The Roughriders will face the Stampeders in the West Division final.Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post filesThe Saskatchewan Roughriders will square off against a familiar foe in Sunday's West Division final at Mosaic Stadium.
The Calgary Stampeders clinched a spot in the final (3:30 p.m.) with a 24-21 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos in Sunday's West Division semifinal at McMahon Stadium. The final will be the fourth meeting of the 2009 CFL season between the Riders and Stampeders.
There is more at stake in the playoff meeting because the winner advances to the Grey Cup game in Calgary on Nov. 29.
The Riders and Stampeders last met Nov. 7 at Mosaic Stadium with first place in the West Division on the line. The Riders defeated the Stampeders 30-14 to finish first in the West Division for the first time in 33 years. Calgary and Saskatchewan tied for first place with 10-7-1 records but the Riders earned top spot based on their 2-0-1 mark in the season series.
"The playoffs are a whole other ball game,'' said Riders linebacker Mike McCullough. "The slate is wiped clean and everyone starts fresh. We haven't lost to Calgary this season but we know that they are going to come in here and play hard.''
The first two meetings between the teams were closer than the one which closed out the regular season on Nov. 7. The Riders beat Calgary 24-23 on Aug. 1 in Calgary after quarterback Darian Durant hit slotback Chris Getzlaf on a 65-yard touchdown pass with 77 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
On Oct. 17, the Riders and Stampeders played to a thrilling 44-44 overtime tie. Durant connected with slotback Andy Fantuz on a late touchdown. Durant then tied the game 30-30 in regulation when he hit Rob Bagg for a successful two-point convert.
Durant has been solid this season against Calgary. He completed 76 of 109 pass attempts for 940 yards while throwing seven touchdowns passes and an interception. Gene Makowsky, the Riders' veteran offensive tackle, said Durant accomplished that against what he feels is a very good defence.
"They are fast on defence,'' said Makowsky. "They have all kinds of looks and their coaching staff does a great job of getting them ready. They have so many checks against our formations and they do a great job of bringing pressure from where you don't expect it. We will definitely have to be mentally aware of what they do on defence.''
The Stampeders counter at quarterback with Henry Burris. In three regular-season games against the Riders, Burris completed 55 of 87 pass attempts for 730 yards. He connected on three touchdown passes and was intercepted twice. Burris, who was sacked seven times in three games, vowed after the Nov. 7 loss that Calgary would return for the West Division final.
The Stampeders also boast running back Joffrey Reynolds, the West Division's nominee for the most outstanding player of the year award. Reynolds had 43 carries for 356 yards and three touchdowns against the Riders in three games en route to leading the league with 1,504 rushing yards.
"That doesn't make any difference now,'' said McCullough. "It's all even because everyone comes in positive and confident. It's all about who is the better team on that day. Hopefully that will be us.''
The Riders were off on the weekend and are to return to practice Tuesday. Defensive end John Chick, the West Division's nominee for the most outstanding defensive player award, appreciated having the time off.
"As a player, we've already put in an 18-week season,'' said Chick. "If you count pre-season, it's even longer. It was a week of rest and it gave us that much longer to prepare for another team.''
The Riders' ticket office was closed Sunday but there are still approximately 100 single tickets remaining for the final.
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