Inside the CFL: Harris not ready for alumni jacket, will propel Riders in playoffs

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 31, 2024.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

For veteran quarterbacks Trevor Harris and Vernon Adams Jr., the window of opportunity for Grey Cup glory is closing. Playoffs are sudden death affairs, if you lose, you’re out. You never know when you’ll get another chance.

Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris is 38. He is the CFL’s all-time leader in completion percentage and 16th in passing yardage. He won Grey Cups with Toronto in 2012, backing up Ricky Ray, and Ottawa in 2016, behind Henry Burris. He started the 2018 Cup game, for the Redblacks, losing to Calgary.

He has seven playoff starts. At 38, Harris knows his time is running out to win the Grey Cup as a starter. To do that, he has to win Saturday’s semifinal.

Adams, Jr is 31 and until last year, a career backup, “You’ll have to do until the real thing comes along.”

He has three playoff starts, no Grey Cup appearances.

Adams, Jr. will be dumped in the offseason in favour of Nathan Rourke. He is a proud competitor who wants to prove he deserves to start in the league.

The two teams clashed twice during the regular season. The Lions won at home July 13, 35-20. Adams Jr. completed 42 passes for 457 yards.

The Riders were without Harris. The main receiving target for Adams Jr. was Justin McInnis who caught 14 passes for 243 yards. The Riders’ Samuel Emilus also had a big game with 161 yards on nine receptions. Clearly the main difference in that game was the absence of Saskatchewan’s starting quarterback.

They met again Oct. 12 with second place on the line. This time the quarterbacks were Harris and Rourke

The Roughriders defanged the Lions 39-8 at Mosaic Stadium. Rourke was good on 15 of 23 throws for 200 yards, two interceptions, no TDs. In the second half he was so ineffective Coach Rick Campbell replaced him with Chase Brice in the 4th Quarter.

Harris, on the other hand, went 25 for 30, 271 yards, two majors, no interceptions in the second game. The leading receivers were the same the second time around with Justin McInnis pulling in six throws for 119 yards while Emilus had six for 94 yards.

Jereth Sterns and Kian Schafer-Baker also has big games for the green and white. McInnis ended the season as the CFL’s top receiver while Bomber Brady Oliveira won the rushing championship, the first time in CFL history Canadians led in both categories.

In terms of proficiency, the teams are pretty close. In net offence, Saskatchewan ranked third, B.C. fourth., despite Trevor Harris missing so many games.

While the Green had the better passing attack, the Lions were fourth in rushing with William Stanback, Saskatchewan fifth. This is deceptive because the injury bug hit that position as well, with A.J. Ouilette hurt most of the year. He’s back along with Thomas Bertrand-Nudon and likely recently signed Redblack badboy Ryquell Armstead who ran for 207 yards in his Sept. 20 debut in Calgary.

B.C. was fifth on the ground against the run. A key statistic, the Roughriders gave up just 75 yards rushing per game. This is largely due to their superb linebackers, C.J. Avery, Jameer Thurman, and C.J. Reavis. It will be their job to keep Adams from running wild.

The Lion receiving corps is impressive, meaning Rider pressure is essential.

Saskatchewan has a formidable front four with Anthony Lanier II, Micah Johnson, Miles Brown and Bryan Cox Jr.

Both teams made about the same number of sacks but B.C. gave up a league worst 43. The home team had the most interceptions, the visitors the fewest. The pass rush makes the secondary’s job easier. They are led by the team’s nominee for Outstanding Defensive Player, Rolan Milligan Jr.

Defensively, the Lions are led by DE Mathieu Betts, DT Jonah Taval and safety Christophe Beaulieu.

While Rick Campbell is the most experienced coach in the league, Rider Corey Mace is a rookie. But his players love the guy and will do everything to win for him.

A telling statistic: Saskatchewan had the league’s best turnover ratio, at plus-26. B.C.’s, -6. The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.

What about home field advantage?

Over the last 25 seasons, the hosts has lost nine times. Mosaic is a tough place to play, the weather will be cold, the Riders will be hot and will win.

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 52 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.