Jun 15, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; BC Lions running back William Stanback (31) runs with the ball during the first half against the Calgary Stampeders at BC Place. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images The Ottawa Redblacks and Saskatchewan Roughriders will kick off the CFL season on Thursday night in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Both clubs finished with 9-8-1 records and qualified for the playoffs last season. The Redblacks fell to the eventual Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts in the East Division semifinals, while the Roughriders opened the postseason with a win over the B.C. Lions before losing to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division finals.
Ottawa, which went 2-7 on the road last season, hopes to see a boost from its offseason additions.
Topping that list is running back William Stanback, who rushed for a CFL-second-best 1,175 yards last season before being released by the Lions. Stanback is being welcomed into the fold after his new team released fellow running back Ryquell Armstead for disciplinary reasons last September.
“We’re going to be a physical team, and William is a physical back,” Redblacks coach Bob Dyce said, per the Ottawa Citizen. “The talents he has bleed into what we want to be. You want to give him the opportunities to be physical and wear teams down throughout four quarters. So I look forward to seeing William carry the ball, and I look forward to seeing our offensive line be extremely physical.”
Dru Brown, who threw for a CFL-third-best 3,959 yards in 2024, will look to gain chemistry with three-time All-CFL receiver Eugene Lewis and third overall draft pick Keelan White. Lewis and White effectively replaced the departed Dominique Rhymes and the injured Nick Mardner.
Lewis reeled in a CFL-leading 10 touchdown receptions with the Edmonton Elks last season.
Looking to keep Stanback, Brown and Lewis in check is a Saskatchewan team that features little change from last season.
Quarterback Trevor Harris, running back A.J. Ouellette and a bevy of receivers will key the Roughriders’ offense. CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Rolan Milligan headlines the unit on the other side of the ball.
“We’re obviously a hungry, veteran team,” Saskatchewan coach Corey Mace said, per the Regina Leader-Post. “And I think we have the people in place who aren’t afraid to do hard work in the dirty areas or do it the hard way, which certainly speaks to what a CFL season is.”
–Field Level Media
