Riders look to clinch playoff spot in game against Edmonton

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are looking to punch their ticket to the CFL playoffs.

Saskatchewan, which was once mired in a seven-game winless skid, has now won back-to-back games and are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot. Due to losses by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Calgary Stampeders on Friday, a win by the Riders over the Edmonton Elks on Saturday would clinch the Green and White a playoff spot for the first time since 2021. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.

“We’ve got our sights on big things,” said Riders quarterback Trevor Harris. “It just starts with this week.”

The last time these two teams met, the Elks rushing attack was dominant, with the team gaining 276 yards on the ground. The game was one of the few blips for the Riders’ rushing defence which is second in the CFL – only surrendering 80.1 yards per game.

“It was an eye-opener for us just understanding how the simple details of the game – one person being out of the gap can be exposed,” said defensive tackle Micah Johnson. “It was like every time someone was out of the gap, they made us pay for it.”

In order to make sure that sort of performance doesn’t happen again, the defence played the tape back from that last performance.

“It was tough. No one likes watching low-lights so it was tough,” Johnson said. “It was an eye-opener. It’s always one thing to see yourself doing the good stuff but also understand we’re humans and we can be vulnerable too and we can make mistakes as well.”

One of the big changes in this matchup for the Elks is who is starting at quarterback. McLeod Bethel-Thompson will start the game – he was the quarterback in the first meeting between these two teams which the Riders won – with Tre Ford as the backup.

“He’s able to go through his reads well. He’s one of those quarterbacks that he will sit in the pocket and try to get through every one of his progressions and he will get the ball to his playmakers,” said defensive back Marcus Sayles, who tied a career-high with his fourth interception of the season in last week’s 29-16 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

One of the key players on defence who could make an impact is defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. The Riders defensive back leads the CFL in interceptions (seven) and special-teams tackles (19). No player in CFL history has led the league in special-teams tackles and a major defensive stat.

“He’s one of the best players I have played with,” Sayles said when asked about Milligan Jr. “Credit to him and he has so much in his bag still, he’s going to put it on display these next couple of weeks.”

Harris believes the season Milligan Jr. has put together has earned him the Most Outstanding Player award for the team.

“He’s the guy – he has been awesome this year. He’s just a really, really good football player and I’m glad people are finally realizing that,” Harris said. “I remember playing him in 2022 and I remember after the game going, ‘Who is (number zero)?’ I looked him up and (realized) this guy was good.”

On defence, the Riders will have back linebacker C.J. Reavis after missing last week with a knee injury. He leads the team with 70 tackles.

Saskatchewan will be without defensive back Deontai Williams as he serves a one-game suspension due to, “Delivering an illegal and dangerous tackle on Ottawa (Redblacks) wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton, and for committing a non-football act by striking another Ottawa player.”

On offence, the Riders will be without running back Ryquell Armstead due to a shoulder injury. With Armstead and AJ Ouellette (hip) still out, running back Frankie Hickson will start the game for the Riders.

Saskatchewan will also be without wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. after suffering a knee injury last week. Jerreth Sterns will return to the lineup for the first time since Week 10.

“It’s exciting,” Sterns said. “That was the end goal for sure whether I was in the lineup or not – get into playoffs. Now that I have an opportunity to be in the lineup with a game that can clinch a playoff spot, I think it’s huge for us.”

This game will also be special for Riders kicker Brett Lauther, who is appearing in his 100th CFL game.