Saturday, September 29, 2012

CFL Game Day: British Columbia at Saskatchewan (September 29)

Week fourteen of the CFL season comes to an end on Saturday evening in Regina, where the Saskatchewan Roughriders will seek to derail some of the BC Lions plans of western division domination.

The Riders looking to keep within striking distance of the Stamps and Lions will be hoping to add to last weeks success, by taking down the league leading Lions, a team which is currently on a 3 game winning streak and looking very much in control of its destiny.

The Lions arrive as one of the best rounded squads in the CFL this year, punishing on defence, explosive on offence and with special teams that can change the dynamic of a game in but seconds.

The Riders on the other hand have been a bit of an enigma this year, one game looking very much like a team with a solid plan for playoff ambitions, only to have it all come crashing down the very next week.

The home crowd played a huge factor in last weeks victory over Calgary, adding to the misery that their defence provided to Jon Cornish, clearly getting under his skin.

When it wasn't the fans getting on Cornish's nerves it was the Saskatchewan defensive unit  doing the job, shutting down the Stamps and Cornish in particular, heeding the advice of head coach Cory Chamblin that jobs were on the line, they face just as hard a task Saturday as Travis Lulay and the Lions aerial circus and dominating ground game take to the field.

As if that isn't enough, the Lions defence has made it a priority all year to inflict as much punishment on opposing offensive units, big time and timely sacks or interceptions have provided for more than one turning point this season, the Lions taking pride in how their defensive units have provided for a league low 222 points against thus far.

Which brings us back to the Mosaic crowd, they could very well be the Riders most motivating factor, the knowledgeable fans of the Rider Nation truly add to the pressure points on opposing squads when they arrive at Mosaic, however when the home side falters, they aren't afraid to let them know they're disappointed.

The Riders will be hoping for a bit more of the former and a lot less of the latter when they take on the Lions to wrap the week for the CFL.

Game Time  8 PM ST, 7 PT, 10 ET Mosaic Stadium TSN

British Columbia 21 at Saskatchewan 27 (32,690)

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- After shutting down Cornish, Riders defence faces tough task against Lions
National Post-- Lions always looking forward for improvements
Vancouver Province-- You call this an off year? Travis Lulay's offence leads CFL ...
Vancouver Sun-- Coach Mike Benevides making all the right moves on the field and ...
Regina Leader Post-- Bright lights ahead for Riders

Team Backgrounders

British Columbia Lions
Saskatchewan Roughriders

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

Globe and Mail-- Roughriders hang on to beat Lions
Vancouver Province-- Lions have mild start, wild finish in Regina
Vancouver Sun-- Lions miracle finish comes up short
Regina Leader Post-- Dressler plays through pain as Riders upset Lions

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