From their lowest point, to the highest stakes.
It was as close as rock bottom could get for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-10) on Saturday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. On a night the organization honoured George Reed and the 2013 Grey Cup Championship team, the Roughriders suffered their fifth straight loss in convincing fashion to the Ti-Cats, 38-13.
Despite their last win coming at the Labour Day Classic, Saskatchewan still has a chance to clinch the final spot in the Canadian Football League (CFL) playoffs, if they can pull off a win against the Calgary Stampeders (4-11) on Friday night at McMahon Stadium.
If the Stampeders get the victory, they will win the season series between the two teams and hold the tie-breaker down the final stretch of the regular season. Calgary would gain control of clinching third spot in the Western Division and the final playoff position.
After this week the Stampeders have two games remaining, while the green and white end their regular season next Saturday against the Toronto Argonauts.
As the Roughriders returned to practice on Tuesday and begin preparations for the matchup against the Stampeders, the message from the team’s hierarchy was about the E’s.
Those are traits Head Coach Craig Dickenson is looking for this week.
“We want better energy, we want to play with a little more emotion, and we need to execute.”
Defensive tackle Micah Johnson said the three “E”s highlight key points the team needs to accomplish during the game.
“Sometimes I think we’re a little low on execution, and the past couple of weeks I’ve felt we’ve been a little flat on energy.”
Guard Logan Ferland added the importance of energy for the squad.
“You need to be motivated and show your guys the same energy and continue to pass it off when someone’s feeling down, they need to get their energy up.”
With the green and white entering this week with five straight losses, Johnson believes the team shouldn’t enter with a clean slate heading into this playoff-like matchup in Calgary.
“I don’t feel like it’s something you necessarily sweep to back of your mind.” said the defensive tackle “I feel like you should use it to play with an extra chip on your shoulder, understanding the situation you have been, the losses that occurred, what are you going to change it?”
Confidence is something the Roughriders will try and find this week in the leadup to the crucial contest against the Stampeders.
Roughriders quarterback Jake Dolegala there are different ways the team can create confidence.
Guys got to be bring it individually, said Dolegala, “In the locker room guys can feed off it too, you bring some emotion on to the field, effort plays, celebrating with your teammates, those all help with confidence. “
If there was a slight positive from Saturday’s game, it was the ground game of the green and white including Jamal Morrow who had 120 rushing yards. Ferland thinks the rushing attack is something the offence can build on leading into Friday’s game in Calgary.
“The more we can run the ball from an o-line’s aspect, we love that.”
Coverage for Friday’s game on 620 CKRM begins with Countdown to Kickoff at 4:30, the opening kickoff at 7:30.
Injury Report
Players who missing from Tuesday’s practice, DB Jaxon Ford, WR Tevin Jones, LB Derrick Moncrief (shoulder/neck), DB Jeremy Clark (knee), LB T.J. Brunson (neck), Charbel Dabire (illness)
