Riders beat Lions to punch ticket to CFL West final
Nov 03, 2024
The Riders are back in the West final for the first time since 2021.
While it won’t count in the standings, Corey Mace will call his first game as the Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach.
The Green and White host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as both CFL clubs play in their first preseason contest. Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
Rider fans heading to the game can also expect to see a number of starters playing in the game.
“We have a plan to play a lot of our starters to start out the game. The length of that, I’m not going to make any promises,” Mace said following the team’s Green and White game on Saturday.
“Everybody is excited and has been begging to play, specifically in front of our home crowd.”
Mace has also heard rumours there could be over 24,000 fans in the stands during the game – a number he wants to see increased.
“Let’s see if we can get that joker to 20 or 30 (thousand) before game day,” Mace said. “Everyone is excited to get back down and the young guys who have never seen the facility, they are pumped. Everyone is ready to rock.”
Quarterback Trevor Harris is excited to hit the field in a game for the first time since July 15, 2023, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Calgary Stampeders. And he wants to get in as much football as possible.
“All four quarters – I want them all,” the 37-year-old veteran said. “It has been a while since I’ve got to play. I don’t know exactly (how long I’ll be in) – I’ll listen to coach Mace and (offensive co-ordinator Marc) Mueller and whatever they feel I need to do.
“I plan on playing all four quarters until I am told otherwise. I’m just going to go out there and let it rip and have some fun and read some defences and just play some ball for the first time in a long time.”
Offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick is also expected to play in the game for the Riders. Hardrick joined the team this past offseason after spending the last five seasons with the Bombers.
On the other sideline, a number of presumed veterans will not play for the Bombers including quarterback Zach Collaros.
Chris Streveler, who is back in the CFL after four years of being in the NFL, is slated to be the starting quarterback for the contest.
Defensive end Willie Jefferson will make the trip to Regina but is listed as a backup.
It’s extremely unlikely Harris will play all of the game as the team tries to keep him healthy for the June 8 season opener against the Edmonton Elks, meaning the backup quarterback battle will play out for the first time in a game setting against the Bombers.
Mason Fine, Shea Patterson, Antonio Pipkin and Jack Coan are all vying for the job.
“You always have to compete for your job,” Fine said. “You should always be competing and do your best and just push each other to perform and perform to the best of your abilities.
“I have great teammates and good guys in that QB room to keep it a friendly but also good competition.”
On the defensive side, one of the players battling for a spot this season is linebacker Rodney Clemons.
Clemons gets the start at the strong-side linebacker spot due to C.J. Reavis not practicing recently due to an injury. Clemons joined the Riders in June of last season, appearing in three games with the team.
“It’s very big. Every day and practice and preseason games and meetings, everything is big. I’m just going out there to try and do my best – studying and try to make plays out here and show I can play a pivotal role on this team,” Clemons said.
On the other hand, linebacker Jameer Thurman is set to be pencilled in as the team’s starting middle linebacker this season. Thurman joins the team after spending last season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
But even though he’s a CFL veteran, Thurman believes it’s still important to go out and perform.
“You still have to go out there and earn it and showcase that that ability is still there,” Thurman said. “It’s a great time to get a feel of the game and get those feet back underneath you.”
It’s also the first time the Riders will be able to hit someone who isn’t their teammate.
“It will be great. That’s why you play defence in football,” Clemons said. “It’s always great to hit somebody and not get in trouble for it – usually if you hit someone (in training camp) you get in trouble for it. This game we play, you’re free to hit somebody – It’s fun.”
Rider transit returns
For fans looking to get to the games, the Rider Transit is back for another season.
The bus service provides fans with a free option to get to all of the team’s home games – including Monday’s preseason game.
Service starts one hour and 45 minutes before kickoff, with the last bus taking fans 30 minutes before game time.
Buses start leaving Mosaic Stadium at the beginning of the fourth quarter and will continue up to one hour and 15 minutes after the game has ended.
The pickup locations are:
Turvey Centre,
Southland Mall,
University of Regina – Lot 2,
Warehouse District,
Downtown
Ticket holders can also take regular transit free of charge for home games, including registered clients for Paratransit service, by showing their game day ticket when boarding any transit or Paratransit bus.
A bike valet is also available for people choosing to take their bikes to the games.