Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Mace will lead his team against the Edmonton Elks to open the 2024 CFL season. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

By CKOM News - Britton Gray

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A new era with the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially kicks off Saturday.

The Green and White will play its first regular-season game under new head coach Corey Mace and his staff when Saskatchewan take on the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium. Kickoff for the game is set for 2 p.m.

While it’s the first time Mace will lead a team in a meaningful contest as the bench boss, he’s not focusing too much on the milestone in his career.

“I don’t got time for that,” Mace said. “There have been a lot of firsts – every day is a first. I kind of put all that stuff aside and try to focus on us as a team.”

But that doesn’t mean he’s not excited to see what his team can do when they take the field for a showdown that counts in the standings.
Saskatchewan went 2-0 in the preseason, including a win over Edmonton but a number of veterans were held to very limited playing time in the two games.

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This will be the first time to get an extended look at some new faces in Rider green like running back AJ Ouellette, linebacker Jameer Thurman, defensive end Malik Carney, and offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick among others.

“It’s good that we had two preseason games under our belt but things hit a bit different when the regular season starts. We spoke about that and we have to be even more detail-oriented in what we do,” Mace said.

One player who won’t be playing this week for Saskatchewan is newcomer Marcus Sayles.
Sayles, a CFL all-star in 2022, was released from the B.C. Lions after training camp and signed with Saskatchewan earlier in the week.
On the Elks side of the field is the returning McLeod Bethel-Thompson.The quarterback, who won the 2022 Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium as a member of the Toronto Argonauts, spent 2023 in the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers. He signed with Edmonton in the offseason to mark a return to the league, where he was the top passer in 2022.

“One word to describe McLeod is leadership,” said Riders’ guard Philip Blake, who was teammates with Bethel-Thompson from 2021-22. “The way he commands the room – not just the offence but the team that year – it was special. I know he’s going to get those guys riled up and I know what type of player he is.”

Mace is also familiar with Bethel-Thompson as he was the Argos defensive co-ordinator from 2021-22.
“I want him to have as much success as possible outside of playing us,” Mace said. “I know what he is going to bring in commanding that huddle over there. The guys will rally around him.”

But Elks’ head coach Chris Jones has another weapon he could deploy at the quarterback spot in Tre Ford. Ford finished last season as the Elks starter. He threw for 2,069 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding 622 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
“He runs a lot more. He brings that element to the game,” said Riders’ linebacker C.J. Reavis.

Riders’ quarterback Trevor Harris is also making a return to the field. He suffered a knee injury in Week 6 last season which ended his year. Before his injury, the now 38-year-old threw for 1,274 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Harris is looking forward to taking on Jones’ defence, which is also under the care of Elks defensive co-ordinator Jason Shivers. Shivers had been with the Riders since 2016 and was the defensive co-ordinator from 2019-23.
“We’re prepared for the unknown, just like I know they are too. At the end of the day, teams are what they are. If you don’t have a backbone as to what you like to do in games, you don’t have an identity,” Harris said. “Chris Jones and Jason Shivers, those guys are going to have an identity.”

Edmonton is celebrating its 75th anniversary of CFL football in the city with a number of events going on to celebrate it during and ahead of the game.

“Hopefully, the celebration of that team and the storied success that they’ve had, hopefully it drives a great crowd because it’s great for the league,” Mace said.

The Green Zone pregame show begins at noon.