Riders look to solve red-zone woes against Stamps

Saskatchewan Roughriders are wary of dropping their red zone efficiency ahead of Friday’s game against the Calgary Stampeders. The Riders have struggled in the red zone recently, scoring touchdowns on 28 of 39 possessions, a 72 per cent success rate, in their first 10 contests this season. However, over the past four games, they have only scored on nine of 15 trips to the red zone, reducing that rate to 60 per cent. Last week, they missed four red zone possessions in a 31-24 defeat to the B.C. Lions.

Quarterback Trevor Harris remains confident in the team’s abilities in that area. “It’s about us just executing,” said Harris. “If you look at last week, we had a (goal post upright), had an unsuccessful run play, and then Tommy Stevens got stopped on a third and one. It’s just about us going out and executing. I think we’re in the right spot, but I don’t think it’s time to push the panic button.”

The Riders are currently tied with the B.C. Lions at 8-6 in the West Division standings. A win over Calgary would secure a playoff spot for the Riders.

Head coach Corey Mace emphasized the importance of the game, stating, “We know it’s at stake, and we’re at home with the ability to do that.” Calgary, on the other hand, sits last in the West, with head coach/GM Dave Dickenson urging his team to focus on each game individually. “We have our destiny in our hands, I guess, but we’re just trying to win a game,” said Dickenson. The Stampeders have won six straight regular-season games in Regina, a record that matches their longest winning streak in the city, from 1947 to 1949.