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There was a special Tuesday edition of the Riders Coaches Show, due to Thanksgiving Monday, featuring special teams coach Kent Maugeri.
Maugeri took us behind the scenes in an up-and-down season for Saskatchewan Roughriders' kicker Brett Lauther, who went a perfect five-for-five against the Toronto Argonauts in a 27-19 Week 19 win.
"He's a warrior, he's dealt with a lot of stuff this year. I'm proud that he went out there and competed like he did and executed. It's nice to see when hard work works because they care about it," Maugeri said. "They work so hard, sometimes it's like this a little bit, and hopefully, it's arrow up. He looked good in practice; he's competing and working hard."
After the 34-year-old Lauther's performance against the Argos, he raised his field goal percentage to 72 in 2025. He's made 36-of-50 three-point attempts and heated up recently by hitting 14 of his last 16 tries.
Meanwhile, head coach Corey Mace and Jeremy O'Day received two-year contract extensions with Saskatchewan. Those deals will run through the 2028 CFL season.
"Those guys are great people. What you see is what you get and the leadership is outstanding," Maugeri said. "The players, they're the reason why we're winning. Thank God we don't have to do anything. It starts at the top with Craig Reynolds, J.O., and Mace. We're all in the circle, it's truly family first, and it's fun to work with guys like this. I think the players see that, they know we've got a really good, tight-knit group. The championship teams that I've been on as a player or as a coach always had the tightest group."
The Riders signed American kicker Michael Hughes on October 7 and Maugeri knows he has a lot of studying to do when it comes to the Canadian game.
"Some of these guys don't know there are 12 guys on the field. I think the biggest thing for those players, the kickers, the punters, that come up, it's the field width and the field size. It's so much different, for kickoffs, a lot of it changes," Maugeri said. "Hughes was here early and stayed late to learn this game, and he's a good one. He's special. I'm excited if he gets an opportunity to see what he's got."
Saskatchewan travels to Winnipeg to take on the Bombers Friday night. Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates bring to you the pre-game show at 3 p.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 6 p.m. Listen to our thorough coverage on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
