Riders look to end four-game losing streak in rematch against Alouettes

Quarterback Trevor Harris said he’s focusing on just winning one play at a time as the team looks to end the slide that now has them sitting at 8-8 after a 6-2 start to the season.

“That’s really what this week is about — how have we learned and grown from the things that have happened this year? The ups and downs and the recent slide. How are we going to respond to that? We have talked this year about the R-factor. Now is the time to do it,” Harris said.

“I didn’t say the time to say it, I said the time to do it.”

Saskatchewan does get a boost to their offence this week as both Sam Emilus and KeeSean Johnson return to the lineup. This will be the first time both of those players and Kian Schaffer-Baker are all in the same lineup since July 23.

“It’s a blessing. It’s good to see all of our guys healthy,” said Johnson, who has 101 catches for 1.243 yards and seven touchdowns in 15 games this season.

“You get in the huddle and see all the familiar faces that you have been here with for multiple years; that’s always a good feeling seeing a brother healthy. Just looking forward to it.”

Saskatchewan will be taking on an Alouettes team that is resting a number of key starters, including dynamic receivers Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead. Quarterback Davis Alexander is listed as the third-string quarterback with Dustin Crum as the starter.

Head coach Corey Mace said they talked about who the Alouettes were rolling out a little bit on Friday morning.

“We don’t care. We have stuff to focus on ourselves. We know we are playing the Montreal Alouettes and they are a good football team,” Mace said.

“Regardless of who they put out there, those guys have been around winning football and they have played football. We expect a great game from these guys but we are in a position right now where we have to focus strictly on ourselves and that’s where our mindset is.”

Along the offensive line, centre Logan Ferland is a game-time decision due to a knee injury. Also, Thomas Perry will make his second-straight start on the line.

One of the things the Riders will look to clean up is the big plays in the air. Saskatchewan has surrendered 13 passing touchdowns over the past three games with just two interceptions.

“We just have to keep working. We talk about everything that we need to talk about in meetings and we just have to relate that same energy to when we get on the field,” defensive back Marcus Sayles said.

“Granted, it will be loud, and things happen that you maybe don’t see in film that you have to talk about on the field but we are professionals and this is the type of communication we have to have at this point in the season.”

Sayles said Crum and Alexander do have some similarities in their game.

“They are both runners … We just have to be a little more certain on when he wants to be able to run the ball. He probably does like to take off a little bit more,” Sayles said.

“We just have to not give up any explosions, not give up anything cheap and force them to be able to sustain drives.”

Mace said they are aware of the importance of this week’s game, but the focus remains the same.

“That’s our mindset every week is to go into a game and come out 1-0. That’s never changed and we are focused on that,” Mace said.

by Britton Gray/CJME

Riders look to end four-game losing streak in rematch against Alouettes

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