Steve Milton: Ticats don’t have luxury of resting stars
Game 14
Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-4)
at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-6)
Saturday, Nov. 20, 4 p.m.
Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton
The storyline
When the Tiger-Cats had to plan their overall game roster Friday they didn't yet know whether Saturday's game was crucial to where they finished in the standings. So, unlike the Riders whose final position was locked in, they aren't able to fully rest some key players for next week's division semifinal. They had to assume Montreal would beat Ottawa Friday night, and they would need a win to host the semifinal against the Als. The Ticats need the win anyway, to regain the momentum they lost in being outplayed in all three phases by Toronto last weekend. The Riders will start Isaac Harker at quarterback instead of Cody Fajardo, who rests, along with fellow key contributors offensive tackle Brett Boyko, defensive tackle Micah Johnson, receiver Duke Williams and running back William Powell, who has eaten up significant ground against the Ticats over the years. It's probably advisable for the Ticats to make sure they've got a lead after 45 minutes. In their last 28 games, Saskatchewan has not lost when they've led heading into the fourth quarter. The Riders win the close games and the Ticats are 1-3 in games decided by seven or fewer points. They've released kicker Taylor Bertolet and will go with Canadian Michael Domagala. Fajardo was at the helm in the Riders' 30-8 stomping of Hamilton Aug. 14 in Regina, but Harker has played here before; his first CFL appearance was in Hamilton's 2019 opening day win after both Zach Collaros and Fajardo were removed for concussion protocol.
Key Hamilton roster notes
Michael Domagala replaces released kicker Taylor Bertolet ... Boundary corner Desmond Lawrence is out with injury, Jumal Rolle changes to boundary from field side and Channing Stribling comes off practice roster to start at field corner ... WR Papi White comes onto the roster and will handle some kick return duties C Darius Ciraco is still nursing a back injury but will play
Key Saskatchewan roster notes
Quarterback Cody Fajardo, OL Brett Boyko, RB William Powell, DT Micah Johnson and WR Duke Williams are all out for this game.
They said it
Isaac has been the consummate professional. He's well-prepared and he's ready to play any week of the season, whether it be the first week or the last." - Riders head coach Craig Dickenson on Isaac Harker who starts at quarterback while starter Cody Fajardo rests for the West semifinal.
Week 1 was tough. Coming up here and learning about the ratio, it was kind of humbling. I was excited to be able to go out on special teams and make plays and as the year went on guys were going down and my role expanded. Every week I was preparing like a starter does and once my opportunity came I was happy and ran with it." - Desmond Lawrence, the Ticat nominee for CFL rookie of the year, who has started the last five games at boundary cornerback since Frankie Williams was hurt Oct. 2, but will miss Saturday with injury.
(Momentum) could be considered a variable but it's not the most important variable, in my opinion. It's more about execution and the team that executes the most is going to have the best chance to win. That is more the focus. At this point we can't control the momentum because we didn't have a lot coming out of the last game." - Ticat head coach Orlondo Steinauer.
(Saskatchewan coaches) were super supportive of it and the same with the bobsled coaches and their administration. Both sides were willing to work with me and with each other to allow me to participate in both." - Roughriders linebacker Jay Dearborn speaking to the Regina Leader-Post's Murray McCormick about playing football and also being a contender for a spot on the 2022 Canadian Olympic bobsleigh team.
Numbers Galore
3 - Ticats losses in their three games decided by three or fewer points. Hamilton's only win by a touchdown or less was by six points over Calgary Sept. 17.
4 - Points, combined, allowed by the Ticats in the first quarters of their last seven games.
5 - Seasons since the Ticats did not have a 1,000-yard receiver. With one game left, Tim White (691) and Jaelon Acklin (604) lead the Ticats. At 14 games this season is four games shorter than usual.
6 - Turnovers by the Ticats when they lost to the Roughriders Aug. 14 in Saskatchewan. That's exactly one-third of their total for the entire season.
22 - per cent of the Ticats' possessions this season have started at or inside their own 20-yard-line.
22-9 - Identical won-lost records as head coaches of their respective teams for the Riders' Craig Dickenson and Ticats' Orlondo Steinauer.
75 - Points allowed by the Tiger-Cats in the fourth quarters of their last six games.
78 - Games the Ticats had played since they last (Aug. 3, 2016) failed to score at least a point in the first half, as they did last Friday against Toronto.
TV: TSN, ESPN2
Audio: Listen.ticat.ca, on the Ticats All Access app and simulcast on 900 CHML.
Steve Milton is a Hamilton-based sports columnist at The Spectator. Reach him via email: smilton@thespec.com