Roughriders winless in seven after 26-21 loss to Blue Bombers

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders winless streak has reached seven video games.

On Saturday, the Roughriders misplaced 26-21 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 14 of the CFL season, simply six days after Winnipeg beat Saskatchewan 35-33 within the Labour Day Traditional.

In entrance of a sold-out crowd at Princess Auto Stadium, the Bombers received their fifth straight to enhance to 7-6 whereas the Riders dropped to 5-7-1.

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“It’s a nasty style in our mouth proper now,” stated Riders’ quarterback Trevor Harris, who accomplished 21-of-33 for 287 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. “Winnable recreation at the moment however you simply get bored with saying that.

“I get bored with saying that to you guys each week that ‘It’s a winnable recreation; we’re there; we’re shut.’

“I’m simply sick of claiming it and we simply must win video games.”

Winnipeg had all of the early momentum on Saturday because the Bombers took a 10-0 lead earlier than Harris related with KeeSean Johnson on a nine-yard landing to make it 10-7.

The groups traded area objectives within the second quarter earlier than Saskatchewan took the lead 17-13 within the third quarter as Harris discovered Samuel Emilus in the long run zone after an 81-yard completion to Kian Schaffer-Baker.

Winnipeg minimize the result in 17-16 earlier than Saskatchewan scored a single level on a punt.

Moments later, the sport heated up as Riders’ defensive lineman Miles Brown was referred to as for roughing the passer as he tackled Bombers’ short-yardage quarterback Chris Streveler on what officers deemed a low hit.

It was the second time in two video games Brown was referred to as for the infraction after hitting Zach Collaros excessive within the Labour Day Traditional.

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After the sport, Riders head coach Corey Mace was cautious together with his phrases.

“I’ve been round lengthy sufficient to know after what occurred final week and (Brown) being across the quarterback, issues are somewhat bit heightened,” stated Mace. “I don’t need to remark and say something loopy, however I can solely communicate for Miles Brown as an individual and he’s an A1 man.”

After the penalty gave the Bombers a primary down, Winnipeg marched down to attain as Collaros discovered Kenny Lawler in the long run zone to place the Bombers up 23-18.

Saskatchewan responded with a 35-yard area objective by Brett Lauther with eight minutes left to make it 23-21.

With three minutes to go, the Bombers transformed a third-down gamble to maintain possession and eat up the clock earlier than the Bombers kicked a area objective to go up 5 with 1:05 remaining.

After connecting with Schaffer-Baker for a primary down, Harris was intercepted by Bombers cornerback Tyrell Ford for a second time with 37 seconds left to seal the victory for Winnipeg.

“I felt the again drift off and felt I had sufficient room to plug it to (Emilus) and the ball was simply within the air for a very long time and he made a play on it and drove on it,” stated Harris. “Simply unlucky.

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“Guys are annoyed. I do know followers are in all probability annoyed. I feel the sensation might be the very same of how they really feel and the way we really feel.

“We’ve received guys which might be hungry that need to attempt to discover methods to win.

“And it’s only a matter of time. After we discover that first win, it’ll begin pouring over and the nice issues will begin occurring.

“It’s only a matter of when.”

Defensively, Saskatchewan held Collaros to 231 passing yards, with no positive factors over 25 yards, whereas limiting operating again Brady Oliveira to 43 dashing yards.

“We simply wished to restrict the explosive performs,” stated Riders defensive again Marcus Sayles. “They’ve guys everywhere in the area that may make performs, make large catches and we felt like we did a good job of doing that.

“However we’ve nonetheless received to discover a method methods to win these late video games.”

Saskatchewan will now enter its second bye week of the season earlier than the Inexperienced and White have an opportunity to get out of their tailspin on Sept. 20 in Calgary towards the Stampeders.

“I feel some self-scout; some self-reflection,” stated Harris. “Guys won’t be round each other so it is going to be a very good time to look within the mirror to perhaps look again on the final 4 or 5 video games of our personal and simply see some issues we might be doing higher.

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“Possibly give us somewhat little bit of a refresh button.”

Together with the matchup in Calgary, after the bye week the Riders have 5 video games left with 4 of them being towards West Division opponents.

“Boy, will we received lots of essential video games developing forward of us,” stated Mace. “So not solely come again dialled and centered however somewhat little bit of accountability of what can we do individually higher to assist this workforce push ahead.

“I need them to take somewhat break and get away from the sport for a second and spend a while with their family members (as a result of) that’s essential to us, however after they’re again they’re able to rock as a result of it’s going to be fairly a dang Western run right here developing.”

Regardless of the seven-game winless skid, the third-place Riders nonetheless sit in a playoff spot as they’re three factors again of the first-place Bombers and second-place B.C. Lions (7-6). After the Edmonton Elks beat Calgary on Saturday, Saskatchewan sits only one level forward of Edmonton (5-8) for the ultimate playoff spot whereas the Stampeders (4-8) are three factors again.

“On the finish of the day, we’re nonetheless in it,” stated Sayles. “We’ve received a very good stretch of video games that we will win and we’ve simply received to discover a approach to get into that dance it doesn’t matter what seed we’re.

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“We’ve simply received to get in.”

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