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Roughriders willing to play spoiler role

Oct 19, 2011 | 5:24 PM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are no longer in the playoff race, but they can influence the post-season in the final three weeks.

The Roughriders can spoil their final three opponents' hopes of home playoff game or host a Division Final.

First up are the Calgary Stampeders, who are in a tight race with the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Eskimos for first place in the West Division.

“If you can't get in it, you might as well help somebody go on the road. They handed it to us the last time we played them. We want to go out there and get some get back. That's how the game goes. We're competitors,” exclaimed linebacker Barrin Simpson.

Wes Cates believes the Roughriders can look at these games games as a three game set. “You know this is our playoffs now. We can come in here and shake things up and influence a little home game situation. Maybe there's a team we like a little more.”

Riders trash is Stamps treasure

The Roughriders have had a lot of success against the Calgary Stampeders of late. The Stampeders haven't beaten the Roughriders in the playoffs since 1994 and have had terrible luck in the last five years.

Cates says the two have definitely build up quite the rivalry. “Since I've been in the league Calgary hasn't beaten Saskatchewan in the playoffs.

The one year they won it was the year B.C. eliminated us. I'm sure if one city, one team is happy to see us eliminated it's those guys.”

Spoiler: A bad word

Although Simpson relishes the role now, spoiler isn't something a team every really wants to be. “It's term you never want to use. Unfortunately, we're in that situation right now so we get the opportunity to do it.”