Saskatchewan (2-0) is hoping to build off a last-second 33-30 victory over Hamilton (0-2) last Sunday
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The Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to play their first home game of the season on Sunday night.
After starting the 2024 CFL season with back-to-back road victories, the 2-0 Roughriders will host the 0-2 Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday (5 p.m., TSN) in a rematch of last Sunday’s game, which saw Saskatchewan win 33-30 on a last-second field goal in Hamilton.
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“It’s fun,” Riders’ quarterback Trevor Harris said of the rematch. “Last week was one of those things where we stole the game late and I know they’re heated.
“But if you think we’re not ticked off about the way we played, you’re dead wrong.”
While Saskatchewan ultimately won the game, the Riders scored just one touchdown on eight possessions in the first half, before breaking out for 26 points in the second half.
“We’re not sitting here putting our hands back over our head and our feet up on the desk saying we’re 2-0, we’re in attack mode — we have to be,” added Harris, who threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns in the win. “If not, they’re going to come in and beat us because we know how well they’re coached.”
Sceviour starts
With left guard Philip Blake (thigh) heading to the six-game injured list, Ryan Sceviour will move from sixth man into the starting lineup.
But for Sceviour — who played 83 games with the Calgary Stampeders before signing in Saskatchewan this off-season — preparing to start is nothing new.
“It allows me to dial in on my spot a little bit more,” said Sceviour. “I don’t have to prepare for three, four, five different spots.
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“But with the preparation comes a lot more focus and you’ve got to be a lot more dialed in on certain things.”
While it will be the 28-year-old Sceviour’s first start in green and white, he played a significant amount of time in Week 1 after left guard Logan Ferland was ejected and again in Week 2 after Blake went down.
Plus, the 2022 West Division all-star is already familiar with Riders’ offensive coordinator Marc Mueller, who also came over from Calgary this off-season.
“Being on the same page as everybody on the offence I think is obviously important,” said Sceviour. “And just knowing Marc’s philosophy; what’s he about and what he wants to do was honestly a big drawing point of me coming here in the first place.”
Zack Fry will be the sixth offensive lineman this week.
Run game woes
While Saskatchewan had had success through the air with Harris passing for 695 yards in two games, the Riders haven’t been able to generate much along the ground.
Running back A.J. Ouellette — who was a prized free agent signing this off-season — had 11 carries for 32 yards in Week 2 after putting up 32 yards on 18 carries in Week 1.
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However, Harris isn’t concerned about the lack of production along the ground just yet.
“We’re going to get the run game going,” said Harris. “There’s no question about that.
“It’s a point of emphasis for us; it always will be because if we don’t have that, we’re not going to be our maximum selves.”
On the other side, the Riders run game defence has been strong as they held Edmonton to 39 rushing yards in Week 1 while only giving up 30 yards to Hamilton.
Discipline measures
After taking six penalties for 84 yards in Week 1 and another 11 penalties for 115 yards in Week 2, discipline has been something Riders’ head coach Mace has had to address to his team several times already.
The head coach says new accountably measures have been put in place with the hopes that the trend stops. Now, it’s up to the players to step up.
“It’s the dead horse,” said Mace. “But the thing keeps getting up and riding unfortunately.
“We’ve implemented something in house but again that’s the mental aspect.
“It’s really just going to be on them on game day if they execute.”
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