Regardless of an 0-4 begin to the marketing campaign, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going again to the Gray Cup sport for the fifth season in a row.
The Bombers grew to become the primary CFL workforce in over 40 years to qualify for 5 straight Gray Cups with a 38-22 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders within the Western Closing on Saturday at Princess Auto Stadium.
Kenny Lawler made three landing catches and Zach Collaros threw for 301 yards because the Bombers beat the Riders within the Western Closing for the third time within the final 5 seasons.
“It’s thrilling clearly,” stated Collaros. “Proud – it takes numerous work to get to the Gray Cup. Clearly, it’s good to end the deal and win the sport. We’ve come quick the previous couple of seasons. That’s no secret, however actually pleased with the group.”
Lawler completed with 177 yards receiving and his three TD sport nearly matched his season complete after discovering the top zone solely 4 occasions within the common season.
“We was simply locked in. We was simply locked in,” stated Lawler. “It was simply one other sport to be sincere. I don’t go into any sport considering that tonight’s the evening or that is the west closing or something. I’ve been enjoying this sport since I used to be 5 years outdated, so, nothing doesn’t faze me.”
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The Bombers by no means trailed within the sport and had a 14 level lead within the first quarter. After being held to below 50 yards speeding in all three of their common season conferences, Brady Oliveira rushed for 119 yards with one landing in opposition to the league’s primary ranked run defence.
“The fellows had been dialed in,” stated Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “They knew what that bye week meant for them they usually labored their asses off, and made positive they had been coming in wholesome and prepared.”
Defensive again Evan Holm had a monster sport for the Blue Bombers as he made a number of keys performs on defence. Riders QB Trevor Harris handed for 283 yards, however over 100 of that got here late within the fourth quarter when the sport was already out of attain.
The Riders have now misplaced of their final 9 straight journeys to Winnipeg, common season and playoffs included. They haven’t received right here because the 2018 season.
“We positively wished a greater outcome,” stated Roughriders head coach Corey Mace. “However that’s a, yeah man, a s—-y sport plan. That’s on my shoulders. So, simply sick for the blokes.”
After the primary two drives of the sport ended with punts, Collaros discovered Lawler and he ran it in for a 31 yard landing for an early seven level lead.
The Riders offence went two and out, and Collaros noticed Lawler once more for a 65 yard catch. On the very subsequent play Collaros went proper again to Lawler, who went proper again to the top zone, and the lead was 14 factors.
After the Riders scored a discipline objective, Caleb Sanders blocked a Bombers punt. That led to a different Riders discipline objective to make it 14-6.
However the Bombers rapidly seized the momentum again. After a 48 yard run by backup quarterback Terry Wilson, Nic Demski made the landing catch on the objective line for a 15 level lead. It was 24-9 at halftime.
The Riders efficiently executed a faux punt for a primary down on their first possession of the second half. After a 37 yard catch by Kian Schaffer-Baker, A.J. Ouellette punched it in from the one-yard line, and with the convert it was a one possession sport at 24-16.
Lawler’s third landing catch of the sport later within the third quarter gave the Bombers a 15 level lead.
After the Bombers defence made a cease on a 3rd down gamble to start out the fourth quarter, Oliveira scored the blue and gold’s fifth landing of the sport to all however seal the victory.
Fortunate Whitehead fumbled a punt to offer the Riders some life. However the defence bailed him out with a 3rd down cease ultimately zone for Saskatchewan’s second turnover of the sport.
With the result now not doubtful, Samuel Emilus scored a landing for the Riders with 23 seconds left to shut out the scoring.
It was the Bombers fifth straight sellout crowd at Princess Auto Stadium.
Winnipeg will go to the Gray Cup with wins in 10 of their final 11 video games.
The Bombers are simply the fourth workforce in Gray Cup historical past to qualify for 5 straight championship video games. Edmonton was the final workforce to play in 5 straight Gray Cups after they went to 6 in a row from 1977-1982.
The Bombers will look to avenge their loss from two years in the past within the 111th Gray Cup. The Bombers will face the Toronto Argonauts in a rematch of the 2022 Gray Cup sport. The Argos received each of their conferences within the common season.
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