The Saskatchewan Roughriders have scored touchdowns on only 60 per cent of their red-zone possessions over the past four games, but quarterback Trevor Harris said the team is not concerned as it prepares to host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. A victory would clinch Saskatchewan a playoff spot, with the West Division standings tight and the Riders tied with the B.C. Lions at 8-6 behind first-place Edmonton at 11-4.

Saskatchewan converted 28 of 39 red-zone possessions into touchdowns through its first 10 games, a rate of 72 per cent. In the last four games, it has scored on nine of 15 trips. The Riders failed to score on four red-zone possessions in last week’s 31-24 loss to the Lions.

Harris said the missed opportunities against B.C. included a kick that hit a goal post upright, an unsuccessful run and a stop on third-and-one. “This is about us just executing. If you look at last week, we hit a (goal post upright), had an unsuccessful run play, and then a full moon happened where Tommy Stevens got stopped on a third and one, which never happens,” he said.

“We can make a mountain out of a molehill if you’d like, but to me, I think it’s just about us going out and executing. I think we’re in the right spot, but I don’t think it’s like time to push the panic button.”

Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace said the team has discussed the playoff implications of Friday’s game, while keeping its focus on winning. “Yeah, we talked about that. Every week we talk about winning the football game, but just the implication of this game is that it’s an opportunity to check off a box,” Mace said.

“We know it’s at stake, and we’re at home with the ability to do that. As far as the alignment in this situation, it’s there for us. It’s just going out there and playing winning football.”

Calgary sits last in the West, but head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson said the Stampeders still control their own fate. He said Calgary had felt it needed two wins against Ottawa, given the schedule, and that its final three games are against teams one or two games ahead. The Stampeders could win the season series against those opponents.

“We have our destiny in our hands, I guess, but we’re just trying to win a game. We did feel like we needed the two wins versus Ottawa, with the schedule as it was. We understand that our last three games are against teams that are a game or two ahead of us, and we can win season series against these teams,” Dickenson said. “These are huge games for us, but let’s start with the first one.”

The Riders acquired kicker Brett Lauther from the Ottawa Redblacks on Wednesday in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 CFL draft. Lauther returns to Saskatchewan after eight seasons with the team, during which he won a Grey Cup in 2025, before signing with Ottawa in the offseason. He arrived in Regina late Wednesday and took part in Thursday’s walk-through, but rookie Dawson Hodge will kick Friday. Hodge has made all five of his field-goal attempts over the past two games.

Lauther has made 32 of 34 field goals this season, a 94.1 per cent success rate, including three of three from beyond 50 yards and 22 of 23 converts. In 114 regular-season games for Saskatchewan, he made 295 of 360 field-goal attempts, setting a franchise-record success rate of 81.9 per cent. He had struggled in his final two seasons with the Riders before his move to Ottawa.

“It’s been a crazy 24 hours, but very thankful to be here right now,” Lauther said. “I guess it’s bittersweet. I mean, obviously coming back here I couldn’t be happier. But you leave, and you make a lot of relationships over there. I’m very thankful for the Redblacks organization. They gave me a chance to play football this year, and I’ll be forever in debt to those guys.”

Calgary has won six consecutive regular-season games in Regina and 10 of its last 11 visits. The six-game streak matches the Stampeders’ longest in Regina, set from 1947 to 1949.

Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. was named CFL player of the week after completing 24 of 30 passes for 422 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in Saturday’s 45-31 win over Ottawa. It was his sixth game this season with at least three touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Saskatchewan running back A.J. Ouellette returned last week after missing seven games with a knee injury. He rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries against B.C. The Riders rank third in the CFL in rushing attempts, with 295, and eighth in yards per carry, averaging 4.4. The Canadian Press first published this report on Oct. 1, 2026.

Based on reporting by Global News Edmonton.