Full circle moment for Cody Fajardo if Riders clinch cross-over berth
A Saskatchewan Roughrider win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday could move the team one step closer to a post-season berth in the eastern division cross-over for the first time since 2017, the year the Riders lost to the Cody Fajardo’s former squad, the Toronto Argonauts, in the eastern final.
“I stood on the sideline (most of) the game, kind of cold then all of a sudden we’re on the 1 yard line and they say, ‘Hey Cody, go get in and win us this football game,’” said Fajardo.
Fajardo scored a 1-yard touchdown for the Toronto Argonauts in the 2017 eastern-final against the Saskatchewan Roughriders with 23 seconds to go in the game. It booked the Argos ticket to the 2017 Grey Cup where the team came out on top in the Championship game.
Now Fajardo finds himself on the other side of the ball looking to clinch a spot in the eastern cross-over but for the Riders this time.
“No one’s ever made it to the Grey Cup as a cross-over team and if we are the cross-over team, that would be our goal. It would be a pretty unique situation for us,” said Fajardo.
But it is not just Fajardo who was a member of the 2017 Grey Cup Championship squad that is now on the Riders roster. Offensive lineman, Jamal Campbell, was also a member of the team.
“It was just a magical and special year. We had a lot of guys that just believed in each other and you see that a lot here too,” said Campbell. “It’s kind of interesting that we could be in that situation and just have guys like Cody that have been through it, I think that is going to help us.”
As of right now, the Argonauts are in first in the east division with a 8-6 record which could mean the Riders face them in the playoffs once again in a cross-over situation.
“Let’s just say we hope that it’s not like the eastern final in 2017. We just hope it’s reversed this time,” said Campbell.
But the journey to earning a spot in the playoff cross-over scenario begins with a win over Hamilton on Friday in order to finish ahead of them in the standings.
“It’s definitely ‘keep me awake’ important. I mean I’ve been up at 3 a.m. every night this week,” said defensive lineman Charleston Hughes when asked about the significance of this upcoming matchup.
Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. on TSN.
Correction
A previous version of this story stated the Roughriders would clinch a playoff spot if they win against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which was incorrect.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.