Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-4-0)
at B.C. Lions (3-5-0)
Saturday, 8 p.m., BC Place
CKRM, TSN
THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for a 60-per-cent chance of showers and a high of 19 C during the day, and a cloudy evening with a low of 13 C. Inside the dome, it’ll be dry and somewhere around 21 C.
THE LOWDOWN: The Roughriders and Lions are to meet for the first time this season. Saskatchewan is coming off a 40-27 victory over the visiting Calgary Stampeders on Sunday, while B.C.’s previous game was a 24-23 loss to the host Toronto Argonauts on Saturday … Saskatchewan has lost four straight regular-season games in Vancouver. The Roughriders’ last victory on the West Coast was a 20-16 decision over the Lions on Aug. 24, 2014 … B.C. is 3-0-0 at home this season, but 0-5-0 on the road … Saskatchewan is 1-7-0 in its past eight games against B.C.
THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: Quarterback Zach Collaros goes into his fourth start of the regular season riding the momentum of a solid performance against Calgary. Collaros was 25-for-34 passing for 270 yards versus the Stampeders and threw a season-high three completions of at least 30 yards. His completion percentage for the season of 67.0 was the third-highest such number among CFL starters entering the week and his 44-per-cent success rate on pass attempts of 20 or more yards was second-best. Even so, the Roughriders still went into the week ranked ninth in the league with five touchdown passes … Collaros’ success of late can be attributed in part to the Roughriders’ offensive line, which hasn’t allowed a sack in the past two games and just one sack over the past four contests. The unit this week is to comprise Dan Clark at centre, Dariusz Bladek and Brendon LaBatte at guard, and Thaddeus Coleman and Takoby Cofield at tackle … Marcus Thigpen suffered an injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game and has been placed on the one-game injured list. He’ll be replaced by Cameron Marshall, who joins Tre Mason in the rotation … Starting slotback Caleb Holley injured a leg against Calgary, so Kyran Moore comes off the practice roster to take Holley’s roster spot. Moore, Devon Bailey and newly acquired Brian Jones could get playing time in Holley’s absence … The rest of the starting receiving corps remains the same, with Shaq Evans, Naaman Roosevelt, Josh Stanford and Jordan Williams-Lambert. Rob Bagg also is on the 46-man roster as a backup … The Roughriders’ defence went into the week ranked third in the league with 21 sacks, 11 of which belong to defensive end Charleston Hughes. Willie Jefferson is next among Saskatchewan defenders with four quarterback takedowns … Mic’hael Brooks and Zack Evans are the other starters on the D-line, with Tobi Antigha, Chad Geter, Jordan Reaves and Eddie Steele providing backup … Strong-side linebacker Matt Elam had five tackles and two sacks against Calgary, displaying the talents that made him a first-round NFL draft pick. He’ll be joined again in the starting linebacking crew by Sam Hurl and Sam Eguavoen … The secondary comprises Jovon Johnson and Nick Marshall as the corners, Ed Gainey and Loucheiz Purifoy as the halfbacks and Mike Edem at safety. Crezdon Butler is the sixth man … Marshall recorded his second interception and second pick-six of the season against Calgary. He also added a three-yard TD run out of the Wildcat formation … Brett Lauther went 6-for-6 on field-goal tries against the Stampeders, giving him a streak of 14 straight successful kicks. He’s 25-for-27 on the season, including 16-for-17 from inside 40 yards, 9-for-10 from 40 to 49 yards and 2-for-2 from 50 yards or beyond … Punter Josh Bartel, long-snapper Jorgen Hus and returner Christion Jones are the Roughriders’ other specialists.
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