On Saturday night as the Saskatchewan Roughriders close out on their home schedule portion of their regular season, quarterback Mason Fine is hoping his opportunity is just beginning, as he makes his first career at quarterback, as the Riders host the Calgary Stampeders.
The Riders season could be on the line on Saturday if Hamilton picks up a victory on Friday night against Ottawa.
Fine says he’s excited about the matchup with the Stamps.
“Hopefully be the best player that I can be for this team and hopefully put our offence in a great position to be successful and put some points on the board.”
It may have not been the smoothest transition of quarterbacks for the Roughriders this week with head coach Craig Dickenson delaying his announcement about the starting quarterback until the second day of practice. But despite the outside distractions, the second year quarterback says he and the Riders former starting quarterback, Cody Fajardo, have maintained a solid relationship.
“It’s a difficult circumstance and both sides me and Cody have discussed the situation openly from my perspective and from his perspective, I can see both sides. ” Fine added “He (Fajardo has been very positive and he’s been keeping up the positivity at practice.”
In 2022, Fine has appeared in four games with Saskatchewan, going 28/42, 326 yards with a two touchdowns and three interceptions.
With the North Texas product making his debut tomorrow, he is anticipating that the Stampeders will try and create a defensive scheme that will confuse the quarterback. Fine believes he’s prepared for whatever the Stampeders throw at him.
“He’s (Riders offensive coordinator Jason Maas) done a great job creating a great game plan for me and kind of my attributes, and once you get into the flow of things, figure it out.”
Just like any other member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders heading into the final two weeks of the season, Fine is unsure what the next season has in store for him, he says that the only thing he’s worried about is the game at hand.
“I am where my feet are. I’m just focusing on tomorrow, and being the best teammate I can be tomorrow.”
There are plenty of doubters about the Roughriders chances of making it in to the postseason, but the Locust Grove, Oklahoma product has been proving doubters his entire career.
“Every camp I went to, all the coaches at division one, FBS level said, you’re too small.” He added the adversity he has faced has shaped the individual that he has become. “My whole life been trying to fight for that respect.”
Fine only received one scholarship offer from North Texas, the quarterback said his offence in college is very similar to ones that are being run in the CFL.
“It’s an air raid, a very similar concept to what is here, I think a lot of the Canadian concepts are similar to the air raid especially in the quick game. ”
The forecast for Saturday’s game is anticipating some cool and wet conditions at Mosaic Stadium. Fine isn’t too concerned about what mother nature might throw at him.
“Weather is weather, you’re expected to play through it, and execute at a high level.”
Saturday’s game between the Riders and Stampeders can be heard on 620 CKRM with the pregame show at 2:00, opening kickoff at 5:00.
