Mitchell Blair
The chances of making the playoffs are virtually nil for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but as long as there is a chance, there is optimism they can do something that no one believes they can do.
The 2-11 Riders head to B.C to take on the 4-8 Lions for a victory that could draw them a little closer to their Western Division foe and keep dreams alive.
Head Coach Bob Dyce says as strange as it would seem, the team sees a light at the end of the tunnel and there is hope they are coming to the end of that tunnel and that the light isn’t the train looking to knock them off that playoff path.
“We are a very hungry team and they realize the opportunity staring them in the face because they are a team we are trying to catch and a team right in front of us.” Dyce said. “They are seeing that light at the end of the tunnel and that light is a little bigger and a little brighter so that even amps it up a little bit more. I am looking forward to seeing how they come out and I am confident they will be ready.”
To win the game, they will have to break a road losing streak that stands at 10 games. It is something Dyce is well aware of, but he says the overall game-plan is the same in getting ready for the contest and that they must take the same preparation whether it be at home or on the road.
“It doesn’t matter where you are, there are distractions. Dyce stated.” You have to be able to control those distractions and what we have to do is manage those situations and come out with the right mindset and that is the mindset we need to have for the rest of the season.
A big component as to determining whether a win or loss will happen on the turf at B.C. Place will be the play of a much-maligned defense that came up with its best effort of the season last weekend against the Alouettes. Linebacker Macho Harris was the catalyst for that defense as he intercepted three passes including one early in the first quarter that got the confidence going. He says a repeat scenario on Saturday would definitely be welcomed.
“Once you get an early turnover, it definitely causes the other team to start thinking mentally about what is happening.” Harris said. “We want to disrupt what they are doing and have their young quarterback guessing and if we can get that, we will have what we want.
Harris adds the team learned a lesson after getting defeated in Winnipeg after winning their first game of the year a week earlier. He says there was a different mindset towards his teammates after a win compared to the first win of the season on Labour Day.
“The coaches and players did a better job after the win this time.” Harris said. “The coaches focused last week to stay humble, stay focused and do it again and not get too high after just one win. I think we managed to have that focus knowing one win isn’t what we need and that we need more to be successful. I like our attitude going in so I hope it shows off on the field.
With the team sounding optimistic, and truly believing they can shock the CFL universe, the team’s elder statesman, quarterback Kevin Glenn says in a league he has been a part of for a long time, never say never.
“The guys who have been in the league have seen a lot of these things that have happened throughout the years here,” the 36 year old proclaimed. “An 8-and-10 Calgary Stampeders team in 2001 wins the Grey Cup, and they had four of those eight wins against Saskatchewan. In fact. I think they qualified for the playoffs in the last game of the season. We’ve seen a lot go on in this league, so we understand, and we can take some of those scenarios and play them to what’s going on right now and kind of tell the guys, there is a real fighting chance for us to do this.”
Saturday’s game will begin at 5 o’clock with TV coverage on TSN. The official voice of the Riders, 620 CKRM, will begin its game-day coverage at 2 o’clock with Roughrider Game day which Riderville.com will stream live starting at 2:30 leading to the play-by-play with Rod Pedersen and Carm Carteri.
GAME NOTES:
- Kevin Glenn has thrown for at least 200 yards in his last six starts
- Jerome Messam has had 16 runs of 10 plus yards in the last four games while racking up 278 yards to take over the league lead as he goes into the week with a 57 yard lead on B.C’s Andrew Harris
- He would need a big game to do it, but Weston Dressler is three touchdown catches away from 50 career
- After being out of the lineup, linebacker Jake Doughty and offensive lineman Levy Adcock return to the roster, but both will be serving in back-up capacity as they return according to the depth chart.
