The Blue Bombers defeat the Roughriders 26–21 in Banjo Bowl.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were able to hit the perfect notes against their most-hated opponent, outscoring the Saskatchewan Roughriders 26-21 in the annual Banjo Bowl at Princess Auto Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
For the second week in a row, the Bombers and Riders battled till the finish, with Winnipeg winning both times, including a nail-biting 35-33 victory in Regina’s Labour Day Classic.
“We discussed earlier in the week how difficult it is to win consecutive games against the same opponent,” Bombers running back Brady Oliveira said. “Labour Day, Banjo Bowl, the atmosphere of both games, how enormous they are—it’s difficult, dude. “We executed the plays as they were called. It was another near call, but we fought, man. “We fought hard and won.”
With the victory Saturday, the Bombers remain atop the West Division, tied with the BC Lions at 7-6. They also win the season series against the Riders, who have gone winless in their previous seven games, dropping to 5-7-1. Let’s dig deeper into this topic, as there is still much to discuss.
The offense is just enough. Early on, it appeared that the Bombers would launch another offensive onslaught, adding to a trend that has emerged in previous years. Winnipeg came into the game having won the previous four Banjo Bowls by a combined score of 173-45, including a 51-6 thumping last season.
So when the Bombers surged out to an early 10-0 lead, with No. 2 quarterback Streveler knocking in a two-yard rushing touchdown on the offense’s first drive, it felt a little like déjà vu.
Things would settle down from there, with the Bombers scoring a combined six points in the second and third quarters before putting up another ten in the fourth. “I thought (the offense) didn’t do well enough in the first half — and possibly in the second half — of staying ahead of the chains,” said Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, who went 24-for-31, throwing for 231 yards and a touchdown.
“I think (offensive coordinator) Buck Pierce trusted us to push the ball a little bit downfield. Guys were doing an excellent job of reaching where they needed to be.” Collaros connected with Kenny Lawler for a six-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving the Bombers a 22-18 lead. The offense finished with only 280 net yards but won the time of possession 34:03 to 25:57.
BENT BUT DID NOT BREAK
The Bombers struggled to contain Riders quarterback Trevor Harris for the second week in a row, though they did a better job on this day, clamping down at the end to prevent a late comeback. Harris avoided being sacked in the game, completing 21-of-33 passes for 287 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Tyrell Ford made both picks, one in the first quarter and another late in the fourth, securing the win with 44 seconds remaining. There were only two turnovers in the entire game. KeeSean Johnson scored a touchdown for the Riders with a nine-yard catch to trim Winnipeg’s lead to 10-7, and Samuel Emilus added an eight-yard reception early in the third quarter to give Saskatchewan its first lead, 13-6.
Brett Lauther completed the visitor’s scoring with field goals from 50 and 35 yards. Saskatchewan led with 332 net offensive yards, but only had 14 first downs to Winnipeg’s 20.
HIGHEST QUALITY
It was a game where the Bombers’ greatest players led the way. Oliveira is still looking for his first touchdown of the season, but the Winnipeg native wreaked havoc against the Riders. He ended the game with 103 yards from scrimmage, including 11 rushes for 43 yards and six receptions for 60.
Lawler also had his finest game of the season, catching six of seven receptions for a modest 64 yards and touchdown. While 64 yards may not sound like much – and Lawler is surely capable of much more – it was when he caught his passes that counted the most.
On defense, veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson had a great day, despite not recording a sack. Jefferson blocked a punt on the game’s first drive, resulting in a Castillo field goal, while also recording two tackles, one for a loss, and a pass takedown.
“That is why they are the top men. “That’s part of that right-on-time mentality,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea explained. “When your finest players and toughest workers perform well, everyone else’s job becomes easier. And then the young guys come along and follow that trend, and it works out quite well.”
A heated rivalry, these two Prairie rivals are unlikely to be friends. And with a sold-out Princess Auto Stadium crowd of 32,343, the atmosphere was electrifying from beginning to end. Both sides were rough at the line of scrimmage, with pushing and shoving lasting well after the whistle. When they weren’t trading physical blows, they were throwing verbal barbs at each other.
“It’s horrible. “There are things going on in the trenches that you probably don’t see,” Oliveira remarked. “But it’s a positive rivalry. It’s a terrific rivalry. The greatest rivalry in sports. It’s a lot of fun out there, and it certainly gets physical.”
Tempers flared late in the third quarter when Streveler was injured by a low blow from Riders defensive end Miles Brown. If that name seems familiar, it’s because it’s the same Brown who knocked Collaros down last week with a vicious headshot, for which he was fined $1,000.
“I have no thoughts on that player; all of my thoughts are on Chris Streveler and how he’s feeling,” O’Shea said when asked about Brown injuring two of his quarterbacks in as many weeks. “I’d never waste time on it. “He isn’t on our team.” A furious exchange of words ensued between the two sides, with Streveler pulling a strip off a pair of Riders while hopping on one knee.
It’s almost too bad that this is the final game between these two teams this season – though there’s always the possibility they’ll meet in the playoffs, if the Riders win a game after Labor Day weekend, which they haven’t done the last two seasons.
O’Shea Makes History
O’Shea’s 103rd victory with the Bombers moved him one game ahead of renowned CFL and NFL coach Bud Grant for the most regular-season wins in club history. Since taking over in Winnipeg prior to the 2014 season, O’Shea has collected a 103-68 record while also leading the team to four Grey Cups, two of which he has won.
“There’s just so many people who have been here for a huge chunk of it, that make it very easy every single day, not only to be successful but also to come to work every single day,” O’Shea stated during his postgame press conference. “My wife is standing right there. My family has been there through it all. They, too, are experiencing 60-something losses. It’s what it is. Over time, these numbers just mount up.
“But I don’t believe we are a numbers-based team. We’re a process-based team, and we have a room, an entire basement, full of people that are completely committed to the process. And the outcomes just happen.”
The Bombers are on a bye week, and O’Shea will have the opportunity to add to his victory total when the Edmonton Elks visit in Week 16 on September 21.