By Joel Gasson

Riders, Stamps set to renew hostilities at Mosaic Stadium

Oct 3, 2014 | 6:55 AM

Finally – after nearly 11 months the Saskatchewan Roughriders are ready to tangle with the Calgary Stampeders.

Arguably the best rivalry in the CFL, it has been dormant since the West Final last season that saw the Riders dominate the Stamps, beating Calgary 35-13 to advance to the 101st Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium.

Much has changed since that fateful night last November, and most of it hasn’t been very positive for the Riders. Since Darian Durant went down with his elbow injury, the team has only managed one win over the Ottawa RedBlacks. An even bigger concern is the fact that the two games they’ve lost the offence has managed to only muster up three points — total.

“This is a game where you’ll find out what your character is, where your play is, where your heart is, where your determination all those type things against a good Calgary football club,” said head coach Corey Chamblin.

Chamblin admitted that in the past the Stampeders have been using a measuring stick for his team and Friday’s game would be no different. He said the same thing to his team after their final walk through on Thursday. He knows it’s time to figure out what this team is made of in either a positive or negative way.

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“We’re going to find out who we are, we’re going to find out what we’re made of,” said defensive end Ricky Foley. “(Tonight) is the biggest game of the year. We’re going to find out.”

Foley stopped short of calling the game a must win, but if you read between the lines that’s likely how the team is approaching this game.

Ground battle

If the Riders are going to win this game, the biggest thing they will have to do is find a way to stop or at least contain running back Jon Cornish.

The reigning most outstanding player is coming off a month of September where he was named the CFL’s offensive and Canadian player of the month. Cornish has 743 yards rushing on the season despite missing most of the first half with a concussion.

The Riders are also coming of a performance, in name only, where they gave up 299 yards rushing against the Edmonton Eskimos.

“You have to play run first with Cornish, he’s the best back in the league,” said Chamblin. “They even do some sneaky things on second down, when most teams will throw the ball, they’ll run the ball. So, you have to play them honest all the way through.”

Doege Days

The Green and White will also need more out of their quarterback this week if they’re going to have a chance to win.

As a way to try and get more out of the position the team is making a switch with Seth Doege getting the start this week ahead of Tino Sunseri.

“I’m just excited about the opportunity,” said Doege. “I feel like the team and the coaches have a lot of confidence in me.”

The game will actually be Doege first ever start in professional football. He’s made a few appearances throughout the last few weeks with Durant injured.

It’s a Doege is happy to be making and it’s why he came to Saskatchewan in the first place.

“In training camp, I even thought, the reason I want to make this team because I want to be a part of something special, because I felt it in there,” he said. “We can be a special football team, if we can get this thing going.”

Sunseri was asked about not getting the start and offered up mostly the expected cliche answers but did suggest he would still do whatever he can to help Doege out.

Roster notes

A lot changes have been made to the Riders 46-man roster this week.

Making their way onto the depth chart this week are receivers Dan DePalma and Ryan Smith, defensive linemen Derek Walker, Brandon Boudreaux, Chancey Aghayere and Derek Walker and fullback Spencer Moore.

To make room, defensive back Woodny Turenne, running back Will Ford, offensive linemen Matt Vonk and Xavier Fulton, defensive lineman Hilee Taylor, and receivers Taj Smith and Chaz Schilens are all coming off.

The Green Zone Game Day kicks-off at 3 p.m. this afternoon with Game Day with Wray followed by the Green Zone pre-game show at 5 p.m. During the game, stay tuned for the Fan Zone with Scotty and the King as they talk all things sports before the final whistle when the Green Zone post-game show takes over with thoughts from the guys, the players and you at 1-877-300-7275 and by text at 30606.

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