The Ottawa REDBLACKS can complicate the Toronto Argonauts’ designs on the East Division regular-season title on Friday night, when Rick Campbell’s team will pay a visit to the new Mosaic Stadium in Regina to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The REDBLACKS (6-9-1) are fresh off a statement, come-from-behind road win in Vancouver against the Lions, while the Riders (8-6) have won three of their last four and can all but clinch a playoff spot with a win.
To say quarterback Trevor Harris was sharp in Ottawa’s 19-point comeback in Week 16 would be an understatement: the REDBLACKS pivot earned Shaw CFL Top Performer honours with a 380-yard, three-TD performance.
Veteran offensive-line presence Jon Gott — sidelined since Week 12 with a hand injury — took first-team reps this week and will return to the lineup, but at right guard instead of his usual centre. 2015 first-overall draft pick Alex Mateas will continue to hold down the heart of the REDBLACKS O-line.
STORYLINES
Close Games — The REDBLACKS have been a part of 12 ‘close’ games — CFL-defined as “contests decided by seven points or less” — this season, which ties them with the ’53 Riders and ’75 and ’01 Bombers for the CFL all-time record. Granted, Ottawa still has two games left, and if the first 16 games of the season are any indicator, there’s a good chance one or both will go down to the wire.
The Wi-Po Show 4.0 — Powell came up just eight yards shy of a fourth-straight 100-yard rushing day in BC last week, but is still on an absolute tear. The Kansas State product is averaging 6.8 yards-per-carry in his last four games, and has shown an ability to get both tough yards inside and bounce outside.
Air Canada — Riders QB Brandon Bridge came off the bench to lead Saskatchewan to a second-half comeback win in Toronto last week; the 25-year-old Canadian gives the Riders a more dual-threat option than inconsistent veteran Kevin Glenn. Which of the two will start under centre in Regina on Friday, and will that same gunslinger finish the game?
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Riders have been one of the CFL’s best teams over the last six weeks, and have the season-long numbers (Off: 3rd, Def: 3rd) to prove it. They’ve also found a way back into games they’ve previously appeared out of, reversing double-digit deficits to win the past two weeks against Toronto and Ottawa.
While former Indianapolis Colt Trent Richardson was a big-name signing a few weeks ago, it’s been Kienan LaFrance that has carried the bulk of the running load for Chris Jones’s football team.
The REDBLACKS must be weary of elite ball-hawk Ed Gainey in the Saskatchewan secondary: the Appalachian St. product has a league-best eight interceptions in 2017.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“(BC) was a good win for us, to start this run we’re going to get on here. We’re excited that we still have an opportunity to make the playoffs and accomplish the goals we set out for ourselves. Our offensive line is opening up holes for us and protecting really well. We’re excited about where our offence is headed, and where our defence is creating big turnovers for us in games.” — QB Trevor Harris
“We needed to be aggressive and take chances in BC, and we did that. Now we need to continue to do that. We need to gear it up on Friday night, because all these games are huge, and then if we get through that (with a win) we can relax and recover (during the bye week). If we can pull this one off, get it done in Saskatchewan, we can watch other teams beat each other up.” — HC Rick Campbell
GAME INFO
Ottawa REDBLACKS at Saskatchewan Roughriders | Week 17 — October 13, 2017
Kickoff — 10 p.m. ET | Mosaic Stadium
BROADCAST INFO
TV (EN): TSN | TSN GO | TSN.ca/LIVE
TV (FR): None
TV (INT’L): BT (UK and Ireland)
Radio (EN): 580 CFRA | CFRA.com
Radio (FR): FM 104,7 | FM1047.ca
Radio (Satellite): Sirius XM Canada Channel 167 (EN) and 174 (FR)
