By Jamie Nye

Preview: Roughriders and Argonauts battle for second win

Aug 18, 2011 | 6:47 AM

Saskatchewan and Toronto's Thursday night match-up isn't exactly a marquee affair.

The Roughriders and Argonauts are both in a tailspin in 2011. The Roughriders are trying to avoid a four game losing streak before heading off on their bye week while thhe Argonauts are a little worse off, trying to avoid a seven game losing streak before taking a week break.

In any case, the two 1-6 teams are trying to find anything positive Thursday night. (Kick-off 5:30pm SK time, TSN)

Jobs could also be on the line for both teams, especially for the team who goes into the bye week with a 1-7 record.

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The Roughriders will go up against a Toronto offense led by quarterback Cleo Lemon. Lemon has thrown for over 300 yards in back to back games for the first time in his CFL career, compiling five touchdowns to just one interception. Lemon threw for over 300 yards just once over the entire 2010 season.

“You can see his comfort level,” explained Roughriders defensive back Lance Frazier, “I think he has a better understanding of the CFL football game. He's been banged up a little bit but he's shown flashes.”

Another thing helping Cleo Lemon is the return of running back Cory Boyd, who's missed most of the season due to injury.

“That makes life easier for Cleo if they can run the ball well,” said Head Coach Greg Marshall before Thursday's game, “I think Cory Boyd is kind of the barometer for them. If he's getting the ball and slamming it in there and running people over, they all feed off that and get excited.”

Boyd is also a threat in the receiving game as he compiled over 100-yards combined in his first game back last week. He ran for 73 yards and added 29 more through the air.

Playoff atmosphere

Despite the two teams lack lustre starts, they are very much in the playoff picture as Toronto, Saskatchewan and B.C., who all have 1-6 records, are in a race for the final playoff spot with a lot of season left.

Toronto will try to take advantage of their schedule as they face only Saskatchewan and B.C. in the next four weeks.

However, Marshall says he's not focused on the standings.

“We're just focused on winning, not so much on who we're playing. Obviously right now, us, B.C. and Toronto are all in the same boat but I think it's more important that we focus on winning the game and implications will come up later down the road.”

Piling up the air miles early

With this game in Toronto, the Roughriders will have made their longest road trips of the season within the first eight weeks.

“It's nice to get the travel out of the way. They're not easy trips but it would be more advantageous if we got back East and win a game.”

The farthest the Roughriders will travel in the second half of the season is to Edmonton after dealing with trips to Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto and Hamilton in the first half of the year.

News and Notes

The Roughriders will not have Wes Cates or Hugh Charles at their disposal on Thursday. Both running backs are injured so rookie Brandon West will get his first start of the season in the backfield. West will be backed up by Stu Foord and possibly newcomer Yvenson Bernard. Rookie RJ Roberts will also get some time for the Roughriders on the defensive line, replacing the injured Remond Willis.

The Roughriders are 0-6 when trailing after the first quarter.

The Roughriders haven't lost to Toronto at the Rogers Centre in five seasons. The last time the Argonauts beat the Roughriders at home was 2005. The Roughriders have actual compiled a 5-1 record against Toronto in their last six meetings.

Argonauts' receiver Jeremaine Copeland could move further up the CFL career receiving yards list. He sits 18th overall in league history with 9,703 yards. That puts him 34-yards shy of Jim Sandusky, 59-yards back of Rocky DiPietro and 119-yards behind Tony Gabriel.

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