ROBSERVATIONS: Western Final will be a "heavyweight fight" … calm before the storm … Riders-Bombers playoff records … Dave Thomas sets the bar
11/09/2024 10:55 AM
WINNIPEG — TV or not TV? That isn't the question.
"If you don't tune in (today) and you're a CFL fan, I think your pulse is gone," Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris said leading up to Saturday's CFL Western Final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5:30 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
"It's going to be a heavyweight fight. We're going to bring our energy as a team and we know their fans are going to be behind them. It's going to be loud, chaotic, but I'm ready.
"I feel like we're ready for this. Let's go."
There is an unmistakeable air of anticipation as the Roughriders and Blue Bombers prepare to collide in the playoffs for the fourth time in a span of six seasons.
Yes, there are words to be dutifully uttered during pre-game media obligations but, honestly, what is left to be said?
After nearly a week of buildup, following three hard-fought regular-season meetings between long-time arch-rivals, the mindset is generally (perhaps universally) of the let's-get-down-to-business variety.
"I'm just ready to play," Harris said. "Enough talking about it."
The Blue Bombers tend to be the talk of the West Division at this time of year.
Not since 2018 has a team other than Winnipeg represented the West in a Grey Cup.
The Roughriders aspire to upset the balance of power. Yet, the Blue Bombers are also hoping for change.
"I don't think they need extra motivation," Harris said. "They've been to the Grey Cup the last two times and haven't won it.
"So I think their mindset is they want to get back there and win it, and they can't win the Grey Cup unless they win (the Western Final).
"Shoot, we're about as hungry as you can get as a team. We're as locked-in and focused as you can get."
That approach has helped Saskatchewan win the last six games that have either had a bearing on the standings or the team's playoff path.
The Roughriders' roll began after a down-to-the-wire, 26-21 loss in Winnipeg on Sept. 7. That defeat, which extended the Roughriders' winless streak to seven games (0-6-1), left them with a 5-7-1 slate.
"It's frustrating, the little run we're on — the bad run we're on," Harris lamented after the Labour Day Rematch.
"It's just a matter of whenever we can break that, I know it'll be a waterfall of great things happening."
Corey Mace's confidence was also unwavering after a second straight nailbiter against Winnipeg.
"I want this so bad for these guys," the Roughriders' first-year head coach said. "Everybody works their tails off. I think they deserve better, but we've got to earn that. We can't just say we deserve it."
The publication of that quote on Riderville.com two months ago was prompted the following editorialization from yours truly: "At this point, what is there to say?"
Sort of like today. Let's play.
"ROAD TRIP/BUSINESS TRIP"
In many ways, this looks like a typical road trip for the Roughriders.
But for the first time under Coach Mace, the Roughriders must win in hostile territory to extend their season.
Here's the thing, though: The surroundings did not look even remotely forbidding when the Roughriders visited Princess Auto Stadium on Friday to conduct media interviews.
"Calm before the storm," Mace said. "You come in here and you see it's empty and you just know and anticipate what it's going to sound like tomorrow.
"But it doesn't change. We are on a road trip and we look to go 1-and-0. That's the mental makeup for everybody.
"We don't want to make it bigger than it is, but we all know what's at stake. You've got to go 1-and-0 or you're going home.
"Road trip/business trip."
Harris also noticed the pronounced contrast between Friday's visit and Saturday's anticipated decibel count.
"You just think about the chaotic times in terms of the crowd going crazy and screaming, while I'm in the huddle looking at my wristband," he said.
"The chaos around us isn't going to make us chaotic. It's about us just existing in that moment, being calm, and kind of being the eye of the storm."
QUIRKY FACTS
Each team's longest run in the Roughriders-Bombers playoff history took place in the same game.
The same quarter, in fact.
At 6:40 of the third quarter on Nov. 16, 1966, Winnipeg's Dave Raimey took off on a 54-yard scoring sprint.
He was soon one-upped by Saskatchewan's speedy Ed Buchanan, who scored on a 73-yard run with 34 seconds remaining in the third frame.
Raimey also boasts the Bombers' longest reception against Saskatchewan in playoff action. He collaborated with Ken Ploen on a 90-yard scoring strike on Nov. 7, 1965.
The Roughriders' longest post-season completion against Winnipeg: Frank Tripucka to Ken Carpenter for a 75-yard TD on Nov. 3, 1956.
Some other Roughriders/Bombers single-game playoff standards …
RUSHING YARDS
Saskatchewan: 156 — George Reed, Nov. 19, 1972.
Winnipeg: 162 — Lorne Benson, Oct. 28, 1953.
PASSING YARDS
Saskatchewan: 366 — Cody Fajardo, Nov. 17, 2019.
Winnipeg: 340 — Jack Jacobs, Oct. 30, 1954.
RECEIVING YARDS
Saskatchewan: 157 — Carpenter, Nov. 3, 1956.
Winnipeg: 93 — Darvin Adams, Nov. 17, 2019.
Yes, you read that correctly. A Winnipeg receiver has yet to post a 100-yard game in 18 playoff or Grey Cup encounters with Saskatchewan.
Raimey's 90-yarder was his only reception in the teams' 1965 matchup.
Bob LaRose scored on an 83-yard touchdown against Saskatchewan in the 1971 Western Semi-Final. In fact, both his receptions were for six points. The second one, however, was for three yards.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A.J. Ouellette, who spent his first four CFL seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, appreciates the fan support from Rider Nation as the playoffs reach a peak.
"There's just a little extra behind you," the bruising running back said on Friday. "I went to the store this week and I couldn't do my grocery shopping because I got stopped by 30 people, but it's awesome that everybody's behind us."
As a follow-up, Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun inquired as to whether the fans went so far as to pay the grocery bill.
"No," Ouellette responded with a smile. "They stopped me before I got to the checkout."
CKRMmmmmmmm, DELICIOUS!
Dave Thomas, the radio voice of the Roughriders, delivered a tasteful introduction to 620 CKRM's broadcast of the Western Semi-Final on Nov. 2.
His well-chosen words are transcribed here for your reading pleasure:
"We may be two days removed from Halloween, but the ultimate treat for today's teams has yet to be claimed — a ticket to the Final in Winnipeg.
"The Saskatchewan Roughriders' start to the season was red-hot out of the gate. However, a seven-game slide where they went Oh Henry! in the middle of the season tested the Green and White as they looked for the Caramilk secret.
"That said, the team flipped their Butterfingers through their playbooks and looked like a group of Smarties pushing the right buttons — putting all of their Reese's Pieces together and winning four or five games down the stretch.
"The test today will be if their Twix running back formation — you know, two for one — will provide more balance to an offence that has been rolling, and whether or not the defence can be like toffee, sticking to Justin McInnis, and stopping the top receiver in the game.
"The B.C. Lions looked like Mr. Big, starting the season 5-and-1, but playing with the consistency of a Mars Bar that you left on the dashboard of the truck in August has got the Lions hearing Snickers about their quarterbacking and wondering if their start was a Mirage.
"Today, they return to Vernon Adams Jr., looking to see if he can sling an Aero bar into the hearts of Rider Nation with the defence hoping to come together like the Three Musketeers, as opposed to the Three Stooges.
"One thing's for sure: The team with the highest Score gets the ultimate treat."
Dave certainly raised the bar for intros.
And now … the wrapper!
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Cooper Rennebohm, Ryan Rennebohm, Ellie Thorn, Robyn Rennebohm, Adrian Godbold, Trevor Buhnai, Herb Fung, Michael Remis, Andrew (Hustler) Paterson, Dave Thomas, Don Bahnuik, Darrell Romuld, Sorrel Steinberg, Joel Steinberg, Adam Bent, Mark Bent, Whit Bent, Barry Clarke, Bob Antymniuk, Olenka Antymniuk, Trevor Buhnai, Peter Godber and Jordan Greenly.
