Roughriders can clinch rare home West final with win over Edmonton

The Saskatchewan Roughriders can accomplish something Saturday that they haven’t done in a decade.

The Roughriders, who have already wrapped up a home playoff game, can clinch first place in the CFL’s West Division by beating the Edmonton Eskimos at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

Finishing atop the division would give the Roughriders a first-round bye and also home-field advantage in the West final — something a Saskatchewan team hasn’t enjoyed since 2009.

One player who knows the importance of finishing first in the West is former Roughriders slotback Chris Getzlaf, who was a member of the 2009 squad.

Getzlaf caught three passes for 63 yards and a touchdown in the Roughriders’ 30-14 win over the Calgary Stampeders in the regular-season finale that clinched first place.

“It was one of those special moments,” Getzlaf told the Green Zone. “More importantly, it’s one of those games where you’ve got to rise to the occasion because you know what’s on the line and you know how much that bye means and the home-field advantage in order to win one and you’re in the Grey Cup.”

While the Roughriders could finish atop the West for the first time since 2009 — and just the third time since 1976 — Getzlaf admitted it’s a thin line between being successful and not making a playoff run at all.

“There are lots of years where you have a team that’s capable of winning and it’s a bad bounce here or an injury there that really makes a difference in that season,” Getzlaf said.

“The teams that really do the best or that come out on top are the ones that come together down the stretch when they start playing their best football going into playoffs and really come together as a team, as a family (and) as a unit.”

The Roughriders have enjoyed home cooking recently, winning their last six games at Mosaic Stadium. It’s the longest home winning streak since the Green and White won nine in a row in 2009 and ’10.

In the days leading up to Saturday’s game, questions arose about the health of starting quarterback Cody Fajardo, who strained an oblique while throwing a ball during a closed practice earlier in the week.

While he was atop the depth chart released by the team Friday, it’s still up in the air how much playing time Fajardo will get — if any at all.

“I tried to throw and it was significantly painful and it was tough to do just everyday tasks,” Fajardo said Friday. “I’m going to consult with my doctor, my family (and) my teammates.

“My teammates don’t want me to play, which is nice to know people care about my health more than my ability to go out there and win playoff games.”

Fajardo said he and head coach Craig Dickenson will see how the pivot feels Saturday morning before deciding if he’ll play or not.

If Saskatchewan loses to Edmonton, it can still clinch top spot in the West with a Calgary loss or tie later Saturday against the B.C. Lions.

If Fajardo is out, Dickenson said the plan is to have rookie Isaac Harker start with Bryan Bennett also getting playing time.

Harker has completed 21 of 33 pass attempts for 254 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions this season.

While the stats might not instil confidence in the 24-year-old, many of those attempts and all three interceptions came in weeks 1 and 4 in his young career. In his last appearance on Sept. 7, Harker completed four of six passes for 54 yards and no turnovers.

Meanwhile, Bennett has not attempted a pass this season but has been the team’s short-yardage quarterback, picking up 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He also has been a contributor on special teams, recording four tackles.

The quarterback position isn’t the only one that’s dealing with some injuries. Linebacker Derrick Moncrief is out as he deals with multiple injuries, the most serious of them being a hip flexor, according to Dickenson.

Loucheiz Purifoy will move from halfback to take Moncrief’s place at linebacker, a position Purifoy hasn’t played much since his rookie season with B.C. in 2016.

“You just have to be a little more physical knowing you’re going to be in the box,” Purifoy said when asked what will be different for him.

While Purifoy moves to the linebacker spot, Elie Bouka will make his first career CFL start at defensive halfback.

Bouka joined the Roughriders late in the 2017 season. In 2018, he was on the Philadelphia Eagles’ injured-reserve list.

“I’m excited and (have) been waiting a long time for that and I think it’s the right time,” Bouka said.

Bouka has been active for 17 games this season, recording five tackles, three special-teams tackles and his first career interception on Oct. 18 against the Lions.

If a team decides to pick on the young DB, he welcomes the opportunity to make a play.

“I’ve had teams try me and I’ve also made some plays, so you can pick your poison. But at some point, I’m going to make a play,” Bouka said. “If you throw the ball to me, it’s going to happen.”

With the Eskimos locked into the crossover spot, they’ll sit a number of starters including quarterback Trevor Harris, and receivers Greg Ellingson and Ricky Collins Jr.

Quarterback Logan Kilgore will get the start. Kilgore started four games late in the season while Harris dealt with an injury to his right arm.

“(Kilgore’s) more athletic; he likes to run,” Purifoy said. “If he doesn’t see something, he’s going to pull the ball back and run. If we can stop him from running and make him throw the ball, which we want him to do, go ahead, throw us the ball.”

Purifoy admitted every game is important but the showdown against the Eskimos on Saturday means a little bit more.

“For us, we’ve just got to take care of business,” he said. “Hopefully we get a first-round bye but if not, we’re just going to go out and play ball like we’ve been playing ball.”

The Roughriders’ depth chart can be found here: