Armstead is back, joins Ouellette in Riders backfield for West semifinal
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Saskatchewan is set to have a dynamic duo at running back on Saturday in Regina.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders know it could be more than a football game against the Edmonton Elks this week – it could turn into something that resembles a track meet.
An 0-7 Elks team will look for their first win against the 5-2 Riders and are making a pivotal change to their lineup.
Elks quarterback Tre Ford will start his first game of the season on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m.
“We call him the Michael Vick — he’s very fast, very loose, and very athletic,” said Riders defensive back DaMarcus Fields.
“He’s a different type of quarterback but he’s one who can change the game a lot. We’ve been dialled in this week on him.
“Try to contain him. It’s going to be real hard — I see a lot of people get on TSN (trying to do that).”
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In 10 games last season, Ford threw for 2,069 yards, 12 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also rushed for 622 yards and three touchdowns in that span to help the Elks to a 4-6 record in that span.
Last week in a short period, Ford threw for 121 yards and three touchdowns in relief for McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
Along with the change at quarterback, dynamic returner Javon Leake will start at running back due to an injury to starter Kevin Brown. Leake was the CFL’s most outstanding special teams player in 2023 with the Argos.
“It’s a football game/track meet. They are extremely fast in the backfield. I don’t want to discredit Brown — he’s a tremendous back as well — but we have to be dialled and it is going to take all 12 (of our defenders),” said head coach Corey Mace.
“We have to be on our stuff to be accountable for both those guys as they are going to be on the field together.”
Saskatchewan’s rushing defence has been on a historic pace thus far in 2024. The unit is giving up an average of 48 yards per game — that’s the lowest mark ever by a CFL team during a season. The current record is held by the Calgary Stampeders, who only surrendered 57.3 yards per game in the 1995 season.
But the Riders will be without some of their defensive line this week. Defensive tackle Anthony Lanier II has been put onto the six-game injured list and national defensive end Nic Dheilly retired from pro football. Caleb Sanders, who has a sack in two games this season, will come into the lineup.
On the offensive line, Brandon Council will make his first start of 2024. Council started the season on the suspended list due to an opportunity at Auburn University but rejoined the Riders on July 19 due to an injury to Jermarcus Hardrick. Jacob Brammer was starting at left tackle the past two contests but suffered a hamstring injury in practice this week.
Council started 12 games with the Riders last season.
“Council isn’t a rookie. He has been around and played last year,” said quarterback Shea Patterson, who will start his fifth straight game after an injury to Trevor Harris.
“He’s hungry for it and he has been waiting for his opportunity. We’re looking forward to having him out there.”
On offence, the Riders will also start Frankie Hickson at running back for a second straight game. A.J. Ouellette is out with a hip injury.
In last week’s 20-16 loss to the Montreal Alouettes, Hickson had 117 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s your job to be prepared and be ready to go when your number is called,” Hickson said.
This is the third time the Riders and Elks will meet in 2024 — one time in the preseason and in Week 1 of the regular season, which Saskatchewan won 29-21.
“We’re not going to take them for granted. We understand in Week 1 what went down between us two teams. We came away with the win but we’re a different than we were as well,” said linebacker Jameer Thurman.
“We just have to go out there and execute and do what we do defensively and we will come away with the win.”
The Riders will also have a chance to take first place in the CFL West division after the B.C. Lions (5-3) loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-6) on Thursday night.
Saskatchewan has a 3-0 record at home, and will look to keep that record unblemished.
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