Roughriders looking to win against Blue Bombers with the Grey Cup in sight
With a 108th Grey Cup berth in the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-5) sights the only team left standing in their way are the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (11-3).
Roughrider quarterback Cody Fajardo knows tomorrow will be a battle.
“I think it is going to be a dog fight. I think it is honestly going to be a smash mouth football game with the weather being what it is,” Fajardo said.
With high winds and snow expected in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, Rider head coach Craig Dickenson believes the day could have an old school feeling.
“It could be one of those old school football games where there is a lot of running and some wild plays if the wind is blowing like we think it may, there may be some stuff in the kicking game that is entertaining to see,” Dickenson said.
This is the second straight season that the two teams will meet in the west final. The Blue Bombers beat the Roughriders in 2019 with a score of 20-13 in Regina. The game saw a last minute throw by Cody Fajardo hit the cross bar.
“With the way our season ended with Winnipeg ending our season (in 2019) and now you have an opportunity to go into their house and do the same thing they did to you, it's something you don’t get too many opportunities at so you’re excited and eager,” Fajardo said.
The two teams have not met since weeks five and six with the Blue Bombers taking both games by a wide margin.
On the injury front the Riders will be without linebacker Micah Teitz (foot) and Jacob Dearborn (shoulder) while Duke Williams (foot) was limited at practice on Friday and is listed as a game-time decision. Loucheiz Purifoy and A.C. Leonard are expected to play. Godfrey Onyeka is expected to draw back into the line up.
Quarter back Fajardo knows that last weeks performance cannot be repeated against a Winnipeg defense that led the league in forced turnovers with 38. They’ve also allowed the fewest points-per-game in the league with 13.4.
“I feel like I do a very good of playing next play mentality and if you don’t have that and you kind of let those picks linger and then you aren’t able to execute when the games on the line,” Fajardo said.
The Blue Bombers defense will have to adjust to an offense they have yet to see this year as they will face Shaq Evans and Duke Williams for the first time.
“We brought back Shaq (Evans) and Duke (Williams) and we are undefeated with them in the line up,” Fajardo said. “We got good confidence in that locker room.”
The Riders will be looking to keep Powell in the offense. The running back saw 44 and 88 yard games against the Bombers this season.
The special teams have been special this season for the Riders and should play a crucial role. They recovered an onside kick against Calgary to start the second half last week that led to a touch down.
“The games in our hand, if were playing defense in the last seconds of the game, and (if) they are trying to score then we are in good shape,” defensive back Ed Gainey said.
“Start fast, stop the run, put them in second and long I think we will be good.”
In the two games against the Riders this season, the Blue Bombers did not allow a touchdown in the second half.
The Blue Bombers haven’t lost a game at home this season and have won 18 of their last 19 games on their own turf.
The temperature at game time is expected to be -5 but feeling like -13 with snow in the forecast. The game kicks off at 3 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.