CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders will play host to the Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium on Saturday in the final game of the 2022 CFL regular season.
The Stampeders secured their playoff hopes with a win over the BC Lions in Week 16 and will be making their 17th consecutive appearance in the post-season. Calgary will travel to Vancouver to play in the Western Semi-Final on November 6.
For Saskatchewan, Week 21 presents the team with an opportunity to end their season on a positive note and halt a six-game losing streak.
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In their Week 20 meeting the Stampeders earned a 32-21 win over the Roughriders, in a game that was dominated by the Calgary backfield. The pairing of Ka’Deem Carey and Dedrick Mills combined for 178 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, with Mills leading the game with 103 yards and 17 carries.
According to the team’s depth chart Carey has been ruled out ahead of Saturday, with Mills being listed as the teams No.1 back while Peyton Logan will serve as the second back.
Jake Maier has been listed as the starting quarterback for the Stamps as they prepare for their final game of the regular season. In his team’s win over the Riders, Maier completed 15 passes for 205 yards, including a highlight reel touchdown pass to Richie Sindani late in the game. In 17 games this season, the second-year pivot has thrown for 2,284 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Watch the game live here PPV. Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Calgary Stampeders, Oct. 30, 02:00 CET (2 am, 8 pm ET, Oct. 29)
Calgary quarterbacks have been good limiting turnovers through the 2022 season, throwing a league-low 13 interceptions. While scheming and decision making are a factor in the low turnover margin, the play of the Calgary offensive line has been crucial. The Stamps offensive line is allowing fewer than one sack per game and have allowed a league-low 15 sacks.
The Stampeders passing attack will also feature the return of Kamar Jorden who has been held off the field since suffering an injury in Week 13. Jorden has caught 43 passes for 477 yards this season and will provide yet another set of reliable hands amongst Sindani, Reggie Begelton, and rookie Jalen Philpot who has shown flashes of budding stardom.
Philpot led the Stamps receiving efforts with 64 yards on two receptions in Week 20 and has caught seven passes for 120 yards, contributing an additional 47 rushing yards on four carries over his last two games. The fifth overall pick in the 2022 CFL Draft has also helped in the battle for field position, returning five kickoffs for 129 yards in the same span, averaging just over 25 yards per return.
Head coach Dave Dickenson told team media that he wants to see his group continue to improve, even with his team’s playoff positioning already set.
“There’s a lot of things we can get better at,” Dickenson told Stampeders.com. “We’re trying to get better. We’re trying to increase our win total, but also feel like were executing and doing the right things. Hopefully we can clean up those things and become a better team.”
Defensively, the Stamps have proven to be a tough unit all season long and have surrendered just 22.8 points per game, the third fewest in the league.
Against the Riders, the Calgary pass-rush managed to exploit the Saskatchewan offensive line, finding their way into the backfield for five sacks. Applying similar pressure will prove to be crucial against Saskatchewan’s Mason Fine as he prepares to make his second start.
However, Calgary’s special teams coverage units will need to be mindful of Saskatchewan’s ability to flip the field in the return game. Return specialist Mario Alford has been electrifying all season and burned the Stampeders for a 104-yard punt return touchdown in game’s fourth quarter. Alford has now found the end zone a combined four times on either a kickoff return, punt return or a missed field goal return.
Fine put together an admirable performance in Week 20 as he made his first career start in the CFL. The sophomore pivot completed 18 of his 28 passing attempts for 196 yards, including a touchdown pass to Shaq Evans.
As has been a constant for the Riders passing attack, Canadian receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker led the team with 61 receiving yards. The second-year pass catcher leads all Saskatchewan receivers with 935 yards and five touchdowns.
Schaffer-Baker needs just 65 receiving yards on Saturday to record the first 1,000 yard season of his career, it would also place him alongside Toronto’s Kurleigh Gittens Jr. as the two Canadian receivers to record 1,000 yards this year.
When it comes to the ground game, star running back Jamal Morrow returned to the lineup last week and put together 39 yards on eight carries. Before his injury it appeared he could be in contention to lead the league in rushing, so he’ll be attempting to finish the season on a positive stride.
Defensively the Riders have been one of the better pass-rush units in the league, recording 39 sacks this season, placing them amongst the league-leaders. The Saskatchewan front-seven has been led by defensive lineman Pete Robertson’s who leads the team with nine. While Rider middle linebacker Darnell leads the league with 115 defensive tackles and has recorded three sacks this season.
Entering Saturday’s regular season finale, Sankey is just four tackles away from setting the Roughriders franchise record for most tackles in a single season.
Regardless of their season coming to an end, Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson said that his focus is on putting his best lineup on the field and winning the game.
“We’re going to play our best guys,” Dickenson told Riderville.com. “We’re going to go over there and put our best 45 on the field, call the game aggressively and try to win the game.”
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