Riders host Alouettes as Saskatchewan looks to improve on CFL-best win record

The Saskatchewan Roughriders sit at the top of the CFL standings at 10-2 and look to keep that momentum going through the team’s third and final bye week of the regular season.

Before that, the Riders will welcome a struggling Montreal Alouettes team to Mosaic Stadium on Saturday. Kickoff for the game is set for 5 p.m. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3 p.m.

If the Riders win the game, they will clinch a playoff spot for a second-straight season. The Riders could also clinch a playoff spot if the Edmonton Elks lose to the Toronto Argonauts Saturday afternoon.

Linebacker C.J. Reavis said the team hasn’t been focused on clinching a playoff spot.

“We just figured it out on social media when they posted about it. We’re just focused on one game at a time. We know if we handle our business, we will like where we are at,” Reavis said.

The Alouettes have struggled without starting quarterback Davis Alexander, going 1-7 in games without him at the helm. He will once again miss this game as he deals with a hamstring injury, but veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson (elbow) has been taken off the six-game injured list and will start this week.

While the Alouettes have been on the losing end of games, Riders quarterback Trevor Harris believes both teams are dangerous.

“This is pro football, and we know that and they know that. If you don’t bring your A-game every week, you will get punished for it,” he said.

“This league has a lot of parity, so the difference lies a lot in your culture and what kind of team are you each and every week, play-in and play-out. That’s what we rest our backbone on — we are bringing it every week and we are trying to improve every week.”

Harris and the Riders’ offence have been among the CFL’s best this season. A big part of that has been the play of Harris, who at 39 years old is having one of his best seasons as a quarterback. He has thrown for 3,153 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Another key to the offence has been the play of second-year wide receiver Dohnte Meyers, who leads the team with six touchdowns.

“Our goals are attached to the end of the season. To finish the home stretch and be where we want to be, that’s the goal. It starts now,” Meyers said.

The Alouettes’ defence will look a bit different this week as defensive linemen Shawn Lemon and Shawn Oakman both won’t play in this game due to injury.

In the lineup for Montreal for this contest will be safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy, who injured his shoulder in the team’s first game between these two — a 34-6 Riders’ win in Montreal.

“(He’s) very, very fast, and he’s instinctual. He’s one of the better safeties in the league,” Harris said. “During that 60 minutes, we’re doing what we can do to win the game. He poses problems, but so do all their defensive players. If we’re not prepared for all of them, this is a defence that can hurt you.”

On the Riders’ defensive side, some changes could be on the way. Both defensive backs, Marcus Sayles and Tevaughn Campbell, were listed as game-time decisions for the contest. With both absent from practice during the week, Kerfalla Exume and Benny Sapp III were taking snaps at those spots.

Linebacker A.J. Allen said communication between the defence is always important, no matter if there are new faces out there or not.

“It’s going to be extremely important to be able to talk to each other and play off each other and work with each other to have a good football game,” Allen said. “I’ve been saying attention to detail is what wins you football games.”

The Riders’ defence has been stout all season long. The club leads the CFL when it comes to rushing yards given up per game (75.3), sacks (34) and interceptions (18).

“It should be more (interceptions) because I have dropped like four of them this year. Sorry Rider Nation, we should have more picks this season,” Reavis said. “It’s all about the ball. The ball is the main thing in football and I think we focus on that a lot and it shows on our play for sure.”