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August 12, 2016

Stamps visit Riders in Week 8

Tory Harrison celebrates a TD at Saskatchewan on Aug. 22, 2015 (Photo by Canadian Press/Derek Mortensen)

On Saturday night, the Calgary Stampeders will be looking to earn back-to-back wins over the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the Red and White pay a visit to Regina’s Mosaic Stadium. The action gets under way at 5 p.m. MDT.

After last week’s 35-15 victory at McMahon, the Stamps find themselves atop the West Division with a 4-1-1 record. The Roughriders loss handed Saskatchewan yet another defeat as their 1-5 mark finds them in fifth and final position among Western teams.

The Stampeders are 1-1-1 away from home while Saskatchewan is 1-2 playing in front of the Riders faithful.

This week’s battle will mark Calgary’s final trip to Mosaic with a brand-new facility slated to open in Regina in time for the 2017 season. The Stampeders have posted a 6-4 record in their last 10 road games against the Riders including two straight triumphs by seven or fewer points.

Calgary can also secure the season-series with the Roughriders — a feat they have already accomplished against Winnipeg — and will look to clinch over the Lions when the two teams tangle next Friday.

The last time the Stampeders failed to earn at least a season-split with the Riders was in 2009 when the Stamps suffered two losses and settled for one tie.

When hosting the Roughriders in Week 7, the Stamps outscored their opposition 16-0 in the final frame. The home side produced a 100-yard receiver (Marquay McDaniel) and a 100-yard rusher (Jerome Messam) as well as three quarterback sacks and five made field goals in five tries from Rene Paredes.

Fifth-year quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has totaled at least 300 yards passing in five straight contests and tossed a touchdown in 21 straight regular-season starts. The streak dates all the way back to a July 3, 2015, loss in Montreal. As for this year, Mitchell leads the CFL with 12 scores through the air.

In addition, the all-star pivot is undefeated in three career encounters with Saskatchewan.

Look for reserve running back Tory Harrison to be made available on Saturday evening after a one-game absence for the Southern Mississippi alumnus. Likewise, after starting at centre in the season-opener, Roman Grozman will draw into the lineup for the recently injured Cam Thorn. Rookie defensive back Shaquille Richardson may also see action for the first time as he’s been added to the 46-man roster.

Key Matchup     

The Week 8 showdown will feature the two sides with the fewest interceptions thrown in the league thus far. The Roughriders have coughed up just one pick on the season while Calgary has been intercepted on three occasions. Whichever defence is able to force a turnover in the passing game may just provide the spark needed to down their arch-rival.

Download Stamps’ position chart & roster

Download game notes                                                                                          

Comparative team stats (through Week 7)

Offence Cgy. Rank Ssk. Rank
Points per game 32.0 1st 21.3 8th
First downs 143 4th 114 9th
Total yards per game 397.5 3rd 335.5 7th
Pass yards per game 316.0 4th 298.3 7th
Rush yards per game 101.2 1st 57.2 8th
Sacks allowed 8 1st 12 3rd
Giveaways 9 1st 14 4th
Defence Cgy. Rank Ssk. Rank
Points allowed per game 23.7 3rd 35.7 9th
Total yards per game 377.8 6th 401.8 7th
Pass yards per game  328.3 7th 319.2 6th
Rush yards per game 68.2 5th 98.2 8th
Sacks 14 6th 8 9th
Takeaways 15 2nd 8 9th