Saskatchewan Roughriders Host Edmonton Eskimos
Canadian Football League Week 12 at Mosaic Stadium 2009
The Riders, who sit at 6-4 and share top spot in the West with Calgary, will be looking to stay in first after Sunday's match-up with the Eskimos (5-5). Coming off two huge victories over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, by a combined score of 84-24, the Roughriders are on a roll.
Darian Durant vs. Ricky Ray
Roughriders' quarterback Darian Durant has passed for over 2300 yards and 13 touchdowns, and is ranked fourth among CFL quarterbacks in the CFL. In his last three outings he has really stepped up his game and cemented himself as the team's starting quarterback.
Meanwhile, Eskimos' quarterback Ricky Ray and his team have struggled in recent weeks. Going into Labour Day weekend, the Eskimos were in first place, but after consecutive loses they have dropped to third in a competitive West Division. The team lost both ends of the Labour Day home-and-home with their provincial rivals in Calgary. While Ray still managed to throw for nearly 500 yards combined, the defence gave up 67 points in the loses.
Edmonton will be looking to replicate their victory earlier in the season over the Roughriders in which they erased a 22 point deficit to win 38-33 at Mosaic Stadium.
Roughriders and Eskimos Keys to the Game
The key for the Riders this time around is to play a full 60-minute outing. They have struggled in third quarters for much of the season and they can ill-afford to give Edmonton any opening if they have a lead. Edmonton recievers Fred Stamps, Maurice Mann, and Kamau Peterson are all on pace to crack 1,000 yards recieving this year, and the team has been known to score in bunches.
The Riders will have to rely on a solid running attack and a short passing game to tailback Wes Cates. Number 20 for the Riders had three touchdowns in the blowout in Winnipeg is finally returning to form after being injured at the start of the season.
Eskimo defenders will also have to pay close attention to slotbacks Andy Fantuz, who returned from a hamstring injury last week, and Weston Dressler who sits fourth in the CFL in receiving with 691 yards.
Kitwana Jones Returns to Regina
Kitwana Jones, who played for the Roughriders from 2005-2008 was traded to Edmonton in the offseason. After being cut from the team last week, Jones may make his redebut with the green Riders, and looks to exact revenge on the team that cut him.
The teams will meet again the following week for a rematch in Edmonton. Whichever team takes advantage in this home-and-home series can make huge strides at taking first place in the tight Western Division.
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