Riders Ready To Go For Stamps

There won't need to be much said in either locker room before Saturday's meeting between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.

The two teams come in with an even 1-1 record against each other, they've both scored 63 points against each and first place in the West Division could be on the line in the game depending what happens in the final week of the season.

“With the veteran team that we have, we know what's at stake, a lot of guys who have been on the other end of that rivalry know what's at stake,” said quarterback Darian Durant on Thursday before the team headed west to Calgary. “There's not much that needs to be said, both teams are going to come out ready to play.”

“I don't have to build up the hype, it's not one where we have to pin up stuff about Calgary,” added head coach Corey Chamblin. “We know exactly who Calgary is and they know exactly who we are. Once we get on that field, it's going to be two teams that are going to play some good football.”

The game will feature arguably the league's two best teams as they come in with the two best records in the CFL. Calgary sits first in the West Division at 13-3 and the Riders are just four points behind at 11-5.

“This game is a benchmark,” said Chamblin. “It's going to be two top teams, two top rushers, two top sackers, two top offences, two top defences and that's going to be the benchmark to say this where we are and this what we have to do going into the playoffs.”

Three weeks ago, it looked like this game would be just another Calgary-Saskatchewan as the Riders struggled through a four-game losing streak, but since then they've put together three straight wins and gotten themselves back into the race for the West Division title.

“Everyone is well aware of what's at stake, everyone knows what it's like to go out there and play, we know it's going to be a great game and we're looking forward to going out there and having some fun,” said Durant.

The Riders need a win in this game to keep their hopes of hosting the West Final alive. They'll also need some help out of BC next week and a win over the Edmonton Eskimos.

Throughout this week leading up to the game, the talk has been about each team's running back going against each other with Kory Sheets going head-to-head with Jon Cornish. They're 1-2 in the league in rushing and have each made an impact in the first two games of the series this season.

Sheets ran for 133 yards in each of the two games and picked up a touchdown in the Riders' 36-21 win in the first game. Cornish was held in check by the Riders defence in the first meeting, rushing for just 42 yards, but he exploded in the second game for 175 yards and four touchdowns to carry Calgary to a 42-27 win.

Stopping Cornish will be key for the Riders to get the win, but all areas will need to be going against a very skilled Stampeders team.

“It's going to be a total team effort, that's one part of it, but the defensive line has to step in there, the secondaries, the receivers, the quarterbacks,” said Chamblin. “It's going to be which team comes out of this thing with the right mindset all the way through.”

With a lot of the focus on the run game for both teams it may come down to which team can execute the most, or come up with the big play, passing the ball that's going to win.

“We both are going to get a couple opportunities in the pass the game to change the game and the thing is you have to take advantage of that,” said Durant, who's leading the league in passing touchdowns with 30. “Kevin Glenn is a veteran and he knows that, I've been playing a while and know that too, so when those opportunities come we have to take advantage.”

The game will no doubt be playoffs come early for both teams with the intensity level high on both sidelines and in the stadium. Durant said that's what makes the game fun.

“Each and every, since I've been in the league, it's always come down to us and Calgary, so I wouldn't have it any other way, I love playing against those guys, I love the support we have out there and it's always fun,” he said.

The Riders and Stampeders will kickoff from McMahon Stadium on Saturday night at 5:00pm.