‘It’s a test’: Riders prepare for Tre Ford-led Elks

A new challenge awaits the Saskatchewan Roughriders this time around in the team’s showdown against the Edmonton Elks.

In the previous regular-season meeting, the Elks were coached by Chris Jones and McLeod Bethel-Thompson was the team’s starting quarterback. The Riders won that game 29-21 in Edmonton.

Now with the Elks firing Jones and naming Jarious Jackson the interim head coach, Edmonton will give Tre Ford his first start of 2024.

“He’s an electrifying player. With the limited time that he got, he was very effective throughout his playing career in this league,” said Riders head coach Corey Mace. “He has the capability to put you on a highlight reel.”

The Elks sit at a 0-7 record this season as they head into Regina to face a 5-2 Riders team. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m. on Saturday.

In his first season in Edmonton, Bethel-Thompson has thrown for 1,788 yards, nine touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

While Ford has been in the backup role throughout this season, he was given a chance to start Edmonton’s final 10 games of the 2023 season. The Elks won four of those games – the only victories for the club that season. In those games, Ford threw for 2,069 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also rushed for 622 yards and three touchdowns in that span.

“I know everyone is on how athletic he is and what he can do and create with his legs,” Mace said. “Also him stressing just being a pocket-passer. He has a live arm and can make a lot of throws. It is a test. It’s a different kind of test.”

Mace said the closest player they can compare Ford to is B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. The Lions pivot threw for 451 yards, a touchdown, and an interception while adding 39 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the Lions’ 35-20 win over the Riders.

“With all due respect to Vernon, I think Tre might have a little bit more juice — a little nitro — and a different type of test for us defensively that we have to make sure that we are ready to handle,” said Mace.

Riders linebacker Jameer Thurman said there’s one way to slow down the young playmaker.

“They are looking for a spark. They still don’t have their first win yet so they are trying to do whatever they can to get that,” Thurman said. “I think when you hit (Ford) he is not going to be as quick to do the things that he loves to do all the time.”

“We’re going to put the pads on him early and see what he wants to do from there.”

Notes: Defensive end Nic Dheilly has retired from pro football. Dheilly has appeared in 16 CFL games over four seasons — one with Winnipeg in 2021 and every other game for Saskatchewan. The Regina product has one defensive tackle and six special-teams tackles in his career.