Week 20 of the CFL season goes without the Saskatchewan Roughriders. After back-to-back postseason scenario-clinching weeks, the Riders watch from the sidelines. In Week 18, the Green and White secured a postseason berth with a victory in Edmonton. To end Week 19, the Riders clinched a home playoff game with a victory over B.C. This week the Roughriders are enjoying their third and final bye week of the CFL’s regular season.
Unlike the Roughriders’ previous byes in weeks five and 15, the team hasn’t dispersed to their hometowns across North America. Instead, they have chosen to stay close to Mosaic Stadium. Head coach Corey Mace wants to ensure that his team continues to build upon its improving play, which has seen Saskatchewan win its last four games.
“They’re going to have a few days off but then we’re going to bring them back a little bit earlier than maybe they anticipated to keep them together. So I said, enjoy the time, but not too much because we’re going to be back to getting back to business.”
The business at hand is somewhat up in the air. Saskatchewan closes out the regular season Saturday, October 26 at home against Calgary. The Stampeders have been eliminated from the postseason, but the Riders could be playing for first place in the West Division. The Riders need Winnipeg to lose to Montreal a game played right before they take to the field next weekend.
No matter the scenario, Mace wants to see his team continue to grow.
“We’ll get some work in for us to fix some of the things we feel we need to fix. It also gives us extra time to prep for our upcoming opponent.”
Receiver Samuel Emilus, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for a second consecutive season against B.C., is happy to get to work early preparing for next week and beyond.
“We got much more to accomplish and we all know that we’re trying to get to the Grey Cup, not actually get to the Grey Cup but win it.”
Saskatchewan returns to the field Saturday, October 26 to wrap up the regular season when they host the Calgary Stampeders. Countdown to Kick-off begins with a chance to watch Justin Dunk and Wes Cates live at 2 p.m. on YouTube. Luc Mullinder and I join at 4 p.m. with the kick-off to follow at 5 p.m. on the Co-operators Roughrider Radio Network.
