Those who toil on the offensive line don’t routinely boast a stat line of note.
Saskatchewan Roughriders teammates Philip Blake and Evan Johnson are notable exceptions.
On Oct. 7, Blake played in his 100th CFL regular-season game — a milestone Johnson is to reach on Friday when the Roughriders visit the Calgary Stampeders (7:30 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
“Obviously, 100 games is a huge milestone,” says the Regina-born Johnson, 29. “I’m very excited for it.
“I knew going into this season that if I could stay healthy and play the whole year, I’d hit 100 games, so it has been on my calendar.
“It got pushed back a little bit due to an injury earlier in the year, but 100 games is no small feat and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Johnson missed one game — a Sept. 9 road date with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — due to a knee injury.
Prior to that, he had been on the field for all but one offensive snap since joining the Roughriders in 2021.
A graduate of the Campbell Tartans and the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football programs, Johnson has dressed for 99 of a possible 102 games since making his pro debut with the Ottawa REDBLACKS in 2017. He sat out two games as a second-year member of the REDBLACKS.
After three seasons with Ottawa, he signed with the hometown Roughriders as a free agent.
“It’s every kid’s dream to play for the Riders, growing up in Saskatchewan,” Johnson says. “To be able to play as much football as I have so far and to hit 100 games while with the Roughriders, it’s cool.
“It comes at a cool time of the year, too, where it’s the biggest game of the year so far. It’s a big week for all of us and it makes it a little extra-special to hopefully get the win here this week and secure a spot in the playoffs.”
Saskatchewan can lock down third place in the West Division — and a post-season berth — by winning at McMahon Stadium on Friday.
Such an outcome would enable Johnson to commemorate his 100th game in grand style.
“That’s the mission statement, right?” he says with a laugh.
“Aside from it just being a number, I’m not really doing anything else (to mark the occasion).
“We were able to celebrate Blake hitting his 100th game this past week. He got one of the game balls, so he went around and got everyone to sign it. I’m hoping to do something similar.”
Blake, 38, reached No. 100 in his fourth game of the season. He missed the first 12 contests after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in the Roughriders’ pre-season finale.
Since making his CFL debut, he has been a member of the Montreal Alouettes (2015-18), the Roughriders (2018-19, plus 2023) and Toronto Argonauts (2020-22). He was the starting left tackle for Toronto in its 24-23 Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg on Nov. 24 at Mosaic Stadium.
Although winning a championship cannot be topped, Blake nonetheless savours the significance of reaching 100 games.
“It’s an accomplishment,” he says. “It’s something I noticed at the beginning of the year and it’s a milestone that some guys want to hit.
“The goal is to win the Grey Cup and one of the challenges within the year was to get to 100.”
That being done, a game ball was his to keep.
“It was special, but you always want to win that game,” Blake says.
Another notable numerical feat looms for Blake, who is listed by the CFL as having made 98 career starts. The 100th start is set for Oct. 21 when the Argonauts — his hometown team — visit Mosaic Stadium for a 2 p.m. engagement.
“When I first started in the league, the older guys joked, ‘Don’t count the games played. Count the ones that you start,’ ” he says. “Going against the Argos, that’s an exciting one as well.”
