The Saskatchewan Roughriders are back in action on Thursday night as they take their best in the West 5-4-1 record into BMO Field to face the 5-4 Toronto Argonauts, which is good for third place in the East.
It has been an emotional 24 hours for the Roughriders who learned of the passing of legendary coach Ken Miller yesterday afternoon. Miller, who was 82, passed away after a brief battle with cancer. “Grandpa Ken,” as he was affectionately known to many fans guided the team to three Grey Cup appearances in his time as Head Coach. However, his legacy will be the mark that he made on the community, always willing to lend a hand, take time for a conversation, and always smiling ear to ear when requested for a photo with a fan. #RIPKenMiller
To the game tonight, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have gone four weeks without finding the win column and three of those four games, the Green and White believe they should have come away with a better outcome. Thursday’s game is the team’s final trip East of the regular season, and the Riders are hoping to even their record to 2-2.
Offensively, the Riders get receiver Kian Schaeffer-Baker back from the six-game injured list but passing him onto the list is running back A.J. Ouellette who has valiantly battled a hip injury and receiver Mitchell Picton. Last week the offence showed consistency in moving the ball and great chemistry for Quarterback Trevor Harris and his receivers, despite it being Harris’ first game back off the 6-game injured list. The fly in the ointment, though, was the Riders inability to finish drives with majors instead of having to settle for seven field goal attempts.
Defensively the lone changes from a week ago are the insertions of Deontai Williams at corner in place of the injured Amari Henderson and the return of linebacker C.J. Avery and defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado from the one-game injured list. The Rider defense has allowed the most passing yardage this season in the CFL. Tonight’s challenge will be limiting the effectiveness of reigning MOP Chad Kelly in his return from suspension.
Lastly this game could be won or lost on special teams. John Haggerty leads the CFL in punting average and can flip the field with a kick. Meantime the Riders Brett Lauther will look to rediscover his field goal stroke after a tough outing last week, a stroke that has made him the second most accurate kicker in Rider history.
The most comprehensive football coverage in the CFL starts with Justin Dunk on 620 CKRM at 2:30pm. Then we welcome the whole network to Toronto for the Rider Nation Pre-Game show at 4:30 with Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder.
Kick-off is at 5:30pm from BMO Field in Toronto.
