Hughes knows his opponents

Charleston Hughes doesn’t have an axe to grind with the Calgary Stampeders.

Hughes will face his former team for the first time since being dealt — twice — this off-season when the Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-2) host Calgary (5-0) before a Mosaic Field sellout Saturday night. Hughes spent 10 seasons with the Stampeders before being traded to the Hamilton TigerCats, who promptly flipped the veteran defensive lineman to the Riders.

“My thoughts are the same as when I go up against any other team,” Hughes said. “First is to play the best game I can play and (No. 2) is get the win.

“Nothing more. All I care about is winning games and playing the best I can every down.”

Hughes, 34, appeared in 147 regular-season games and 15 playoff contests with Calgary from 2008-2017. The six-foot-one, 246-pound lineman registered 412 tackles, 99 sacks, 38 special-teams tackles, 23 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

The four-time CFL all-star also appeared in 11 career playoff contests and four Grey Cups, winning twice. Hughes led the league in sacks in 2016 (16) and 2017 (11) and left Calgary tied with Will Johnson for the franchise lead in all-time sacks.

Hughes hasn’t skipped a beat with Saskatchewan, having registered a CFL-best six sacks this season. But getting to Calgary starter Bo Levi Mitchell won’t come easily as Calgary has allowed just six sacks, second only to Edmonton (four).

Hughes has never been afraid to engage in a little onfield trash talk but said that won’t be the case Saturday night.

“I don’t even wear a mouthpiece when I play but I’m going to wear one this game,” Hughes said. “I’ve been going against Bo in practice for years so he knows my style of play and I know his.

“When it’s all said and done we’re very acquainted with each other so all I can do is play my game and just keep going.”

The contest begins an important stretch for both teams, who’ll play six straight games versus West Division rivals.