Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-4-0)
at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-6-0)
Saturday, 2 p.m., Investors Group Field
CKRM, TSN
THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for a cloudy day with a high of 22 C and winds out of the south at 20 km/h.
THE LOWDOWN: The Roughriders and Bombers are to meet in the back end of a home-and-home set. Saskatchewan took the opener, winning 31-23 in Sunday’s Labour Day Classic for its third straight victory. The loss was the third in a row for Winnipeg, which fell to 1-4-0 against West Division rivals this season … The victory in the Classic was the Roughriders’ 13th in the past 14 Labour Day meetings, but Winnipeg has won each of the last three rematches and four of the past five. That said, the Roughriders won four of the previous five Labour Day rematches.
THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: Quarterback Zach Collaros is to make his fifth straight start for the Roughriders and his seventh of the season. Collaros, who carries a 4-2-0 record as Saskatchewan’s starter into this contest, has given the offence a boost of confidence and consistency with his play. He has yet to pass for 300 yards or more in a game as a Roughrider, but the offensive play-calling has been more aggressive with him at the controls … Tailback Marcus Thigpen had a solid game on Sunday, rushing five times for 55 yards and catching two passes for 37 yards and a touchdown while splitting playing time with Tre Mason. The rotation will continue Saturday as head coach-GM Chris Jones tries to keep both backs fresh … The starting receiving corps remains the same as the previous game, with Shaq Evans, Kyran Moore, Naaman Roosevelt, Josh Stanford and Jordan Williams-Lambert manning the five positions. Rob Bagg and Brian Jones are the backups … Moore had a breakout game in the Classic, with 106 combined yards (including a 65-yard punt return for a TD), but perhaps of more importance was the play of Roosevelt. The veteran slotback set season highs in catches (seven) and receiving yards (86) … Saskatchewan’s starting offensive line comprises centre Dan Clark, guards Dariusz Bladek and Brendon LaBatte and tackles Thaddeus Coleman and Takoby Cofield. Josiah St. John is the sixth man … Mic’hael Brooks, who missed the Classic due to injury, returns to the starting defensive line alongside fellow tackle Zack Evans and ends Charleston Hughes and Willie Jefferson. Tobi Antigha, Chad Geter, Makana Henry, Curt Maggitt, Jordan Reaves and Eddie Steele are the backups … Hughes has recorded a sack in eight straight games and leads the CFL with 13 quarterback takedowns … The linebacking crew once again comprises Matt Elam and Sam Eguavoen on the outside with Sam Hurl in the middle … The rotation in the secondary continues, with Jovon Johnson returning to the roster to replace Will Blackmon. The rest of the starting group remains the same, with Nick Marshall on the other corner, Ed Gainey and Loucheiz Purifoy as the halfbacks and Mike Edem at safety. Crezdon Butler is the sixth man, while Blackmon goes on the one-game injured list … Returner Christion Jones has been placed on the six-game injured list, so Moore and Thigpen are expected to handle those duties Saturday … Kicker Brett Lauther, punter Josh Bartel and long-snapper Jorgen Hus once again will be the Roughriders’ specialists.
