Riders hope to play spoiler to first-place Bombers in West Final
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to meet the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2021 West Final, a rematch of 2019 with one key difference: the Bombers hold home field advantage.
That game two years ago at Mosaic Stadium, during a season where the Riders finished first in the west, ended in heartbreaking fashion to the team’s archrival.
Now, it’s the Riders who feel they can play spoiler in a season where the Blue Bombers have largely been dominant.
"They haven't played a meaningful football game in a while, right? I know what that feels like, in 2019, missing a couple weeks and trying to get back in the rhythm of things,” said Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo.
"Two years ago I guess we were in the same game but this one is here and now so yeah it's the biggest game of my coaching career, biggest game for this team. So we're looking forward to it and we know it's going to be a tough one,” said Head Coach Craig Dickenson.
The Bombers topped the CFL standings in 2021, are undefeated at home on the season and had 15 of their players named divisional all-stars compared to just two from the green and white.
But any feelings about the selections or lack thereof in the Riders locker room were helped by Sunday’s win over the Calgary Stampeders, according to linebacker Deon Lacey.
“We played against Calgary, they had some all stars, we sent them home,” Lacey said. “Now they snubbed cause they're not in the playoffs anymore so now we got opportunity to go show Winnipeg that we got all stars even though we didn't get the accolade."
The winning effort against Calgary did include four interceptions from Fajardo, a factor he acknowledges needs to be different against the blue and gold.
“I got to play clean football,” Fajardo said. “I can't turn the ball over like I did against Calgary because this is a really good defence that probably is going to find a way to create havoc for us."
One area where the team found success Sunday was in special teams, an aspect of the game they hope to replicate at IG Field.
“We're gonna have to bring our A game, and that's what we're excited for,” said running back and returner Jamal Morrow, who returned a punt for a touchdown Sunday. “We look up to a challenge, and so it's just everybody steps up, do their jobs, and there's definitely possibilities out there for big plays to be made."
The Riders said due to travel restrictions on those unvaccinated against COVID-19, one person on the team staff would not be making the trip to Winnipeg, although the team would not specify who beyond saying it’s not a player.
West Final kickoff between the Riders and Bombers is set for 3 p.m. on Dec. 5.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
BREAKING Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.
Secret $70M Lotto Max winners break their silence
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Remains from a mother-daughter cold case were found nearly 24 years later, after a deathbed confession from the suspect
A West Virginia father is getting some sense of closure after authorities found the remains of his young daughter and her mother following a deathbed confession from the man believed to have fatally shot them nearly two decades ago.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city's port.
First in Canada procedure performed at London, Ont. hospital
A London man has become the first person in Canada to receive a robotic assisted surgery on his spine. Dave Myeh suffered from debilitating, chronic back pain that led to sciatica in his right now and extreme pain in his lower back.