Riders to start Jack Coan over Trevor Harris vs. Elks

Coan, who has been with the Riders since 2024, will start his first career CFL game. The former Notre Dame Fighting Irish pivot has thrown for 153 yards and one touchdown when he has appeared in CFL contests in the past.

The Riders are coming off a 16-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday, which clinched their spot in the playoffs.

“In this situation I just thought it was the right decision,” Mace said.

“Certainly, I think Jack has earned an opportunity. With (Harris), he’s had a great year. I think he’s leading the league in passing, he’s played every game he’s been available. But we didn’t put ourselves in a position to have a bye week and let the body rest up.”

According to centre Logan Ferland, it’s an opportunity Coan has waited three years for.

“He’s one of the first guys in here, just like the rest of the quarterbacks,” Ferland said. “Last guy to leave, works incredibly hard and just excited for his opportunity.”

Wide receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby called Coan a “true leader” with a similar mind to Harris on the field, adding the team has full faith in him under centre against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday.

“If (Harris) has a question, he’s running it through Jack,” Duncan-Busby said.

“That just kind of goes to show how smart of a player Jack is. I think that Jack is ready for the opportunity and he’s going to seize it.”

While the Riders have their playoff spot locked up, their division semifinal opponent is still to be determined

A win by Saskatchewan on Saturday would clinch third place in the West Division and a road game against the second-seeded B.C. Lions.

If the Riders fall to the Elks, however, they’ll crossover to the East Division and will open the playoffs on the road against the Toronto Argonauts.

After narrowly beating Montreal last weekend, Ferland said there’s still a hunger to get their details ironed out before the post-season arrives.

“We have an extra week to get better,” Ferland said.

“We have an extra four days of practice to get better. We have an extra game to get better and build that chemistry. Just building on what we’ve already created during the season, building on that and just getting better.”

Saskatchewan could see up to three quarterbacks take the field against Edmonton, with Brayden Schager upgraded to backup duties and Tommy Stevens in his usual spot for short yardage work.

Schager has not seen the field for a CFL regular-season game. However, he did complete 24 of 37 passes with one touchdown and two interceptions in Saskatchewan’s pair of pre-season games.

“We’ll see off of game flow,” Mace said. “We’ve given reps to Schager as well this week, we’ll see how it goes. Last year we did end up doing that between Jake (Maier) and Jack (Coan).”

Several Riders did not practise on Wednesday, including Harris, wide receiver KeeSean Johnson and defensive back DaMarcus Fields, while running back A.J. Ouellette saw limited snaps.

Mace, however, does not expect to rest the majority of his starters against the Elks.

“I wouldn’t expect a full onslaught of a bunch of people,” Mace said. “There’s going to be probably three or four guys (sat). We’ll see, I got another night to sleep.”

Saskatchewan takes on the Edmonton Elks on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

— with files from 650 CKOM’s Scott Roblin

by Britton Gray/CJME

Riders to start Jack Coan over Trevor Harris vs. Elks

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