Riders look to end seven-game slide in showdown against Stamps

The Saskatchewan Roughriders hope to get back into the win column with a game against the Stampeders in Calgary on Friday.

Saskatchewan comes into the contest with a 0-6-1 record in its last seven contests, which has seen the team fall from first place to third in the CFL’s West Division standings.

This is the third season in a row that the Riders’ have had a seven-game stretch without a win. In 2022 and 2023, the team ended their seasons on seven-game losing streaks, missing the playoffs on both occasions. The Riders haven’t had a win past Labour Day since 2021, and have gone on a 0-14 stretch since then.

Meanwhile, the Stampeders come into Friday’s game with their own five-game winless streak, going 0-4-1 in their recent contests.

Kickoff for the game at McMahon Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. Saskatchewan time.

“Just narrow the focus,” said Riders head coach Corey Mace.

“We can’t look any further ahead than the next minute, or even the current minute you’re in. Just really find ourselves and find ways to commit to every opportunity we get throughout the day, just to build and gain that confidence back, because it parlays and it stacks and it builds.”

A new rusher will be leading the ground game for Saskatchewan on Friday. Ryquell Armstead was signed by the team on Monday, and will suit up for his first game since he was released by the Ottawa Redblacks on Sept. 3, after 11 appearances. He is the fourth-leading rusher in the CFL.

“We’re about to turn around,” Armstead said. “Hopefully we win a lot of games. I’m going to bring a lot of passion and energy, and just the effort. I want to do my part and just be one of 12.”

The Riders come into the game with the worst rushing attack in the league, earning a paltry 78.7 yards per game. The Stampeders, meanwhile, have given up the most rushing yards in the CFL — an average of 116.8 yards per game.

Saskatchewan comes into the contest off a bye week which came at a good time for quarterback Trevor Harris, who had to miss six games earlier in the season due to a knee injury.

“It was big time for me. My knee was bugging me a little bit so I was able to get some good treatment on it to where I can push off of it and run a little bit now, which is awesome,” the 38-year-old quarterback said. “A good time for us to get out of the building, reset, and come back with a spirited attitude and come back and attack these last five games.”

While the first practice back was a positive one for the Riders, Tuesday’s wasn’t as pleasant as Mace stopped it twice to admonish the team for their efforts.

“I just think it was pretty much a pile of things,” said wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. “There was just one that broke the camel’s back. Guys not being accountable for meetings, and then it kind of just snowballed, and then me not making the play I should’ve.

“We just have to be better. That’s it.”

On defence, the Riders will be down one of their top pass-rushers in defensive end Malik Carney. Carney, who has four sacks this season, was added to the six-game injured list due to an ankle injury. Eric Black will dress in his place.

Stamps quarterback Jake Maier has had an up-and-down season that saw the 27-year-old benched for one game. He has thrown for 3,157 yards this season, the second-most in the CFL. But despite his high-yardage number, Maier has thrown just 16 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

The Riders’ defence has seen quarterbacks put up some big numbers this season, giving up 296.8 yards per game through the air. Mace said it’s something they’ve been working hard to correct.

“This defence, since I have been around it — and it’s kind of grown from there a little bit — has always given up lots of yards, but we do our best in creating turnovers, attacking the quarterback, and making them feel uncomfortable and try to limit the amount of points, because that’s going to put you in the best position,” Mace said.

“Certainly you don’t want to give up a tonne of yards, so we did a big self-scout throughout the bye week, and certainly (found) some different things as a staff for us to look at, as far as play calling and different situations.”

A loss by the Riders in Friday’s contest, paired with a win by the Edmonton Elks over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, could see the team drop to fifth in the divisional standings.