Hilltops clinch first in PFC with 36-11 victory over Thunder
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The Hilltops defeated the Thunder 36-11 on Saturday night.
For the first time in CFL history, two brothers will be on opposite sidelines as head coaches. The Roughriders will be led by first-year head coach Craig Dickenson while Dave Dickenson is in his third season as the Stampeders’ bench boss. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
Craig said the brothers were competitive as kids.
“We fought a little bit but we’ve been very supportive of each other going forward,” he said after walkthrough Friday at Mosaic Stadium. “It’s a special thing to have two members of the same family coaching in the (CFL) against each other, so I’m proud to be a part of that.”
Dave said he thinks the brothers will look back on this game in the future.
“I hope we have a lot of these games (coaching against each other) but there’s no guarantees either way,” he said Friday. “At some point at the family barbecue in the U.S. during Thanksgiving, we can give each other hell over who won that game.”
Dave’s Stampeders will have a quarterback making his first CFL start Saturday. Quarterback Nick Arbuckle is to fill in for the injured Bo Levi Mitchell (pectoral). Mitchell was placed on the six-game injured list Friday.
Arbuckle came on in relief after Mitchell’s injury in a 36-32 comeback victory over the B.C. Lions on June 29. Arbuckle went 9-for-9 for 93 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing TD.
“I’m just hoping that we can continue to be successful as an offence and as a team in general,” Arbuckle said. “Saskatchewan’s a really good team and it’s a hostile environment to play in. We’re just hoping to come in here and execute like we did at the end of the game (against B.C.).”
Arbuckle will see a familiar face on the other side of the ball in his first start.
Roughriders defensive lineman Micah Johnson is to face the Stampeders for the first time since signing with Saskatchewan in the off-season. Before coming to the Roughriders, Johnson played six seasons with the Stampeders.
“It’ll be fun,” Johnson said earlier in the week. “It will be fun to go up against the guys I’ve known for years. I’m just real excited to go against them in a game setting.”
Johnson said there is a little extra motivation going against the team he used to play for.
“I’m really trying to prove myself to my teammates (in Saskatchewan) and make my impact felt here,” Johnson said. “I want to play good for my teammates over here.”
Roughriders offensive lineman Terran Vaughn is to make his first start at left tackle after Takoby Cofield (hamstring) was put on the six-game injured list. Thaddeus Coleman, who missed the 32-7 win over the Toronto Argonauts on Monday, is to start at right tackle.
The game against the Argonauts was the first Coleman had missed in his four seasons with the Roughriders. He said it was tough to watch from the sidelines.
“It’s part of the game and you’ve just got to do you, continue to be yourself and don’t let it affect you at all,” Coleman said.
It’s to be the fourth different offensive line combination the Roughriders have used over the first four games of the season.
Dakoda Shepley is starting at right guard for the injured Dariusz Bladek (knee) and Philip Blake is starting at left guard for injured perennial all-star Brendon LaBatte (hip, groin). Veteran centre Dan Clark rounds out the group.
“I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the plan coming into the season but guys get hurt, decisions are made and you’ve just got to go with the flow,” Coleman said. “You can’t let it affect you too much.”
The group will be in charge of protecting quarterback Cody Fajardo as he gets ready to make his third career start.
Fajardo has been on a tear since taking over for Zach Collaros, who suffered a concussion on June 13. Fajardo was phenomenal in his first two starts, throwing for 790 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. Fajardo also has two touchdown runs.
Coleman said the biggest thing players notice about Fajardo is his confidence.
“When you get that confidence, it’s hard for teams to stop you,” Coleman said. “When you’re confident and you’re consistent, it’s hard to take that away from a guy. Everybody’s talented (in the pros) but when a guy gets that confidence, it’s hard to stop that.”
A few other players on the Roughriders’ game-day roster also are to experience some firsts of their own.
Linebacker Solomon Elimimian is to play his first game as a member of the team. He signed with the Roughriders in May but suffered a calf injury in training camp.
A couple of rookies will make their first CFL starts in the game as well.
Cornerback Blace Brown will jump in for the injured Nick Marshall (ankle). Receiver Justin McInnis, Saskatchewan’s first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2019 draft, is to start at wide receiver as K.D. Cannon deals with a groin injury. Cannon is still on the 46-man roster.
Both teams are trying to get their second wins of the season, with Saskatchewan sitting at 1-2 and the Stampeders at 1-1. The Roughriders will have their bye week following the game.
Listen live to the Green Zone Game Day pre-game show, which begins at 6 p.m.
Here’s the Roughriders’ depth chart for the contest: