The Saskatchewan Roughriders are ready for a major West test.
They are poised to face the B.C. Lions in the teams’ second collision over a three-week span.
Saskatchewan won 37-18 at Mosaic Stadium on June 28, when Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke was sidelined by an oblique injury. Rourke is to be at the controls of B.C.’s offence for Saturday’s rematch at BC Place (5 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
Four of the five teams in the West Division have a winning percentage of 50 or better.
Saskatchewan and Calgary both emerged with 4-1 records after the Stampeders won 24-10 at Mosaic Stadium last Saturday.
Calgary is to play host to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) on Friday night.
With Rourke back behind centre, B.C. (3-3) has rebounded from the lopsided loss in Saskatchewan by registering back-to-back victories.
“It’s going to be another big matchup for both teams,” Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace said.
“I think everybody knew the West was going to be tight and it certainly is. These are all big games, every single week.
“We expect their absolute best and we expect to give them ours.”
LINE COUNT HITS NINE
The Roughriders will start their eighth different offensive lineman of the season and dress their ninth overall when newcomer Darius Washington plays left tackle on Saturday.
Washington steps in for Daniel Johnson, who will sit out with a shoulder injury after starting the past four games.
Payton Collins was the starting left tackle in the season opener, only to suffer a knee injury in the third quarter of that game.
Zack Fry will start at left guard for the second week in a row. Trevon Tate, the left guard for the first four games, is on the six-game injured list with a shoulder issue.
Fry was the opening-week starter at right guard while Jacob Brammer recovered from a back injury. Brammer is about to make his fifth consecutive start at right guard.
Logan Ferland (centre) and Jermarcus Hardrick (right tackle) have started every game at their respective positions.
Ferland was ticketed to play his accustomed position of right guard, but those plans changed when perennial All-CFL centre Sean McEwen suffered a knee injury early in Coors Light Training Camp.
Last year, Saskatchewan started 12 different offensive linemen and dressed 13.
On Saturday, Noah Zerr will be Saskatchewan’s sixth O-lineman for the second game in succession.
Despite all the flux up front, the Roughriders are averaging 114 rushing yards per game.
A.J. Ouellette, whose 356 rushing yards place him third in the league, looks forward to running behind the offensive line once again.
“It’s what our team’s built around,” he said. “Bully people, push ’em around, and win the fourth quarter.”
MOST BY THE COAST
Here are the highest totals by a Roughrider during a road game versus B.C.:
Touchdowns: 3 — Ken Carpenter, Aug. 29, 1955; Ken Carpenter, Sept. 29, 1956; Jack Hill, Sept. 29, 1956; Silas McKinnie, July 28, 1970; George Reed, Sept. 12, 1972; Ray Elgaard, Sept. 16, 1988; Jeff Fairholm, Sept. 21, 1991; William Powell, July 29, 2019.
Field goals: 7 — Dave Ridgway, Aug. 2, 1990.
Passing yards: 558 — Kent Austin, Aug. 13, 1992 (467 in regulation time); 484 — Kent Austin, July 9, 1993 (444 in regulation time); 451 — Kent Austin, Sept. 21, 1991.
Touchdown passes: 6 — Kent Austin, Sept. 21, 1991.
Receptions: 12 — Lucius Floyd, Sept. 21, 1991.
Receiving yards: 215 — Jeff Fairholm, Sept. 21, 1991 (201 in regulation time).
Longest pass: 102 — Ron Lancaster to Gord Barwell (TD), Oct. 24, 1965.
Rushing yards: 268 — George Reed, Oct. 24, 1965.
Longest run: 65 — Bobby Thompson (TD), July 28, 1970.
Interceptions: 2 — Dale West, Oct. 12, 1963; Gene Wlasiuk, Aug. 7, 1967; Shawn Gallant, Nov. 3, 2001; Jackie Mitchell, Nov. 3, 2001.
Longest interception return: 79 — Bob Kosid (TD), Nov. 2, 1968.
Longest fumble return: 93 — Dick Cohee (TD), Oct. 12, 1963.
Defensive tackles: 15 — Eddie Lowe, Sept. 28, 1985 (unofficial).
Sacks: 3 — Vince Goldsmith, July 24, 1983; Bobby Jurasin, June 28, 1987; James Curry, July 18, 1989; Terrell Jurineack, Oct. 30, 2004; Terrell Jurineack, Nov. 14, 2004 (playoffs).
Special teams tackles: 5 — Bruce Boyko, July 9, 1993; Yannick Carter, Sept. 13, 2008.
Longest punt return: 80 — Tom Campana (TD), July 22, 1976.
Longest kickoff return: 87 — Loucheiz Purifoy (TD), July 27, 2019.
Longest missed field goal return: 72 — Albert Brown, Nov. 3, 1990.
EXTRA POINTS
• Trevor Harris has a chance to claim sole possession of a CFL record on Saturday. As it stands, Harris and Dane Evans are tied for the most consecutive regular-season games (eight) with a completion percentage of 70 or more. Harris set the current mark over two seasons (the end of 2018 with the Ottawa REDBLACKS and the start of 2019 with Edmonton). Evans reached eight in a row with Hamilton in 2019.
• The activations of Washington, receiver Tommy Nield returner/receiver Drae McCray increase the Roughriders’ All-Time list of active-roster players to 2,199. There are 4,728 documented players in franchise history, dating back to the inception of the Regina Rugby Club in 1910. The latter figure includes players who practised with the Roughriders, attended training camp, etc.
