The Saskatchewan Roughriders are to face the B.C. Lions today in the first game of a home-and-home set.
Saskatchewan is to entertain the Lions in the return engagement on Aug. 13.
To set up today’s CFL contest (5 p.m., CKRM, TSN), here’s one man’s list of five things that bear watching:
1. Reelin’ in Ronnie: Roughriders quarterback Kevin Glenn, who two weeks ago became just the seventh quarterback in CFL history to pass for more than 50,000 yards, can move into sixth place on the league’s all-time list today. The 38-year-old pivot goes into the game needing only 109 yards to pass Roughriders legend Ron Lancaster (50,535) on the career list — and Glenn has said how important it will be to move past Lancaster while wearing the same colours The Little General wore for most of his career. Glenn could move into fifth place all-time this season, too; Danny McManus (53,255) is next on the list.
2. The Wild West: This game is the first of five in a row against West Division opponents for the Roughriders. They’re also to face the Lions on Aug. 13, the Edmonton Eskimos on Aug. 25, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sept. 3 and Sept. 9. Saskatchewan is 0-2-0 against teams from the West this season and won just once in 10 games versus division opponents in 2016. The Roughriders need to beat teams in the West if they’re to keep pace in the more competitive of the CFL’s two divisions. Trouble is, Saskatchewan has lost six straight regular-season games to the Lions, including three in a row at BC Place.
3. Duron Carter: The mercurial pass-catcher was spectacular in the Roughriders’ 38-27 victory over the Toronto Argonauts last Saturday, catching nine passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. His backhanded, one-hand grab was on highlight shows across the continent all week and has entered some conversations for the best catch ever. Now, Carter has to put up a similar effort against the Lions instead of the two-catch, 12-yard showing he turned in against the Calgary Stampeders on July 22. He has the potential to be a game-changer every week — and the Roughriders could use another big game from him today.
4. Something Has To Give: The Roughriders went into the week with the CFL’s stingiest defence in terms of rushing touchdowns allowed (one) while the Lions had the league’s most productive offence in terms of rushing TDs scored (11). As well, Saskatchewan had given up a league-low 98 first downs while B.C.’s offence had racked up a CFL-best 146 first downs. The Lions entered Week 7 having scored a league-best 20 touchdowns on offence while the Roughriders were third among CFL defences, having allowed 13 offensive TDs. Saskatchewan’s defence had the league’s lowest completion percentage against (63.3) while the B.C. offence had the second-highest completion percentage (71.0).
5. Quinn van Gylswyk: The second-year CFLer has been on the injured list since the season started while Tyler Crapigna handled the Roughriders’ kicking duties. But Crapigna suffered a leg injury against the Argos and subsequently was put on the six-game injured list, meaning van Gylswyk will get his first game action of the 2017 regular season today. The 26-year-old product of Victoria is a graduate of the UBC Thunderbirds program, so he’ll have friends and family on hand at BC Place. Van Gylswyk was 1-for-3 on field-goal tries (connecting on a 54-yarder) and hit his only convert attempt during his lone game in 2016.
