The Saskatchewan Roughriders are becoming accustomed to the game-of-the-week label.
Their Aug. 16 home date with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was dubbed as a marquee matchup — a clash of the CFL’s division leaders. Saskatchewan won handily (29-9) and improved to 8-1.
Next on the agenda is another Saturday special. The Roughriders are preparing to face the Calgary Stampeders (6-3), with kickoff set for 5 p.m., at McMahon Stadium.
“Calgary is a great team this year,” Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris said. “We’re excited about the challenge.
“It’s one of those games where you probably circled this one as the season’s gone on. Before the season, a lot of people didn’t think that Calgary was going to be very good, but they’ve proven everybody wrong.
“They’re a top team and a Grey Cup contender, so it’s going to be a fun one.”
Last season, Calgary finished last in the West and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
The resurgent Stampeders squad is the only team to defeat Saskatchewan so far this season. Calgary won 24-10 at Mosaic Stadium on July 12.
“We take losses hard around here, let alone losing at home,” defensive tackle Micah Johnson said. “We take that super personally.
“For us, it’s the next game up, but it just happens to be against the guys who came here and kicked our butts last time.
“Guys are definitely excited to be going up against Calgary this week and we’re hoping to get that one back.”
The teams are first and second, respectively, in the league in fewest points allowed per game (20.3 by Saskatchewan; 21.3 for Calgary).
Offensively, the offences are potent under the direction of Harris and Saturday’s opposite number, Vernon Adams Jr.
They are tied for the league lead in completions of 30-plus yards (19) despite each missing one start due to injury.
Adams Jr. is marginally ahead of Harris in average yards per passing attempt (10.4 to 10.3). Harris enjoys a comfortable lead over all CFL pivots in quarterback-efficiency rating (121.6).
Two high-powered offences. Two dominant defences. Something has to give.
“It’s three phases, man, and it could come down to any one of those three phases,” emphasized Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace, incorporating special teams into the discussion.
“I know we have a recipe for success and there’s five tick marks on that. I know that they also have a recipe as well, so it’s going to come down to details.
“The small things end up being the big things, so it should be a really good matchup.”
FAMILIAR PLACE FOR MACE
The Roughriders’ head coach regards every game as crucial — hence the “1-and-0 this week” philosophy.
At the same time, his history in Calgary cannot be overlooked.
“It was a special time,” reflected Mace, a former Stampeders defensive tackle (2010-15) and defensive line coach (2016-21). “That city means a great deal to me.
“I met my wife (Petra) there. My daughter (Maleena) was born there. My in-laws also live there. I had a cool career and made a lot of lifelong friends there. Certainly, that city will always mean something to our family.
“When you go there as a road opponent, it doesn’t quite feel the same — and that’s good. You don’t want it to.
“I’m just excited to go back and say hello to everybody.”
Mace is one of four Roughriders coaches who has a past affiliation with the Stampeders. The list also includes Marc Mueller (offensive co-ordinator), Joshua Bell (pass game co-ordinator, defensive backs coach) and Marquay McDaniel (receivers coach).
Mace, Mueller and Bell coached in Calgary. McDaniel had three 1,000-yard receiving seasons with the Stampeders.
Assistant General Manager Kyle Carson was part of the Stampeders’ player personnel department for eight years before joining the Roughriders in 2019.
As well, six members of the Roughriders’ current active roster once played for Calgary: Johnson and fellow defensive tackle Mike Rose, quarterbacks Jake Maier and Tommy Stevens, linebacker Jameer Thurman and defensive back Tevaughn Campbell.
Four former Stampeders are on the one- or six-game injured lists: Offensive linemen Sean McEwen and Trevon Tate, receiver Shawn Bane Jr. and running back Ka’Deem Carey.
MAGIC AT McMAHON
The Roughriders’ best single-game performances in Calgary are as follows …
Touchdowns: 3 — Eddie James, Nov. 10, 1928 (playoffs); Jack Hill, Oct. 25, 1958; Ray Purdin, Oct. 27, 1962; Pete Van Valkenburg, Aug. 20, 1976; Chris Szarka, Oct. 17, 2009.
Field goals: 6 — Dave Ridgway (6-for-6), July 19, 1990; Luca Congi (6-8), Oct. 8, 2007.
Longest field goal: 53 — Paul McCallum, Oct. 19, 2003.
Passing yards: 492 — Kent Austin, Oct. 8, 1989.
Touchdown passes: 4 — Glenn Dobbs, Sept. 14, 1953; Darian Durant, Nov. 11, 2012 (playoffs).
Completions: 35 — Darian Durant, Oct. 17, 2009 (OT; 29 completions in regulation time); 32 — Kent Austin, July 19, 1990.
Receptions: 11 — Jason French (118 yards), July 23, 2005.
Receiving yards: 194 — Rob Bresciani (six catches), Oct. 8, 1989.
Touchdown catches: 2 — 15-way tie (most recently, Chris Getzlaf on Aug. 9, 2013).
Longest completion: 106 — Rick Worman to Willis Jacox, July 18, 1991 (TD).
Carries: 28 — Kory Sheets (177 yards), Nov. 17, 2013 (playoffs); 26 — George Reed (128), July 31, 1974.
Rushing yards: 207 — Ryquell Armstead (25 carries), Sept. 20, 2024.
Rushing touchdowns: 3 — Eddie James, Nov. 10, 1928 (playoffs); Chris Szarka, Oct. 17, 2009.
Longest run: 93 — Ed Buchanan, Aug. 3, 1964 (TD).
Interceptions by: 3 — Stan Williams, Sept. 25, 1954; Jim Healy, Aug. 31, 1959.
Longest interception return: 102 — Harry Skipper, Nov. 12, 1989 (playoffs); 69 — Jeremy Clark, Oct. 23, 2021.
Longest fumble return: 99 — Steve Johnson, Aug. 19, 1984 (TD).
Defensive tackles: 12 — Greg Jones, Aug. 4, 2016.
Sacks: 3 — Sheldon Napastuk, Oct. 6, 2000.
Longest punt: 90 — Adam Korsak, June 24, 2023.
Special teams tackles: 6 — Derek Krete, Oct. 6, 2000.
Longest punt return: 63 — Harry Lunn, Oct. 25, 1958 (TD).
Longest kickoff return: 92 — Craig Ellis, Aug. 19, 1984.
Longest missed field goal return: 55 — Weston Dressler, Aug. 1, 2009.
FANS IN THE STANDS
Saturday’s game promises to be a red-green show.
Both colours will be conspicuous in the stands at McMahon Stadium.
“It’s not always a home game for Calgary, even back in the heyday,” Mace said.
“Rider Nation always shows up in Calgary and we’re hoping for much of the same this week. But I don’t want to say it’s just Calgary. Any stadium we go to, our fans always show up in force. It’s much appreciated.”
EXTRA POINTS
• Thurman needs seven defensive tackles to reach a career milestone of 500. He is second among active CFLers in career tackles, behind another ex-Stampeder. B.C. Lions linebacker Micah Awe (528).
• Harris is four TD passes shy of 200 for his career. He is 16th All-Time, two behind Austin (198). As well, Harris needs 44 completions to reach 2,975 and tie Doug Flutie for 10th on the CFL’s career list. Yardage-wise, Harris has 35,638 and is 14th. He is 392 yards shy of tying Austin for 13th place.
• Mace has a 17-9-1 regular-season record as the Roughriders’ head coach. That is the second-best record at the 27-game mark in Roughriders history, behind Craig Dickenson (19-8-0). Both individuals will be involved in Saturday’s game — Dickenson as the Stampeders’ Special Teams Co-ordinator.
• Next in line after Dickenson and Mace: Ken Miller (17-10-0), Corey Chamblin (16-11-0) and Eagle Keys (15-11-1).
• Saskatchewan’s A.J. Ouellette needs two rushing yards to reach a career milestone of 3,000.
