On Saturday afternoon at IG Field, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers took on the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the third time this year in the Bajo Bowl. The Blue Bombers have already clinched a playoff spot with last week’s win over Saskatchewan.
Before the game started, the Roughriders had announced that they had a flu bug going around, and the team had to make last-minute decisions to get some of their players from the practice squad over to IG Field to play the game. They did all they could, but Winnipeg manhandled them throughout the game.
In the first half, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw three touchdowns. The first happened in the first quarter when Collaros avoided the blitz and threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Nick Demski to take a 6-0 lead. However, kicker Marc Liegghio missed the extra point. After Saskatchewan went two-and-out, the Blue Bombers’ offense marched down to the Roughriders’ six-yard at the end of the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Winnipeg backup quarterback Dakota Prukop faked a handoff and rushed in for a three-yard touchdown for a 13-0 lead with 14:43 left. Saskatchewan’s offense only had one possession in the first quarter. On this drive, they were able to get into the endzone when quarterback Cody Fajardo scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, cutting Winnipeg’s lead 13-7 with 6:16 left.
However, Winnipeg got those points back. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw his second touchdown pass to Nick Demski for the second time that went 18 yards, extending their lead 20-7 with 3:24 left. On Saskatchewan’s next possession, they went for it on third down and didn’t make it, turning the ball over to Winnipeg.
Winnipeg’s offense marched down the field again, and Zach Collaros threw his third touchdown pass that went for 34 yards to Rasheed Bailey for a 27-7 lead with 30-seconds left. Just before halftime, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther made a 53-yard field goal, and the Blue Bombers led 27-10 at halftime.
Winnipeg had 263 yards on offense, while Zach Collaros was 14/15 for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan had 154 yards on offense, and Cody Fajardo was 12/12 for 106 yards.
In the third quarter, Roughriders kick returner Mario Alford returned a kickoff for 92 yards, cutting Winnipeg’s lead 27-17 with 14:47 left. Then, Winnipeg kicker Marc Liegghio made a 45-yard field goal for a 30-17 lead with 12 minutes left.
The Roughriders got the three points back when kicker Brett Lauther made a 34-yard field goal to make it a ten-point game, 30-20, with 5:47 left. Then, just before the third quarter ended, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw his fourth touchdown pass to Brenden Orange-O’Leary for ten yards, extending their lead 37-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Zach Collaros played his final series and led the Blue Bombers down to the Roughriders’ 15-yard line, where Winnipeg kicker Marc Liegghio made a 23-yard field goal for a 40-20 lead with 9:54 left. After that, Collaros was done, and Dru Brown was the quarterback for the rest of the game.
After Winnipeg defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat recovered a fumble on Saskatchewan’s 25-yard line, Winnipeg’s offense went to the one-yard line, and quarterback Dakota Prukop scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak for a 47-20 lead with 6:41 left.
Late in the game, Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo’s pass was intercepted by Winston Rose. Four plays later, Winnipeg quarterback Dru Brown threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schoen for a 54-20 lead with 1:06 left. Saskatchewan took a knee to end the game, and Winnipeg routed Saskatchewan 54-20.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros was 21/25 for 273 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Brady Oliveira had ten carries for 55 yards, while wide receiver Nic Demski had seven catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Winnipeg’s defense allowed 251 yards, 44 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble, three pass breakups, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Winnipeg visits the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Saturday at 4 pm on ESPN+.
Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo went 15/18 for 124 yards, seven carries for 33 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Frankie Hickson had ten carries for 71 yards, while wide receiver Kyran Moore had six catches for 56 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense allowed 415 yards, 50 tackles, one sack, and three pass breakups. The Roughriders play the Edmonton Elks next Friday at 9:30 pm on ESPN+.
