Saskatchewan at BC
Countdown to Kickoff: 5:30
Rider Nation Pre-Game Show 7:30
Opening kickoff 8:30
Game time weather BC Place, indoors
—Around the century mark in Vancouver. Friday’s game between the Riders and Lions will mark the 100th time the two teams will meet in Vancouver. Saskatchewan holds the edge in overall matchups at BC, with a record of 50-47-2.
— Rare Canadian Exchange. With the injury to Nathan Rourke, BC will have fellow Canadian Michael O’Connor start for them behind centre for this evening’s game against the Riders. It’s the first time a team has started different Canadian quarterbacks in consecutive weeks since the Calgary Stampeders did that in 1955.
— Second half doughnuts. So far this season in their two matchups, the Lions have shutout the Riders in the second half of both contests. The last time the Lions pulled off the feat was in 2014 against Ottawa.
— Summer Lion Heat. The Lions are currently enjoying a five game winning streak, their longest winning streak since they won eight in a row in 2011.
— A stop to the run. Saskatchewan’s run defence will be looking to shutting down James Butler like they did in last week’s game, as the green and white held the running back to a 1.2 yards average per carry.
— The Return of Swerve. Kyran “Swerve” Moore is back in the starting lineup for the Riders for the first time this season. Last year in eleven games with Saskatchewan, the receiver had 585 yards with three touchdowns.
— Triple threat. The BC Lions currently have three players on pace to go over 1,250 yards receiving this year. (Dominique Rhymers, Lucky Whitehead, Keon Hatcher). No team has ever had three receivers go over 1,300 yards receiving in the same season.
— Tough day in the office. Cody Fajardo’s 41 yards passing in an abbreviated appearance against the Lions last week marked his lowest single game passing total throughout his 38 starts in his pro career.
— Going solo. Before being sidelined with a broken hand injury, Jamal Morrow and Frankie Hickson were responsible for the top rushing duo in the CFL. Hickson was 10th overall in the league’s rushing heading into this week’s action.
— Turning Red into Green. Last week the Riders had four trips inside of BC’s 20 yard line (a season high) but were only able to convert on one opportunity.
Don’t forget to tune into the 5th Quarter Post Game Show with Michael Ball and Luc Mullinder.
Following that, it’s the Sportscage Radio Round Table
(Information courtesy Canadian Football League)
