REGINA - A sold-out Mosaic Stadium will be the venue where the Saskatchewan Roughriders will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Labour Day Weekend.
Sunday marks the annual Labour Day Classic and while it is a much-anticipated game between two traditional rivals, the fact is that the Riders and Bombers have both seen each other before — once in the pre-season, and then in regular season action at their home opener June 16 when the Bombers won 45-27 at Mosaic Stadium.
Roughriders Head Coach Craig Dickenson doesn’t think the Bombers have changed much since then.
“Winnipeg seems the same to me," said Dickenson following the walkthru Saturday. "They’re a smash-mouth, physical team, veteran-heavy team, they’re going to try and lean on the run and I think that offensive line is as good as any you’re going to see in pro football. So they feel the same to me. It’s a matter of how do you crack the code, so to speak."
Dickenson said he felt his own team had gotten better, those still "missing some key guys that I wish we had." But he also pointed to Winnipeg getting healthy at the right time. "They seem like the same Winnipeg, maybe a little healthier than they were week two, and we feel like we are a young team starting to grow up a bit."
Dickenson made it known if the Roughriders are going to win, that scoring, and keeping the Bombers off the scoreboard, will be key.
"I think you've got to make 'em earn it," said Dickenson of the Bombers. "They're going to score points. We just got to score more than them. We've got to make them work for it, that's been our message this week. Don't give up any easy ones."
He also expected some tough physical play. “I think we’re going to have to be very physical up front on both sides of the ball,” said Dickenson.
“They look like they’re playing better now than they were at the beginning of the year and they’re 9 and 2. I think our guys are ready. I think we had a good week of practice. I think they’re anxious to see how they measure up. We certainly don’t underestimate Winnipeg. I think anytime (Zach) Collaros gets cooking it makes for a long day, so we’re going to do our best to try to make sure he doesn’t see things maybe quite as quickly as he normally does, and hopefully try and get him to hang on to the ball.”
For the game Dickenson has opted to go with Eric Lofton instead of Brandon Council at left tackle. He explained there were a couple of reasons for that.
“We felt like Lofton was playing very well, and we felt like Council needed the practice to get his legs back under him. He’s been out for 3+ weeks now. We felt with Lofton playing well, it gave us a luxury of bringing Council back a little slower, so that was the logic behind it.”
He also looks forward to having Frankie Hickson in the lineup to help on offense.
“He’s a darn good football player, he’s itching to get out there. And we’re going to use him quite a bit on special teams.”
Jake Dolegala once again gets the start at quarterback, and Dickenson expressed confidence in his ability at the helm of the team, saying Dolegala has a “rapport” and “high level of respect” with the players on the team.
“He’s a charismatic guy, I’ve said that before, and he’s got a presence about him that guys gravitate towards. He’s making good decisions back there, he’s got a live arm as you can tell, and he’s just slowly getting better, he’s gotten better every day that he’s been here.”
Dolegala told reporters the atmosphere in the locker room is “excitement. Everybody’s excited. There’s been so much build up to the game that we’re ready to get out there and play.”
He expects the huge crowd will be to Saskatchewan’s advantage, expecting the Bombers offence to have trouble dealing with the noise. “It favours us when they’re on offence, that’s for sure. Just makes things a lot more difficult operational-wise, and when we’re scoring and fans are hooting and hollering it’s great.”
Air quality an issue
Kickoff time is 5 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium. However, that is assuming that the game isn't delayed due to wildfire smoke that has blanketed the skies over Regina this weekend, prompting a Special Air Quality Statement from Environment Canada.
Air quality has been recorded at 10 or higher, with the quality needing to be in the 7 range for the game to get going. This will be a story fans will need to keep an eye on throughout the day.
The Roughriders have issued this statement on the situation:
"The Saskatchewan Roughriders, alongside the CFL, CFLPA and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are actively monitoring the air quality conditions using our in-stadium instruments to ensure safe conditions for our players, coaches, staff and fans.
 "Kick off remains set for 5 p.m. with Coors Light Party in the Park opening at 2 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!
 "Updates will be provided through our social media channels if required."
Festivities for the Labour Day Classic
The Roughriders announced this week that all 32,000 seats at Mosaic Stadium are sold out for the Labour Day Classic. As is fitting for a marquee game on the CFL schedule, fans can expect a lot of festivities, including a flyover from three CT-155 Hawks at the start.
In the park, fans can enjoy the Labour Day Watermelon Eating Contest, as well as dodgeball games. The Gecko Band Vallarta will be onstage. Meanwhile, between 2 and 3:30 p.m., signing autographs will be quarterback Trevor Harris and linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed at the northwest side of the park.
The Saskatoon rock group The Steadies is the halftime act for the final Pepsi Summer Concert Series performance for 2023.
