Roughriders can clinch playoff berth vs. struggling Alouettes

With nearly two months before the CFL playoffs begin, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are one win away from punching their postseason ticket.

Saskatchewan can make it happen Saturday night when it welcomes the struggling Montreal Alouettes to Regina.

At 10-2, the Roughriders hold a two-game lead on idle Calgary in the West. They are coming off a home-and-home sweep of Winnipeg, including a 21-13 victory last week in the yearly Banjo Bowl.

"If I would tell you on our goal sheet was to win 10 games, I'd be lying to you," Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris said. "It's great where we are right now but that only means that we've given ourselves the right to be 10-2 right now."

Harris is part of the season the Roughriders are stampeding over the league. The 13-year veteran has thrown for 3,153 yards and 19 touchdowns, putting him one away from 200 for his career. A.J. Ouellette has 852 yards rushing, third in the league, and five scores.

Defensively, Saskatchewan has limited five opponents to less than 20 points. That includes the Riders' Aug. 2 game in Montreal, where they walloped the Alouettes 34-6, keeping them out of the end zone.

That was the first of five straight losses for Montreal (5-7), which is just one game ahead of Ottawa and Toronto for second in the East. The squad has averaged only 13.6 ppg in that stretch as it has played without starting quarterback Davis Alexander (hamstring).

Alexander is out again Saturday night, leaving veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson to start in his place. Bethel-Thompson was largely ineffective before being sidelined himself with an elbow injury, but James Morgan couldn't provide a spark for the Als, either.

"He has won for us and he's a veteran in the league," Montreal coach Jason Maas said. "That veteran presence, you don't buy. He has it. He was dealing with some stuff and playing at the same time. I'm thankful the timeline is good for us."

--Field Level Media