The stumbling Saskatchewan Roughriders can clinch a playoff spot Friday night with a road victory against the Calgary Stampeders.
The third-place Roughriders (6-10) have lost five straight games but still control their fate in the CFL West Division standings as they visit the struggling Stampeders (4-11), who have lost six of their past seven.
Neither team has won since Labor Day weekend.
“You want to always control your own fate and we still have control of that,” Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson told the Regina Leader-Post on Tuesday. “There’s a few other teams in this league that don’t and it’s tough to motivate those guys when they know they’re already out.”
The Roughriders and Stampeders split the first two meetings this season, with both road teams winning. Saskatchewan won 29-26 in overtime at Calgary on June 24 but lost 33-31 at home on July 15.
“We’re steering the ship for our own destiny,” Riders quarterback Jake Dolegala said. “We win this week, we’re in, and that’s just what we’ve got to do.”
Dolegala passed for 154 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in last Saturday’s 38-13 home loss against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Calgary has been idle since a 22-15 loss against those same Tiger-Cats on Sept. 30. Five field goals from Rene Paredes provided all the offense for the Stamps.
Calgary has not won a game since Sept. 4 against Edmonton. That was one day after Saskatchewan enjoyed its most recent victory against Winnipeg, yet the Stampeders haven’t been eliminated from playoff contention.
“You don’t get opportunities like this every year where you get chance after chance,” Calgary linebacker Cameron Judge said. “It’s time to take advantage of one and get this win.
“I try to be the same guy every day, have the same energy and passion when I’m out there, but when your life is on the line it adds a little bit more to it. It’s exciting and it should be a playoff atmosphere.”
–Field Level Media