Pair of Riders close to 1,000-yard milestones

Saskatchewan Roughriders running back William Powell is looking to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in the same season.

The 31-year-old rusher reached the mark in Friday’s 27-19 CFL victory over the B.C. Lions in Vancouver, but lost three yards on the next drive to push his season total to 997.

“I didn’t really feel (the accomplishment of getting to 1,000 yards) at all because I didn’t know (about it) at the moment,” Powell said after Wednesday’s closed practice at the University of Regina, where the Roughriders are practising because the NHL’s Heritage Classic has taken over Mosaic Stadium.

“We had a good game running the ball and we’re just going to try and build on it this week.”

Powell will get a chance to reach the milestone for the third straight season Saturday in Edmonton against the Eskimos. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m.

Powell cracked the 1,000-yard plateau twice as a member of the Ottawa Redblacks, rushing for 1,026 yards in 12 games in 2017 and gaining 1,362 yards in 16 games last season. He signed with Saskatchewan as a free agent in February.

Powell said reaching the 1,000-yard rushing mark isn’t a target he had coming into the 2019 season, but the accomplishment speaks to the chemistry of the team throughout the season.

“It also talks about how good the depth of the O-line has been,” he said. “We’ve had some injuries and guys have stepped in and played big for us. (The Roughriders) had some guys come back last week and they’ve played well for us as well.”

The offensive line could get another member back to its starting rotation with left tackle Takoby Cofield getting close to returning after a hamstring injury.

Head coach Craig Dickenson said he has seen players reach milestones and then lose them a few times before. But it is a rare feat.

“We’ll make sure (Powell) gets some touches early and gets to that 1,000 yards,” Dickenson said.

While Powell is almost certainly going to reach the 1,000-yard mark before the season is over, slotback Naaman Roosevelt still has some work to do to reach the receiving milestone.

Roosevelt had his best game of the season in the win over the Lions, recording 106 yards on seven catches. That outing pushed his season total to 852 yards, meaning his third 1,000-yard season is in sight with two games remaining.

But while he wasn’t counting down the yards to another 1,000-yard season, his mother was.

“My mom texted me a couple days ago the day after the game (against the Lions), and she told me I was 140-something away so she said, ‘You’d better go get it,’ ” Roosevelt said. “I’m going to have to go do it for her.”

Roosevelt surpassed 1,000 receiving yards twice in his previous four seasons with Saskatchewan, gaining 1,095 yards in 11 games in 2016 and 1,035 yards in 14 games in ’17.

Roosevelt has his eyes on a bigger prize, however.

“(Quarterback) Cody (Fajardo) talked to me earlier about it and we laughed about it. It’s something that will definitely be fun to get, but a Grey Cup would be even better so that’s our main goal,” Roosevelt said.

Notes: Dickenson said defensive backs Ed Gainey (back) and Loucheiz Purifoy (family matter) were both at practice after missing Tuesday’s workout … The Green Zone pre-game show begins at 3 p.m. Saturday.