B.C. Lions coach Wally Buono knows his club will be heading into a B次元官网网址漷ough environmentB次元官网网址� when they visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders this weekend.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e on the road. You know itB次元官网网址檚 going to be really loud, theyB次元官网网址檙e going to be really aggressive. So itB次元官网网址檚 a fun game,B次元官网网址� Buono said after practice on Thursday.
Both the Riders (11-6) and Lions (9-7) have already earned playoff spots, but the final two weeks of the regular season could sway the standings.
A win or tie for Saskatchewan on Saturday would also guarantee the team home-field advantage.
The intensity of the Lions-Riders matchup may be a hint at whatB次元官网网址檚 to come, Buono said.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e already sold this game as a dress rehearsal for the playoffs,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that the his squad may well face a tough road game to kick off the post season.
The Riders are the only team the Lions have yet to win against this year, and the only squad that has beat them in Vancouver.
The two teams met on Aug. 25, when Saskatchewan snatched a 24-21 win.
Buono said after that game that he may not have the right players to win. The Lions have only dropped one game since.
The team has been playing with playoff-level intensity for the last seven or eight weeks, said quarterback Travis Lulay.
B次元官网网址淓very game has felt like itB次元官网网址檚 the biggest game of the year. So that works in our favour in terms of preparing for a high-pressure game,B次元官网网址� he said.
SaskatchewanB次元官网网址檚 known to get between the quarterback and the ball, with defensive lineman Charleston Hughes leading the league with 15 sacks.
Hughes missed last weekB次元官网网址檚 game after he was charged on Oct. 11 with impaired driving and failing to supply a breath sample for analysis. He told reporters this week that heB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渆mbarrassedB次元官网网址� by the situation and trying to keep his B次元官网网址渕ind in the right place.B次元官网网址�
Hughes is due in court on the charges on Wednesday, but could be back in the lineup this weekend.
Lulay said the Lions are ready for the RidersB次元官网网址� defence.
B次元官网网址淵ou respect their pass rushers, you respect their guys, but you donB次元官网网址檛 think about the stats,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漌e just have to be consistently balanced offensively to minimize those sack opportunities. And I just have to be decisive and find ways to move and slide when I need to.B次元官网网址�
Meanwhile, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Shawn Lemon said the Lions defensive crew is focused on playing fast-assignment football and making Riders quarterback Zach Collaros uncomfortable.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e a very good team. TheyB次元官网网址檝e been winning their past few games. TheyB次元官网网址檙e a playoff team so I think itB次元官网网址檚 a good test for us,B次元官网网址� said the defensive lineman.
The Riders will have their hands full when it comes to the Lions defence, said Saskatchewan coach Chris Jones.
The defenders make impact plays and are tough to block, he said.
B次元官网网址淲e just need to handle our business this week and play a very good B.C. team,B次元官网网址� Jones said.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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