Derek Mortensen/Electric Umbrella
Calgary Stampeders
at Saskatchewan Roughriders
Friday, 7:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium
CKRM
THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for a cloudy day with a high of 21 C. There’s a 70-per-cent chance of showers in the morning and the risk of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. The evening is to be clear with a low of 13 C.
THE LOWDOWN: The Roughriders and Stampeders complete their pre-season schedules with the first contest of the 2018 season at Mosaic Stadium. Saskatchewan lost 35-12 to the host Edmonton Eskimos in its first exhibition game on May 27. Calgary opened its pre-season June 1 with a 36-23 loss to the visiting B.C. Lions.
THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: After evaluating a lot of younger players in the game against the Eskimos, the Roughriders are expected to use more veterans in Friday’s game. That includes at quarterback, where Zach Collaros and Brandon Bridge — neither of whom played against Edmonton — will get work versus the Stampeders … Jerome Messam didn’t play in the opener, so the national running back is likely to get some work Friday. Saskatchewan probably will take a long look at the players vying to be the team’s international tailbacks, so Zac Stacy, Tre Mason, David Cobb and Storm Johnson should see duty … Veteran receivers Rob Bagg and Chad Owens are out with injuries, so Devon Bailey and Caleb Holley are to join Duron Carter, Bakari Grant and Naaman Roosevelt in the starting unit. Nationals Josh Stanford and Mitchell Picton and internationals Kyran Moore and Jordan Williams-Lambert also should get some snaps … The offensive line took a beating in Saskatoon, with Dariusz Bladek, Dalton Houghton and Josiah St. John missing extended periods of time due to injury. Centre Dan Clark, guard Travis Bond and Brendon LaBatte and tackles Thaddeus Coleman and Terran Vaughn comprise the starting lineup. Backups like Emmanuel Adusei, Takoby Cofield, Timothy Gardner and Jarvis Harrison should get some work Friday … The starting defensive line — ends Charleston Hughes and Willie Jefferson and tackles Zack Evans and Eddie Steele — didn’t play against Edmonton, so that quartet should go against Calgary. Reserves Tobi Antigha, Mathieu Breton, Rakim Cox, Chad Geter, Makana Henry, Tresor Mafuta, Curt Maggitt, Arthur Miley, Jordan Reaves and Eric Striker will give the starters a break … Antigha has been taking snaps with the linebackers of late, but the starting unit still appears to comprise Sam Hurl in the middle with Sam Eguavoen and Derrick Moncrief on the outside. Watch for nationals like Alexandre Chevrier, Dillon Grondin, Cameron Judge and Micah Teitz to get action … CFL rookie Nick Marshall impressed at cornerback during camp. Expect him to line up with starters Crezdon Butler, Mike Edem, Ed Gainey and Jovon Johnson on Friday, with newcomers such as Jeremy Cutrer, Reggie Hall, Orlandus Harris, Aaron Ivory and Rudy Johnson auditioning … Long-snapper Jorgen Hus and kicker Tyler Crapigna — neither of whom played in Edmonton — will be in the lineup Friday. Brett Lauther, who went 4-for-4 on field-goal tries against the Eskimos in place of Crapigna, likely will dress Friday. Punter-holder Josh Bartel will handle his normal duties once again.
