‘Just win:’ Dolegala set for first start against roaring Lions

With a new starting quarterback at the helm, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will look to try to knock off one of the CFL’s best teams.

The Riders will host the B.C. Lions on Sunday with quarterback Jake Dolegala making his first start of the 2023 season. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.

“It’s super exciting. It means a lot. Like I’ve said before, it’s a childhood dream being a professional athlete, let alone starting,” the 26-year-old pivot said. “I’m just going to go out there and try my best, to be honest.

“I’m going to do what I can to help will this team to win, and we will see what will happen Sunday.”

This will be the second start of Dolegala’s CFL career. His first came last season, with a majority of the starters missing due to a COVID outbreak. In that game, Dolegala completed 13 of 28 passes for 131 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

The product of Hamburg, N.Y. said the childhood dream started thanks to his grandfather, Al Bemiller. Bemiller was an offensive lineman with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills from 1961 to 1969.

“That was a huge part. My dad played growing up and he always wanted us to play,” Dolegala said. “I started when I was six and it’s been a love affair ever since.”

Dolegala is being given the opportunity with both Trevor Harris (knee) and Mason Fine (hamstring) on the six-game injured list.

Riders offensive co-ordinator Kelly Jeffrey said Dolegala’s strong arm means more deep passes are in play when calling the offence.

“He does have a really big arm that sometimes feels effortless. It just looks like he flicks his wrist and the ball shoots out like a cannon,” Jeffrey said. “There are a few more deep shots that you are more inclined to take a shot at.”

The Riders’ passing attack this season entered the week having thrown for the third-most passing yards per game (278.3) and the fourth-most passing touchdowns (10) in the CFL.

Those deep shots are something head coach Craig Dickenson believes could help the Riders have more success against the Lions than in their 19-9 loss earlier this season, when Saskatchewan didn’t score a touchdown.

“We have to push the ball a little more,” Dickenson said. “I think that was the one thing I did learn. We have to push the ball a little bit more and take a few more chances.

“Maybe (we can) challenge their DBs a little bit more and give our receivers a chance to make some plays on some 50/50 balls.”

Along with a new quarterback, one of the Riders’ top receiving weapons over the past two seasons will make a return to the lineup. Slotback Kian Schaffer-Baker will make his season debut after undergoing off-season hip surgery that kept him out of the Riders’ first nine games of the year.

“I’ve been dreaming about it, thinking about it and I can already feel the rumble,” Schaffer-Baker said. “I’m excited to put my helmet on and run out that tunnel and give it everything I have.”

In 30 regular-season games, he has 115 catches for 1,523 yards and seven touchdown. In the 2021 playoffs, he added six catches for 43 yards and a touchdown in two games.

Schaffer-Baker was named the Riders’ most outstanding rookie in 2021 and followed it up by being named the team’s most outstanding Canadian in 2022.

Dickenson said the Riders originally viewed the Labour Day Classic as the game where Schaffer-Baker would play his first game but he was cleared a few weeks ago to be a full go.

“We just wanted to make sure he didn’t have any setbacks, which he hasn’t had,” Dickenson said. “We’re going to manage his reps and he is excited to play.”

Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, the Riders will try to replicate the success they had in their last showdown in B.C.

The Riders only allowed one touchdown in the game but Lions backup quarterback Dane Evans played a majority of the game after starter Vernon Adams Jr. was injured on a sack by Riders defensive end Pete Robertson.

The Lions have been one of the highest-scoring offences in the league, averaging 25.9 points per game (third-most in the CFL entering the week).

“That one touchdown was off our mistake. We know how good we are as a defence,” said Riders defensive back Deontai Williams. “If we just keep doing what we are doing and communicate our calls and win our one-on-one battles, we can come out here and stop them and maybe give up no touchdowns.”

For the Riders and their new pivot, only one thing will show the team has been successful this week.

“Just win. That’s it,” Dolegala said. “I don’t care how I get it done.”