1:31 p.m.
Come on. Sexton has another great return all the way up to midfield and another holding penalty drags it all the way back to the Riders 25. Again, that's been a problem all season.
1:28 p.m.
Baldonado comes off the edge and gets a sack for a five-yard loss and one play later the incompletion has the Elks punting from their own 35.
1:26 p.m.
Okay, that's awful. Leake is stuffed in the backfield, but breaks a tackle and then another and another and another for the first down. Was a problem all through the losing streak, can't be letting that consistently happen.
1:23 p.m.
Short run and a sack for a loss of four yards and Saskatchewan goes two-and-out. The punt is a good one and Edmonton starts their next drive on their own 18. 8:08 to play in the first quarter.
1:19 p.m.
Sexton has a solid return to get up to the Riders 50 but a holding penalty pushes them all the way back to their 28.
1:17 p.m.
Touchdown Edmonton. Snyder gets to the outside and finds a hole and gets over the line. Nine plays, 55 yards, the convert is missed wide right, 6-0 Edmonton with 9:53 to play in the first quarter.
1:15 p.m.
Sayles nearly has an interception on second down, but a misconduct penalty continues the drive at the Riders one.
1:14 p.m.
Edmonton nickel and diming their way down the field, getting short second downs and are into the Riders red zone at the Saskatchewan 11.
1:10 p.m.
Nine-yard run by Powell and Edmonton is into Saskatchewan territory at the 51.
1:08 p.m.
Leake has a nice return on the kickoff up to the Edmonton 50. Lauther gets knicked making the tackle, but he walks off no problem.
1:06 p.m.
Coin toss is in the books, Edmonton will get the ball first to start the game. Kick off is moments away!
1:01 p.m.
Riders open things up with a tribute to the four soldiers killed and the many injured in the accident at CFB Wainwright. That included a fly over by a pair of Tutors from 15 Wing Moose Jaw, including the missing-man formation. Nice touch, guys!
12:55 p.m.
Here are Luc's Three Keys to the Game:
1 – Can’t turn the ball over today. Edmonton is plus 25 in that category, so can’t give the ball away to a team that’s very good at taking the ball away.
2 – Have to win the second down. These two teams are the best in the league at stopping second down, so win that battle and force the Elks to give the ball back as much as possible.
3 – Have to own field position. Let’s see Mathew Sexton get some big returns, give the offence short fields and pin the Elks deep.
11:02 a.m.
The Riders have had luck with the weather almost all season, but today, my oh my. Not only is it going to be cool out with a temperature of around 4 C at kickoff, it’s going to be an absolute wind tunnel with a steady blow of 60 km/h out of the west and gusts hitting 90 km/h.
Ever stuck your hand out of a car window going highways speeds? That’s what the quarterbacks and kickers will be dealing with at points today.
But at least it isn’t going to rain!
11:01 a.m.
The Rider Broadcast Network pregame show is on the air, with Teagan Witko and Wes Cates joined by plenty of special guests and setting everyone up for the contest. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder will then have the game call at kickoff at 1 p.m. from Mosaic Stadium.
11 a.m.
After weeks of worry and concern over the Saskatchewan Roughriders playoff hopes, it’s finally come down to this — a virtually meaningless game between two teams destined for the postseason, and also a chance for Riders fans to relax and enjoy a game without a ton of pressure surrounding the team.
It’ll be the third meeting of the season between Saskatchewan at the Edmonton Elks, with the visitors having won both previous meetings. Edmonton prevailed 36-24 back in Week 8 at Mosaic Stadium, Saskatchewan got their revenge with a 28-26 victory the following week at Commonwealth Stadium.
Neither team’s roster will look even remotely close to what was on the field in those two games this afternoon.
Saskatchewan will give quarterback Jack Coan his first CFL start, while running back A.J. Ouellette, receiver KeeSean Johnson, defensive end James Vaughters, offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick and defensive back DaMarcus Fields — all key contributors to the Riders success — will be on the sidelines.
A player to watch for the Riders will be running back Deon Jackson, who saw some success in the NFL a couple of seasons ago and will be making his first CFL start as well.
As for the Elks, hoo boy.
The West Division regular season champs will be resting more than a dozen starters on Saturday afternoon, beginning at quarterback where Taylor Powell will get his first start with the Elks. Standout running back Justin Rankin and receiver Austin Mack are two of the offensive players sitting out, while receiver Kaion Julien-Grant will see limited reps as a back-up.
Defensive ends Malik Carney and Noah Taylor highlight no less than eight defensive starters sitting out.
So this one will essentially be a battle of the back-ups, but there is something on the line for the Riders, at least.
Should Saskatchewan win, they’ll stay in the West Division and face the B.C. Lions in the semifinal next weekend. A loss and they’re off to Toronto to take on the Argonauts in the cross-over East semifinal.
Going to be a curious contest, but one everyone can relax and have fun watching at the same time!
Saskatchewan’s depth chart:
Edmonton’s depth chart:
