The chill in the air gives Trevor Harris a warm feeling.
There’s just something about the CFL playoffs and the accompanying anticipation.
“It’s awesome,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback said. “Bonus football.
“Sometimes you don’t get the opportunity to do this. It’s really fun that we get to get out here and tee it up this week.
“We need the old Rider Nation to come out loud and proud this week.
“Rider Nation, we need you all. Let’s go.”
Home-field advantage could be a formidable force during Saturday’s West Division semi-final against the B.C. Lions (4:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium). Tickets are available HERE.
“Anytime it’s playoffs, it’s game face on — do or die,” running back A.J. Ouellette stated.
The prevalence of game faces in November, when sudden-elimination games are the rule, does not mean a complete makeover is warranted.
“Mistakes are heightened here and achievements are also heightened, but I’m personally a guy who tries to keep it all the same,” linebacker A.J. Allen, whose 22 special teams tackles tied him for the league lead, said after Tuesday’s practice.
“A game’s just a game. I’m not trying to make mistakes regardless of whether it’s in the regular season or in the playoffs.
“That being said, I do think everything is heightened, because this could be the last (game).”
It is a sobering, yet motivating, thought at a time of year that is not always easy on the central nervous system.
“A lot of times when you exist in the past or the future, you start having those anxieties: ‘Is this the last one?’ ” Harris said after the Roughriders’ first practice of the week.
“Just remain present. Just do the best you can for today. Have a great Day 1.
“I’m going to go in there and watch film (after practice) and have a great meeting with the receivers and coaches.
“I’ll be crushing film and trying to be great in the moment. Tomorrow, I’m going to come out here and do my best and have a great Day 2.”
SOLELY IN SASKATCHEWAN
The Roughriders and Lions have met six times in a sudden-elimination West semi-final.
Each of those games has been played in Saskatchewan.
Nov. 11, 1973: 33-13, Roughriders. George Reed rushed for 133 yards. Steve Molnar ran for two short TDs.
Nov. 10, 1974: 24-14, Roughriders. Ron Lancaster threw TD passes to Rhett Dawson and Bob Pearce.
Nov. 13, 1988: 42-18, Lions. B.C.’s Tony Cherry rushed for 184 yards and three TDs.
Nov. 8, 2008: 33-12, Lions. B.C.’s Stefan Logan ran for 153 yards.
Nov. 14, 2010: 41-38, Roughriders. Jason Clermont caught a game-winning, 24-yard TD pass in overtime.
Nov. 10, 2013: 29-25, Roughriders. Darian Durant rushed for 76 of his game-high 97 yards as the Roughriders rallied from a 25-16 fourth-quarter deficit.
The teams first met in the playoffs in 1963, when B.C. won a best-of-three Western Conference final that went the distance. The deciding game was played on Nov. 23, 1963, one day after U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Vancouver has been the site of three subsequent West finals. The Lions won in 2004 and 2006. Saskatchewan advanced to the 2007 Grey Cup Game by winning 26-17 in B.C.
PLAYOFF PERSPECTIVE
Corey Mace has been a part of a Grey Cup championship team as a player (with the 2014 Calgary Stampeders), defensive line coach (Calgary, 2018) and defensive co-ordinator (Toronto Argonauts, 2022).
With that in mind, Mace — now the Roughriders’ head coach — was asked if there was a commonality between the three title-winning teams.
“Just ultimate belief in each other and that everybody’s going to do their job and be the best at what they do,” he responded.
“We always preach ‘be selfish about being selfless’ and focus on being the best at your job — knowing that the man next to you is doing the same. As a collective, that puts us in the best possible situation to win games.
“Ultimately, the belief is the one mainstay between all those teams. Everybody understood that everybody was there to get the job done.”
