OTTAWA — A rematch against their final opponent of the 2017 CFL season provided some fuel for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in their 2018 regular-season opener.
On Thursday, the Roughriders are to face a team that could have the same motivation.
Saskatchewan is to meet the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place (5:30 p.m., CKRM, TSN) in a rematch of the 2017 Eastern Semi-Final. The Roughriders beat the Redblacks 31-20 in that game, ending the season of the defending Grey Cup champions.
A week later, the Toronto Argonauts beat Saskatchewan 25-21 in the Eastern Final. The memory of that game provided a spark for the Roughriders on Friday, when they opened the 2018 regular season with a 27-19 victory over the visiting Argos.
The Redblacks had a bye in Week 1, so their first game of this season is against the team that ended their 2017 campaign.
“You always remember the last game that you played,” Roughriders centre Dan Clark said when asked about Ottawa’s potential motivation for Thursday’s game. “We came out on top of that one, so I would be surprised if they didn’thave a little chip on their shoulder about coming back and proving something.
“But it’s a new season. You’re out to prove something every game. You’re out to get better and you’re out to prove that the last game was nothing.”
The Roughriders led that game 7-0 before Ottawa took an 8-7 lead later in the first quarter. Saskatchewan then scored 21 of the next 24 points to take control of the contest.
The victory gave the Roughriders a 4-1-0 record in Ottawa since the Redblacks entered the CFL in 2014.
“Every place we go, it’s not about where we’re playing, it’s about who we’re playing,” Clark said. “It’s about being prepared and being 100-per-cent on point with everything that you’ve established.
“We know that we’re going to face some adversity (Thursday). That happens in every football game and it’s all about what you do to overcome that adversity.”
Several Roughriders said that the result of the 2017 Eastern Final wouldn’t be a factor in their rematch with the Argos. Other players said before Friday’s game that the outcome on Nov. 19 was indeed motivating them — and then they celebrated getting revenge after the victory.
This week, many of the Roughriders tried to downplay the idea that the Redblacks would be out to avenge their loss on Nov. 12.
“I wouldn’t say we’re concerned about (Ottawa’s motivation),” cornerback Jovon Johnson said. “We know that they’re a good football team, but we are as well. If we play our A game and they play theirs, I think we win.
“We compete every day versus probably one of the top receiving corps in the league, so I think we’ll be fine. It’s just a matter of limiting our mistakes, being disciplined and being able to limit our penalties.”
The Roughriders turned in a solid defensive effort against the Argos on Friday, pressuring quarterback Ricky Ray 11 times and sacking him three times.
Ottawa deploys a similar type of quarterback in Trevor Harris, one of Ray’s former backups. The Redblacks also had an extra week to devise a game plan, so that’s a red flag for the Roughriders’ defenders.
“We’re expecting some gimmicks,” said halfback Crezdon Butler. “They’ve had two weeks to prepare (for the game) and they’ve seen some game film on us, so the biggest thing for us is we’ve got to be prepared for anything.”
Saskatchewan’s offence was efficient against Toronto, with quarterback Zach Collaros completing 18 of 25 pass attempts for 203 yards and a touchdown and tailback Jerome Messam grinding out 72 yards on 21 carries.
Now the offence has to build on that performance.
“It’s a long season, but (the key to improving is) not resting on our laurels,” Collaros said. “From an offensive standpoint — I can only speak for us as a unit — it’s continuing to build that chemistry or continuity, whatever you want to call it …
“For me and the receivers, (it’s about) getting more reps together and understanding how we do certain things versus certain looks. It’s always a process. We just have to get better at it.”
The nation’s capital has been good to Roughriders punt returner Christion Jones.
In his first career game at TD Place, on Sept. 29, Jones returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown — his first career CFL major. Saskatchewan, which trailed 17-0 at the time of Jones’ return, rallied to win 18-17.
Jones then had four punt returns for 64 yards, with a long of 43, in the Roughriders’ victory in the Eastern Semi-Final.
“What happened last year won’t really play big in my performance this year,” Jones said. “I’m taking it like just another game.
“Ottawa is a great team and, to be honest, they’re not going to let me do what I did last year; that’s why I don’t think about last year. This (game) is about creating a new dynamic and new identity for the special-teams unit that we have. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
The Roughriders are trying to open the regular season with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2013, which would constitute the quick start that head coach-GM Chris Jones is after.
The fact that their second game is against the first of two teams they faced in the playoffs last season is just the luck of the draw.
“It’s just another opportunity to play an opponent other than ourselves,” Butler said. “We’ve got to be amped up for any game and, since Ottawa’s next on the schedule, we’re excited to play them.”
