Riders set to clash with roaring Lions

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are heading to Vancouver for a pivotal showdown with the B.C. Lions.

The Riders and Lions both have 4-2 records heading into Friday’s CFL game at B.C. Place. Kickoff for the game is set for 8:30 p.m.

“We have the playoff mentality for this game,” Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo said. “From here on out, it’s playoff mentalities.

“You’ve got a good B.C. team that is also 4-and-2 and we are tied in the standings together and this could give us the edge in the tiebreaker. And then you go play Calgary (Stampeders) three times and the way Calgary can get back into the standings is by beating us three times.

“This next stretch is very important in the standings and the way the West is going to shake out.”

The game Friday marks the first of a stretch of games where the Riders will play six of their next eight on the road.

“(We’ve got to be) road warriors and it starts this Friday night. Hopefully the guys can answer the call and we can go out and execute our game plan,” Fajardo said.

The Riders have enjoyed recent success against the Lions, winning seven meetings in a row between the two.

Fajardo seems to enjoy playing against the team, with whom he played for in 2018. Fajardo has gone 4-0 against his former home.

“Anytime you (face) a former team, you want to go out and show out. There’s a chip on your shoulder,” Fajardo said.

While the Riders will try to replicate the first half of their 33-29 Week 1 win over B.C., they’ll try to forget what happened in the second half. The Riders went into halftime with a 32-9 lead only to score one point over the final 30 minutes of the game.

“When we came back and watched the film against B.C., we all came to an understanding that that’s just something we can’t do anymore,” slotback Kyran Moore said. “(We have to) just keep our foot on the gas for the whole game instead of just the first half.”

It won’t be easy for the Riders to do that with a stingy B.C. defence staring them down. After allowing the Riders to score a touchdown on their first three drives of the season, the Lions’ defence has only given up two touchdowns on the last 79 possessions for which they’ve been on the field.

“They are very good and I think they have been flying under the radar a little bit. Our guys know they are very good and I think, in general, people do as well because I know a lot of people are picking B.C. to win this week and I’m sure they are favoured to win,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said.

“We’ve got to play as good of a game as we played all year and we have to get a bounce or two to go our way but we’ve had a good week of practice and our guys are excited to get out there and play.”

On defence, the Riders will need to find a way to stop one of the CFL’s top passing attacks.

Lions quarterback Michael Reilly, who started the year with a elbow injury that kept him from starting in Week 1, has turned back the clock and looks like the QB who was voted the league’s most outstanding player in 2017.

Reilly has been voted one of the CFL’s top performers for two straight weeks. This season, Reilly has thrown for 1,601 yards (second in the CFL) with eight touchdown passes (third in the CFL).

“(Reilly) has been slinging it for sure. He’s been getting his mojo back and he looks as healthy as ever,” linebacker Micah Teitz said. “I know the boys get excited to play someone who has the legend status behind them like Michael Reilly so it’s always fun to play those guys.”

Reilly also has a number of weapons at his disposal, including a dynamic duo of two of the CFL’s top receivers.

Wide receiver Lucky Whitehead entered the week with a league-leading 554 receiving yards and not far behind him sitting fourth is his teammate, slotback Bryan Burnham.

“When you look at B.C.’s receiving corps, top to bottom, if they are not (No.) 1 in the league, they might be (No.) 2,” Dickenson said. “They are really good and they give Michael Reilly a lot of options when throwing the ball.”

Saskatchewan’s defensive unit will get a boost as defensive back Ed Gainey rejoins the team after missing two games due to turf toe. Defensive back Blace Brown missed a majority of practices this week due to a knee injury but is expected to play.

The defence still will have some shuffling to do, with Loucheiz Purifoy moving from halfback to safety and Christian Campbell starting at halfback.

On offence, the Riders will just see one change on their offensive line. Brett Boyko will start at left tackle with Andrew Lauderdale dealing with an ankle injury.

Fajardo said it has been a positive for them to not have a bunch of moving parts over the past few games on the offensive side of the ball.

“That played a big factor in us doing so well against Toronto and finishing drives because that was one of the first times we were solidified at offensive line and receiver without making a late change,” Fajardo said.

The Riders will also look to continue to see production from first-year wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker. Due to injuries to wide receiver Shaq Evans and slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert, Schaffer-Baker has accumulated 21 catches for 256 yards and a touchdown in the four games in which he has played.