On Friday night at IG Field, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers took on the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the third time of the season. The Blue Bombers won the previous two meetings and wanted to complete the season sweep.
Saskatchewan got off to a good start in the first quarter. On their second series, Saskatchewan running back Kienan Lafrance had a couple of carries for ten yards before kicker Brett Lauther made a 25-yard field goal to put the Roughriders up 3-0 with 9:18 left.
Then, like a light switch, the Blue Bombers went to work. Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira had a couple of carries for 26 yards to the Roughriders’ 36-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Zach Collaros scrambled to his right side and threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Rasheed Bailey as he fell on his butt to make the catch, putting Winnipeg up 7-3 with 6:39 left.
After the Roughriders went three-and-out, Winnipeg moved down the field and reached Saskatchewan’s 15-yard line as the first quarter ended. However, they were unable to move the ball to begin the second quarter, and kicker Marc Liegghio made a 22-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead with 14:20 left.
Both offenses made little progress moving the ball for most of the second quarter. Late in the second quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo’s pass was picked off by Jamal Parker. The Blue Bombers took advantage of the turnover as Zach Collaros threw a 25-yard touchdown pass into the hands of Nic Demski, extending Winnipeg’s lead 17-3 with 25-seconds left. Saskatchewan took a knee to end the half.
Winnipeg dominated the first half, getting 235 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros was 10/17 for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Winnipeg wide receivers Nic Demski and Rasheed Bailey combined for five catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan’s offense had 126 yards, and Cody Fajardo was 12/18 for 101 yards, one interception, and the Roughriders turned the ball over twice.
In the third quarter, it seemed like the tides were turning in Saskatchewan’s favor. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed five passes for 58 yards to reach Winnipeg’s seven-yard line. Then, Fajardo finished the drive by breaking a tackle and running in for the touchdown, cutting Winnipeg’s lead 17-10 with 7:50 left.
The Roughriders’ defense forced two two-and-outs as the Roughriders began the fourth quarter on Winnipeg’s 36-yard line. Saskatchewan got to the Blue Bombers’ six-yard before Brett Lauther made a 14-yard line, making it a four-point game 17-13 with 12:29 left.
That was as close as Saskatchewan got to Winnipeg. When their backs are against the wall, Winnipeg knows how to put games away. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 28-yard pass to Dalton Schoen to the Roughriders’ 42-yard line.
Then, in an encore, Collaros dropped back from the pocket and threw a 42-yard touchdown into the hands of Nic Demski for a 24-13 lead with 11:18 left.
After the Roughriders went two-and-out, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 64-yard touchdown to Dalton Schoen. Schoen snagged the ball away from a Saskatchewan defender and made a juke move on his way into the endzone that put the game away 31-13 with 9:03 left.
Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo had one more opportunity, but the Roughriders went two-and-out. Winnipeg’s offense was back out and chewed up a lot of time before punting the ball back to Saskatchewan. The Roughriders replaced Fajardo with Mason Fine, but Fine’s pass was intercepted by Evan Holm, ending the game and the Blue Bombers completed the season sweep with a 31-13 win. Winnipeg clinched a home playoff, and their record is 13-2, while Saskatchewan dropped their fourth straight game and are now 6-9 for the season.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros was 14/25 for 296 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Brady Oliveira had 15 carries for 101 yards, while Dalton Schoen, Rasheed Bailey, and Nic Demski combined for 11 catches for 260 yards and four touchdowns.
Winnipeg’s defense allowed 395 yards, 55 tackles, one forced fumble, two pass breakups, two interceptions, and one fumble recovery. Winnipeg hosts Edmonton next Saturday at 7 pm on ESPN+.
Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo went 26/38 for 307 yards, one interception, nine carries for 36 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Kienan Lafrance had six carries for 24 yards, while wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker had three catches for 110 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense allowed 432 yards, 40 tackles, and three pass breakups. Saskatchewan plays the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Friday at 7:30 pm on ESPN+.
