The Ottawa REDBLACKS are already playing one of the most important games of their 2018 campaign when they travel to Regina to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday night. Ottawa will be looking to regain the form that saw them dismantle the Riders 40-17 in week one.
The REDBLACKS (6-5, 1st in East Division) are looking to get back into the win column after a recent tough stretch. But despite the two losses, the REDBLACKS have held held their opponents to under 27 points in each game and will look to build off those strong defensive performances.
Rick Campbell’s team also had success when they last travelled to central Canada – they beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 44-21 in one of their best performances of the season.
The Roughriders (7-4, 2nd in West) are riding a high, having won four straight contests – all against West Division foes.
STORYLINES
Ward kicking for history – If Lewis Ward converts one field goal Saturday, he will tie Paul McCallum for the third-longest streak for consecutive field goals in league history at 30. Rene Paredes holds the all-time mark with 39 straight (split between the 2012 and 2013 seasons).
Defence consistent – It has now been four straight games since Ottawa has allowed 30-or-more points. In fact, they have only given up 30-or-more once – a week eight loss to Toronto.
Powell busy – Running back William Powell is the league’s most-used running back. His 167 rushing attempts is first in the CFL – two ahead of Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris, who has played one more game than the Ottawa tailback.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
While quarterback Zach Collaros’s numbers aren’t eye-popping (he hasn’t thrown for 300 yards yet this season), Saskatchewan is 5-2 with Collaros as a starter. Additionally, one of those losses came to the REDBLACKS, when the 30-year-old only attempted ten passes before being forced from the game with an injury.
Collaros’s job has been made easy thanks to a solid offensive line, who have given up a league-low 14 sacks in 11 games.
The Riders ground game was dealt a blow when they released Jerome Messam due to off field issues in July. Tre Mason and Marcus Thigpen have seized the opportunity, and Mason had his first 100-yard rushing performance last week against the Blue Bombers.
Saskatchewan’s defence has been outstanding, with 34-year-old Charleston Hughes proving he still has some quality years left in him. The 11-year vet is by far leading the league with 13 sacks. Willie Jefferson also has six sacks to his name.
Saturday’s matchup will feature two of the league’s best kickers. Ottawa’s Lewis Ward and the ‘Riders’ Brett Lauther are the only two kickers to have converted more than 30 field goals this season, and they are also the only two specialists to have field goal percentages above 90%.
GAME INFO
Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Ottawa REDBLACKS | Week 14 – September 15, 2018
Kickoff – 9:30 p.m. EDT | Mosaic Stadium
BROADCAST INFO
TV (EN): TSN | Web: TSN.ca/LIVE / TSN GO
TV (FR): RDS
TV: (Int’l): ESPN+ | BT Sport (UK/Ireland)
Radio (EN): TSN 1200 | TSN1200.ca
Radio (Satellite): SiriusXM Canada Channel 167 (EN) and 174 (FR)
