The Montreal Alouettes (7-4) will visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-4) Saturday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium. It’s the first time these two teams have met since Aug. 9, when the Riders won in a game that was shortened by a weather delay at Molson Percival Stadium in Montreal.
But, after previously reeling off six straight wins, Saskatchewan is coming off a 35-10 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the annual Banjo Bowl.
“We still think we’re a good football team. We still feel like we have a lot of good football ahead of us,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said.
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The Als are searching for their fourth straight win in what quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. calls a hostile environment. But he adds the way to do that is to start fast and strong.
“There’s been a few weeks where we’ve kept these games kind of close,” Adams said. “We want to do better and that’s the goal.”
Defensive end John Bowman will look to repeat his performance against the BC Lions last week. The 37-year old picked up two sacks and five tackles in a 21-16 victory, which resulted him being named a Shaw Top Performer of the past week.
“I just try to execute and try to play good ball,” he told the Montreal Gazette earlier this week. “I can’t explain it. I just try to play every play like it’s my last.”
The Riders will be without a key piece to their defence as defensive end Charleston Hughes will sit out the contest due to injury. He’s on the one-game injured list. Hughes, 35, leads the league in sacks with 13.
Earl Okine will replace him in the lineup and newly-signed Chad Geter will be his backup. According to the Regina Leader-Post, Hughes practised on Tuesday but he sat out Wednesday and left Thursday’s practice early.
“I know we gave him (Wednesday) off to rest him,” Dickenson said at the time. “He’s sore and he’s a little beaten up, but there isn’t anything injury-wise that we’re concerned about.”
Canadian rookie receiver Mitch Picton will also make his first CFL start Saturday, as he’ll fill in for Justin McInnis who’s sidelined due to injury.
“I don’t know about nerves, but more so excitement,” he said. “I’ve been around for a little bit so I’m pretty comfortable with how things go around here. I’m just looking forward to the experience.”
Offensive lineman Jake Bennett will also be inserted into the lineup for the Riders.
The Alouettes, meanwhile, will be missing running back Jeremiah Johnson. In six games this year, Johnson has one rushing touchdown and 263 rushing yards. Running back Shaquille Murray-Lawrence will take his place behind starter William Stanback.
Als’ receiver Chris Matthews could also make his debut Saturday after joining the team as a free agent. He was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers earlier this season. In six games, he has one touchdown, and 12 catches for 180 yards. He’s extremely grateful that his teammates have been keeping up to speed in time for this weekend’s game.
“They’ve all shared an equal amount in helping me and making sure I know what I’m doing. The coaches are doing an amazing job with teaching me the plays and helping me learn as fast as possible,” he said.
“All blessings to Montreal for giving me the opportunity to extend my career in the CFL,” he added. “I’m happy to be out here and to play.”
BY THE NUMBERS
245 — In Riders quarterback Cody Fajardo’s last start against the Alouettes, he threw for that many passing yards in the Aug. 9 encounter.
2018 — A Montreal Alouettes victory would result in their first win in Regina since 2018, where they won 23-17. The Roughriders last defeated the Alouettes on their home turf in 2017.
10 — Alouettes quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. has thrown 10 touchdown passes this season, nine off the league lead set by Toronto Argonauts quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson. Adams also has 10 rushing touchdowns, leading the league.
9 — Saskatchewan Roughriders running back William Powell has nine rushing touchdowns, which leads all running backs but trails Adams’ tally.
AFI, Yare Media and the CFL
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