Saskatchewan Roughriders coach Corey Mace didn’t tip his hand about lineup decisions for Saturday’s season finale against the Edmonton Elks, but he sure didn’t sound like someone ready to rest his starters.
“We’re still going into this game trying to find every possible way for us to go out there and win a game,” Mace said on Monday’s edition of the SportsCage. “It’s crucial for us to be able to head into the playoffs while still riding the high of last week and hoping to continue that as we push on the track.”
The Riders snapped a four-game losing streak with a 16-12 over the Montreal Alouettes last Saturday, a victory that clinched a CFL playoff spot in one of the divisional semifinal games.
All to be determined is where the Riders will be playing in the opening round, and on which side of the bracket. Win and they stay in the West and head to Vancouver to face the B.C. Lions. Lose and they move to the East for a matchup with the Toronto Argonauts.
“We know we’re going to be on the road,” Mace said. “We know that for us to be able to get to where we want to get to, we’re going to have to go on the road a couple of times. Then ultimately, if we earn the right to play in Calgary (in the Grey Cup), it’s not a home game for us.
“There’s a lot of work ahead of us. It’s still just the same process for us as we’re micro focused to try to find this win. It’ll open up of how we start planning as we head into the playoffs.”
There’s certainly some value to keeping the band together against the Elks even though the Riders have already qualified for the playoffs.
The win over Montreal marked the first time since July 23 that KeeSean Johnson, Kian Schaffer-Baker, and Sam Emilus – the team’s top three receivers – shared the field in the same game. The offence showed signs of rust and didn’t score its first touchdown until Johnson’s 17-yard score with 29 seconds left in regulation.
On top of that, neither quarterback Trevor Harris nor running back A.J. Ouellette was satisfied with his performance.
Harris threw for 253 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 36 yards on three carries, including the pivotal 22-yard dash before Johnson’s major. Ouellette, appearing in just his eighth game of the season, had 31 yards on seven carries. He also caught five passes for 33 yards.
“It’s just the accountability of the guys knowing that they didn't meet the standard of themselves and what they want to give to their teammates,” Mace said. “I got no problem with that. You can have great self-reflection in that. Really, it pisses them off because I know how they want to present themselves as individuals for this team. Ultimately, if they don't have the performance that they hope that they have, they feel like they’re letting people down.
“I think really, really good and great players all see that the same. How do they react? I know how they’ll react. They’re going to be working their tails off mentally and physically to make sure that they can they can present better the next time they’re on the field.”
Watch the full segment below.
