Riders-Elks preview: A.J. blocked for Ouellette TD … perseverance pays off for Zerr … facing Fajardo
A.J. Ouellette scored a Saskatchewan Roughriders touchdown following a key block from A.J. Ouellette.
The preceding paragraph was not written in error.
Shortly before catching a short pass and reaching the end zone for a seven-yard score, Ouellette bought additional time for quarterback Trevor Harris by chipping B.C. Lions defensive end Sione Teuhema on Saturday in Vancouver.
“I knew Trevor had to get to the outside, so I was like, ‘All right, just get in front of this guy and get to where I’m supposed to be,’ so I blocked him,” the CFL’s third-leading rusher said leading up to Friday’s game against the Edmonton Elks (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
“He probably should have just held on to me and I wouldn’t have been able to release, but that’s all D-linemen want. They want a sack, right? So they left me uncovered.
“At first, it was, ‘Try not to get Trevor hit,’ and then be an outlet for Trevor.”
After putting a shoulder into Teuhema, Ouellette flared out to the right — the same direction in which Harris was rolling out.
The ball was released just in time for Ouellette to make the catch on the five-yard line and barge into the end zone at 12:07 of the first quarter for his first TD reception as a Roughrider.
Brett Lauther’s convert gave Saskatchewan a 17-1 lead in a game it would win 33-27.
Ouellette also made a major impact on the ground, as is his custom. He carried the ball 15 times for a game-high 72 yards, earning every inch with his bruising, relentless style.
That has been the long-standing approach for Ouellette, who hails from Covington, Ohio.
“In junior high and high school, we ran what we called the triple option — which is the wishbone and all that,” he recalled. “Our motto was ‘three yards, a bucket of blood.’
“You’d go three yards, three yards, three yards, and then it’s fourth-and-one. So you’re going to go for it again and you’re going to get your three yards.
“You have to fight for those three yards, because everybody’s in the box. You put two hands on the ball and you just keep turning them feet until you find the ground.”
EBENE-ZERR? NOT IN OUR HOUSE!
The theme for Friday’s game — Christmas in July — resonates with Roughriders offensive lineman Noah Zerr.
He is poised to make his first start during what has been a “rollercoaster” season.
“It’s always a gift to get back on the field and have some fun with the fellas,” the Langenburg-born left guard said. “It’s definitely a blessing in my life.
“It feels like Christmas has come early. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity and I’m just hungry to go prove myself.”
The former Yorkton Regional Raiders and University of Saskatchewan Huskies standout was released on May 14 — during Coors Light Training Camp — but rejoined the Roughriders just six days later.
“The CFL is a blessing,” said Zerr, 27, a second-year Rider who has previous CFL experience with the Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
“It’s the funnest job in the world and it can be taken from you anytime. That’s something I understood pretty young in the league. At the same time, you know it’s one of those things that you’ve got to stick with.
“If it’s your dream to play pro football, you’ve got to keep working and you’ve got to stay ready. You never know when your next opportunity is going to come, whether it’s with the same team or a new team.
“You just keep yourself in the best possible shape to do what you need to do and good things happen.”
Zerr steps in for Zack Fry, who started at left guard for the past two games.
“It’s a tough situation,” Head Coach Corey Mace said. “Zack ended up being in a motor vehicle accident earlier in the week. He got checked out at the hospital and here (at the stadium) and all the things were good. We were cleared.
“Like some things do with injuries to the head, at practice it wasn’t feeling exactly like it should. We’re not going to play around with that kind of stuff.
“He’ll be fine, I’m sure, but you don’t want to risk that.”
FACING FAJARDO
Cody Fajardo, Saskatchewan’s starting quarterback from 2019 to 2022, is to call signals for the Elks on Friday night.
With that in mind, Roughriders defensive end Malik Carney hopes history repeats itself.
As a member of the host Tiger-Cats, Carney sacked Fajardo three times on Oct. 7, 2022.
“I’m definitely licking the chops on that one,” Carney said with a laugh on Thursday. “I’m ready to get out there.
“But that’s for anybody, if we have (Tre) Ford or Cody (at quarterback for Edmonton). We just want to get out there.
“It’s not about the number of whoever’s in there. (The quarterback) is who we’re going after.”
Fajardo takes over behind centre after Ford started the Elks’ first five games. In either case, Edmonton would be deploying a quarterback whose running ability is part of the repertoire.
“Cody is definitely mobile and he’s able to get out of the pocket, so we do have our attention up for that,” Carney said. “Tre Ford is a little more mobile, with a little more speed.
“But it’s the same type of game plan. Nothing really changes on our end. We’re just doing the same things as far as being relentless and being physical.
“It just comes down to the execution of what we’re doing. We definitely do realize that they are two dynamic players. They’re both capable of winning. But it’s just about what we do.”
