The Stampeders will look for an encore performance on the O and D lines when they meet the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday at McMahon Stadium for a Battle of the Prairies.
The last time these two teams went head-to-head the Red and White dominated on both sides of the ball, registering three sacks and allowing just one, while also holding the Riders to 16 yards rushing on nine carries on their way to a 24-10 victory.
Stamps offensive tackle Joshua Coker says he really felt they were the better team in their first matchup all over the field.
“The game of football is won in the trenches,” he explained. “I think we did a great job of playing together and finishing the game. We had some hiccups here and there, but we did a really good job of playing with our pads and finishing the game.
“When you finish the game, it works out in football, if you go all the way to the end and have 100% effort.”
Interior defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings had one of the three sacks in the first meeting and is ready to face a Riders team that will be looking for revenge.
“They are a physical group,” he said. “They work well together and I’m excited for the opportunity to play them again this week.”
The Stamps and Riders enter Week 12 tied for first in the CFL, surrendering only 11 sacks each all season. Coker says his group prides itself on keeping Vernon Adams Jr. off the turf and will look to do more of the same on Saturday.
“It’s all about keeping the quarterback clean,” said Coker. “We want his jersey to be as clean as possible when the game is over. We started off this season slow, but we’re showing that we are the best offensive line in the CFL.
“As long as we play together, we are going we will be OK.”
Nothing passes Jaylon Hutchings! SACK ALERT!#CFLGameday
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The Riders use their run game early to set up the pass when they have the most success, Hutchings says it will be important to try and take away the run.
“Our main thing is making them one dimensional,” he said. “If we can stop the run game and make them one dimensional, it will help us out a lot. First thing’s first is stopping the run and we will go from there.”
As for the Stampeders, Coker says they want to establish a run early, but maintain balance on offence.
“I think establishing a run game is great,” said Coker. “In football when you have a good balanced attack, when you can stay ahead of the sticks, when you can keep getting first downs on the ground it makes a big difference.
“Obviously that isn’t going to be all we do, but it’s going to be important to have a consistent run game and average five to seven yards per carry that would be a good sign for us to be successful.”
