Roughriders ready to lock horns with Elks for third time in 2023

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will once again try to use their home field to bounce back from a big loss on the road.

The Riders host the Edmonton Elks at Mosaic Stadium on Friday. Kickoff for the game is set for 7:30 p.m.

Saskatchewan is trying to get back into the win column after a big 51-6 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last Saturday. Following two previous losses on the road – 31-13 to the Toronto Argonauts in the Touchdown Atlantic game on July 29 and 41-12 to the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 11 – the Riders won their next game at home.

Defensive end Pete Robertson, who missed last week’s game due to a CFL-imposed suspension, said the team’s mindset has to remain constant throughout the season.

“Attack every single opponent. As I always say, the guys on the other team get paid to do their job as well,” Robertson said. “Our biggest thing is to try and continue being very aggressive when we attack on offence and defence and just be consistent.

“I highly preach all the time when we have those good games on defence and offence, when we put it together, we have to keep following up game after game.”

The Elks will be coming in with some extra motivation as they’re already fighting for their playoff lives. If the Riders win Friday, the Elks will not be able to finish higher than fourth in the West Division, meaning their only road to the playoffs would go through the East Division.

The first two meetings between the clubs this season have been thrillers. The Riders won 17-13 in Week 1 after a defensive goal-line stand by the Green and White.

The teams met again in Week 5, when the Riders won 12-11 after the Elks mistakenly gave up a rouge late in the fourth quarter.

“I think they are a good team and I think they match up well with us and we with them,” Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said. “I think you’re going to see another knock-down, drag-out game that’s going to come right down to the wire.”

The game will also feature a pair of young quarterbacks in the very beginnings of their CFL careers.

Saskatchewan will have Jake Dolegala making his fourth start of the season and fifth in his CFL career. In his three starts this season, the 26-year-old has a 2-1 record with 678 passing yards and three touchdowns to go along with no interceptions.

On the other side, Canadian Tre Ford’s dynamic style of play has the Elks gaining some momentum.

Edmonton has a 3-2 record in his starts, and he has thrown for 990 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has added 401 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

“I wouldn’t say I’m comparing myself to (other young quarterbacks) because we’re individuals, but it’s great to see the success of these young guys around the league. I think it’s good for the league,” Dolegala said. “The guys are making the most of their opportunities through and through across the board.

“It’s just good to see them and it’s good for the game.”

For Ford, Dolegala’s size is the first thing he noticed about the 6-foot-7 pivot.

“(You) definitely notice he’s a huge human being,” said Ford, who’s listed at 6-foot-1 on the CFL website. “He has a live arm and can launch it.”

Ford also agrees it’s super-exciting that many young quarterbacks are being given opportunities.

“I know a lot of people who were worried about the quarterback talent in the CFL, but not a lot of the young guys were being given opportunities and it was a small sample size of how good they could be,” Ford said. “Everything is going to improve with the more reps they get.”

The Riders will get some help on offence this week with offensive lineman Philip Blake set to make his season debut. The 37-year-old suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the Riders’ second pre-season game and has been on the mend since.

He will be the Riders’ sixth offensive lineman for the game.

The Riders will also be without rookie defensive back Denontai Williams (hamstring), so Trumaine Washington will start in his place.

Washington signed with the Riders on July 25 after playing the 2023 XFL season with the Orlando Guardians. He led the CFL in interceptions in 2021 with Edmonton before spending the 2022 season with the Calgary Stampeders.