Sask. Roughriders’ Brett Lauther to appear in 100th CFL game

Brett Lauther isn’t treating his 100th CFL game differently than any other outing.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders kicker will play in his 100th game on Saturday when the team takes on the Edmonton Elks.

Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.

“It’s just another game versus Edmonton to try and get another win,” Lauther said. “It’s cool but at the end of the day, it’s just a number and hopefully a lot more.”

“Super thankful for everyone who has been in my corner with this team and the organization to get there but just trying to go out there, kick some field goals, kick some extra points and win a game versus Edmonton.”

While Lauther isn’t trying to focus too much on the milestone, he does admit it is special.

“It’s a big thank-you to family and friends and everyone here and someday I will look back and enjoy it but right now I am just focused on Edmonton,” Lauther said.

Lauther’s first game came back in 2013 as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Moncton, N.B. As a part of Touchdown Atlantic. Being from Truro, N.S., it was a special time for Lauther.

“Just getting that call after 13 weeks of a season that you’re going to play your first game… that game was out east and to have my family and friends there — it was an extremely windy day — to be out there in the first one and go four-for-four with everyone there, it’s something I’ll never forget,” Lauther said.

But Lauther found himself out of football from 2015-17 before he spent time on the Riders and Edmonton practice rosters. In 2018, he became the Riders starting kicker and hasn’t looked back since, becoming the franchise’s third all-time scorer with 921 points.

In the Riders’ last game, he connected on all seven of his field goal attempts to power the Riders to a 29-16 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

That’s the most since Luca Congi also made seven on July 31, 2010, but Lauther wasn’t in the locker room to discuss the performance.

But it was after the team’s 27-24 loss to the Montreal Alouettes when he only made three of seven attempts that he waited to be interviewed at his locker.

“I’ll always face the music, especially after such a letdown to so many people and the same people who have been there and supported me to get to 100 (games),” Lauther said.

“After a win like that, there are tonnes of guys who had a great game – (wide receiver)Dhel (Duncan-Busby), (quarterback) Trevor (Harris) and those guys were moving the ball and we had three or four interceptions on defence. Rolan Milligan is the (Most Outstanding Player) this year and should be hands down. Lots of guys to talk to in there and I was just trying to get out of there.”

The Riders can clinch a playoff spot if it beats the Elks and both the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats lose.

Deontai Williams suspended

Riders defensive back Deontai Williams has been suspended one game by the CFL.

The league announced the 27-year-old, “ has been suspended one game for delivering an illegal and dangerous tackle on Ottawa wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton, and for committing a non-football act by striking another Ottawa player.”

Williams appeared to pick up Pimpleton and slam him onto the ground.

Earlier in the week, Williams met with the CFL about the hit. He also apologized for his actions.

Amari Henderson will start at cornerback this week.