Stampeders try to keep 1st-place hopes alive versus Roughriders

It may be a longshot, but the Calgary Stampeders are still alive in the race to claim the Western Division's top spot.

The Stamps need to win their final two games and hope the Edmonton Eskimos lose to the Montreal Alouettes this weekend. The Als are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, so they should give the Eskimos all they can handle.

That said, the job at hand for Calgary is taking care of the Saskatchewan Roughriders at home Saturday afternoon. At 2-14, the Roughriders won't be heading to the postseason, but the Stampeders shouldn't take them lightly. Saskatchewan should have extra motivation this week, trying to shutdown former teammate Jerome Messam.

The CFL's second leading rusher will make his Calgary debut Saturday, after being acquired by the Stamps for the playoff push. Messam has totaled 826 yards on the ground this season.

Fellow Stampeders running back Jon Cornish remains in concussion protocol, so Messam could see a heavy workload Saturday. If the pair are able to get on the field together in time for the playoffs, it's going to give Calgary an imposing two-headed monster in the backfield.

The Roughriders also played the Stamps tough in their earlier meeting this season. Calgary escaped Saskatchewan with a 34-31 victory back in August.