-14 as the team’s starting quarterback.
- With 59 kickoff return yards, Tristan Jackson will replace former Rider Corey Holmes as the number 9 kickoff returner in CFL history
