Marquee Matchup: The battle for the final spot

TORONTO — Heading into Week 19, one playoff spot remains.

The third post-season spot in the West Division is the Roughriders or Stampeders for the taking. Saskatchewan sits in third now with a 6-10 record. Calgary is right behind them at 4-11.

Friday night’s contest at McMahon Stadium will go a long way for both teams; a win for the visitors means separation between them and the Stamps while a win for the home team means a season series victory and control of their own destiny.

If this game is anything like the previous two meetings between these two clubs, CFL fans are in for a real treat. In Week 3, the Riders won by just three points (29-26), while in Week 6 it was the Stampeders with a two-point victory (33-31).

Who comes out on top this week in the biggest game of each team’s respective seasons?

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Game Notes:

• Season Series & Season On the Line?: This game is easily the marquee game of CFL Week 19. Saskatchewan can win and clinch third place in the West, while a Calgary victory would secure the tie-breaker and pull them even in the loss column with 11. They would then have a game in hand and control their own destiny for playoffs.
• Back to October 2005: Calgary and Saskatchewan last met in a late season playoff survival game in October 2005. The Riders (8-8) met Calgary (8-7) with the season series and third place in the West on the line. Calgary won that game 29-21 and went on to finish second at 11-7. Saskatchewan dropped to 8-9 but managed to grab a cross-over spot the next week. QBs: H.Burris & M.Crandell.
• Dickenson Bowl #10: This game will be the 10th meeting between Dave and Craig Dickenson as head coaches. Their tenure in the league together dates from 2019, Craig has led the Riders to a pair of three-point wins at McMahon Stadium. They have also met once in the post-season with the Riders winning the 2021 Western Semi-Final.
• Five in a row: Saskatchewan comes into this game on a five-game losing streak. They lost seven-straight games to end the 2022 season. This game closes out their road schedule for 2023, their last away win was at Calgary on June 24, 2023.
• 2023 First Two Meetings: Each game was decided by three points or less with Saskatchewan ahead 60-59 on points. A tie would give them the season series over the Stampeders. The first two games had seven lead changes and over 1,100 passing yards combined.
• Notable From the First Two CGY-SSK Games of 2023:
  • Sacks were critical: Calgary had 11 to just one by the Riders
  • Jake Maier tossed three touchdown passes but was intercepted four times by the Riders
  • Reggie Begelton played in just one game and Ka’Deem Carey missed both
  • Dedrick Mills rushed for 199 yards on 33 carries
  • Trevor Harris was injured in the second game and has not returned since
  • Calgary won the second game despite allowing Mario Alford a CFL-record tying two punt return touchdowns
• Recent Success in Calgary: The Riders have won two of their last three and four of their last seven visits to Calgary.
• Last Week Deep Throws: The Riders attempted only two of their 29 pass attempts deeper than 17 yards downfield vs. Hamilton.
• Jake Maier: Has a 3-1 record in four starts vs Saskatchewan. Overall he is 11-16 for his career and 6-8 at McMahon Stadium. One very quirky stat for Maier: Of his 25 career interceptions, 19 have come at McMahon Stadium. Maier needs just 173 yards to reach 4,000 for the season. He leads the CFL in both attempts and completions.
• If Mason Fine Starts: If so, Fine would reach five starts in 2023. The last time that Saskatchewan had three different QBs start at least five games was in 2001 (Marvin Graves seven, Kevin Glenn six, Keith Smith five). Before that it occurred in 1983.
• Not Since 2015 Part Two: This year, the third place team in the West will have a losing record – that has not occurred since 2015 when BC ended up at 7-11 and in the final playoff spot.
• 4-11 .267: The Stampeders are at .267 thus far in 2023, their lowest winning % since a 4-14 .222 mark in 2004.
• Reggie Begelton: In just 14 games Begelton leads the CFL with 116 targets and 82 receptions. What is truly remarkable is that 31 of his 82 catches have been for clutch second down conversions, No. 1 in the CFL as well. He is Calgary’s only receiver in the CFL Top 18.
• Larry Dean: Dean needs two defensive tackles to reach 100 – two short of his third 100+ season. Only six players have ever had 100+ tackles in three seasons or more.
• Jamal Morrow: Morrow led all CFL rushers last week with 120 yards and needs 200 to reach 1,000 in 2023.

It’s anyone’s guess as to who will take this one in this week’s Pick ‘Em Marquee Matchup. Who are you siding with?

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