Winnipeg Blue Bombers down Saskatchewan Roughriders 26-21

WINNIPEG — Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros credited the raucous Banjo Bowl crowd for giving the Blue Bombers the sting they wanted to powerful out one other shut victory.

“It’s big,” he stated. “Simply the adrenalin you get from it.”

Collaros accomplished 24 of 31 passes for 231 yards, together with a six-yarder to Kenny Lawler, and placekicker Sergio Castillo booted 4 discipline objectives because the Winnipeg Bombers defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 26-21 on Saturday.

The victory moved the Bombers right into a share of prime spot within the CFL’s West Division with the B.C. Lions — the Bombers gained the season collection in opposition to the Lions — whereas the Roughriders stay in third after failing to win for a seventh straight outing (0-6-1).

It was Winnipeg’s second straight win over the Riders.

“We talked about it earlier within the week, how onerous it’s to win back-to-back video games in opposition to a single opponent,” stated Bombers working again Brady Oliveira, who was held to 43 yards on 11 carries.

“Labour Day, Banjo Bowl, the ambiance of each of those video games, how large they’re. It’s difficult, man. It’s difficult to win each of these video games back-to-back. We executed the performs once they have been known as. It was one other shut one, however we fought, man. We fought onerous and got here out with the ‘W.’”

Backup quarterback Chris Streveler additionally scored a serious on a two-yard run earlier than he was knocked out of the sport as the results of a roughing-the-quarterback penalty on Saskatchewan defensive finish Miles Brown. Streveler was seen on crutches after the sport.

Castillo kicked discipline objectives of 46, 25, 35 and 39 yards to go together with a pair of converts.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea picked up his club-record 103rd victory, passing Bud Grant, in entrance of a sellout crowd of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium.

“I feel the statue is beginning quickly,” Collaros stated, referring to the potential for an O’Shea statue becoming a member of the one in all Grant outdoors of the stadium.

“There’s simply so many individuals which were right here for an enormous chunk of it, that make it very simple each single day, not solely to achieve success however simply to come back to work each single day,” O’Shea stated. “My spouse’s standing proper there. My household’s been there for all of it. The 60-something losses, that they really feel, too. It’s what it’s.

“Over time, these numbers simply add up. However I do not suppose we’re a numbers-based workforce. We’re a process-based workforce and we have a room, a complete basement full of individuals which can be all-in on the method. And the outcomes, they only occur.”

Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris accomplished 21 of 33 passes for 287 yards, together with TD tosses of 9 yards to KeeSean Johnson and eight to Samuel Emilus, with two picks.

It was Saskatchewan’s second straight loss to the Bombers after dropping a 35-33 resolution in Regina final week.

“It’s simply irritating as a result of final week’s was a winnable sport, this was a winnable sport,” Harris stated. “The truth that we didn’t win is irritating.

” … It will get tiring saying the identical issues each week with the shut losses. It’s irritating saying it out loud, not to mention most likely listening to it. It’s simply a kind of issues the place we’ve simply acquired to look within the mirror and take this bye week and discover a option to get higher and ensure we put ourselves in higher conditions.

“It was a tricky one. This was a winnable sport however that’s a great defence. Hats off to them, that’s a great soccer workforce. They’re taking part in good soccer and that’s a tricky defence to play in opposition to. Possibly we’ll see them once more (within the playoffs).”

Brett Lauther kicked discipline objectives of fifty and 35 yards, whereas punter Adam Korsak added a 68-yard single.

“Each time it’s a detailed sport and also you lose, it’s at all times powerful to swallow,” stated Emilus, who caught 4 passes for 66 yards. “I assume we’ve simply acquired to discover a option to be higher. We’ve acquired to restrict our errors. We’ve been in each sport and if we take even only one mistake away, we’d get that victory. So, we’ve simply acquired to maintain pushing and lift these ranges.”

Saskatchewan had taken a 17-13 lead on the Emilus TD early within the second half, however the Bombers fought again to take a 23-18 lead on the Lawler main. After one other Lauther discipline aim, Castillo linked on a 39-yarder to provide Winnipeg a 26-21 lead with 1:05 left within the sport. Tyrell Ford’s second interception of the sport snuffed out Saskatchewan’s last-ditch drive.

BLINK HONOURED

Charles (Blink) Roberts, Winnipeg’s all-time main rusher, was formally added to the Blue Bombers Ring of Honour throughout a halftime ceremony.

“They respect my time right here and I am simply joyful to be right here,” the CFL Corridor-of-Famer stated earlier than the sport. “I remorse not getting the Gray Cup once I was taking part in. They went on a profitable run right here after I left … I want we had been capable of get the Gray Cup right here sooner, however higher late than by no means.”

With Roberts at working again, the Bombers misplaced each the 2002 and 2007 Gray Cup video games.

Roberts stated he was probably the most happy with his six 1,000-yard speeding seasons and making his mark on particular groups early in his profession

UP NEXT

Bombers: On their second bye week earlier than returning to play the Elks in Edmonton on Sept. 21.

Roughriders: On a bye week earlier than returning to tackle the Stampeders in Calgary on Sept. 20.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed on Sept. 7, 2024.

Jim Bender, The Canadian Press