Riders quarterback Darian Durant and running back Wes Cates need to have big games in order to beat the visiting B.C. Lions on Saturday. The Lions' defence stuffed the Riders' air and ground attacks during the clubs first three meetings this season.
Photograph by: Nick Procaylo, The Province files
Photograph by: Nick Procaylo, The Province files
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders are hoping that the past isn't an indication of what might be in store for them Saturday against the B.C. Lions.
The Lions roll into Saturday's West Division battle at sold-out Mosaic Stadium (3:30 p.m., CKRM, TSN) having won two of their last three games against the Roughriders. B.C. has done that with a suffocating run defence, which in three games held the Riders to a total of 202 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Riders quarterback Darian Durant was limited to 742 passing yards while completing 46 of 80 pass attempts. The Lions also forced Durant into seven interceptions and allowed only three touchdown passes over that span. Against the other six CFL teams, Durant is 234-for-380 for 2,928 yards, 17 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions.
"I wish I could pinpoint what they do but I don't dwell on it,'' Durant said Friday after the Riders completed their walk-through at Mosaic Stadium. "I try to keep moving forward and make the most of (Saturday). I'm not really focused on what they did to me in the past.''
The Lions sound like they don't want anything to do with a change. A 19-16 victory over the Roughriders on Oct. 2 at BC Place sparked the Lions. The win launched B.C. on a three-game wining streak and the Lions head into today's showdown at 8-7-0, a point behind the first-place Riders (8-6-1).
"We're motivated,'' Lions middle linebacker JuJuan Armour said Friday. "We're motivated by it being a West Division game and by it being an opportunity to move into the playoffs as a No. 1. We're playing for a lot of things and all of those goals that we have in mind are an arm's reach away. We want a Grey Cup ring and we know to do that we have to win out.''
The Riders know that by winning their remaining three games they could finish first in the West Division for the first time since 1976. There are also more immediate concerns that would be taken care of with a victory over the Lions.
"We need this,'' said Riders running back Wes Cates. "If you go back to last year, we're 1-3 (including a 33-12 loss in the 2008 West Division semifinal) in our last four meetings with B.C. We have to turn the tables on them and this is perfect setting to do that.''
The Riders also feel that establishing a running game would go a long way in helping them overcome the Lions. Despite B.C.'s success in stopping the Riders' run, the Lions are last in the league in total rushing yards allowed (1,978) and have surrendered a league-high 131.9 yards per game.
"I put some of the onus on myself,'' said Cates, who has 22 carries for 70 yards in two starts against the Lions. "I want to do the best job that I can do to help us be successful in the rushing game because that's what I'm a major part of. I take it personally.''
Cates will have to accomplish that against an inspired Lions' defence.
"We've done an outstanding job in stopping Wes Cates,'' said Armour. "We've played outstanding defence and we haven't allowed them 100 rushing yards in a game. That's our goal for the remainder of the season and I don't see it being a task that we can't do.''
Durant feels that the Riders are prepared if the Lions continue to shut down Cates.
"We want to let Wes dictate what the defence does every game,'' said Durant. "We have some other wrinkles that we can throw at them if Wes can't get off.''
"We want to let Wes dictate what the defence does every game,'' said Durant. "We have some other wrinkles that we can throw at them if Wes can't get off.''
Armour said the Lions have a response for whatever the Riders' offence does throw at them.
"We have the best group of defensive backs in the league,'' said Armour. "We can play man coverage and not be scared to do so. That gives our linebackers and the defensive line an opportunity to stop the run and be aggressive. As long we can stop the run, we can make teams be one dimensional and that's what we want with our DBs.''
"We have the best group of defensive backs in the league,'' said Armour. "We can play man coverage and not be scared to do so. That gives our linebackers and the defensive line an opportunity to stop the run and be aggressive. As long we can stop the run, we can make teams be one dimensional and that's what we want with our DBs.''
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