The Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-5) hosted the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-3) on Labour Day Weekend in front of a sold-out crowd at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday night. This was the second meeting of the season between these two teams.
They met back in Week 2 with the Blue Bombers winning the game 45-27 in Mosaic Stadium. The Roughriders did not forget the beatdown and on this night, took it to Winnipeg which set up an overtime thriller and a game-of-the-year candidate.
It was a defensive battle in the first quarter. Both offenses could not get going early in the game. Midway through the first quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros attempted to throw a pass to Kenny Lawler but Nic Marshall stepped in front of him to make the interception and returned it for seven yards before he was tackled on the Blue Bombers’ 46-yard line.
Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala completed an 11-yard pass to Tevin Jones at the Blue Bombers’ 35-yard line. After two failed passes, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther made a 48-yard field goal to give them a 3-0 lead with 7:45 left.
The Roughriders’ defense sacked Collaros one time in the first quarter. Saskatchewan had the ball for the final drive of the first quarter. After Jake Dolegala threw a short pass to Tevin Jones for 12 yards, the drive stalled when Dolegala was sacked by Ricky Walker. The Roughriders faced third down to begin the second quarter up 3-0.
In the second quarter, Saskatchewan running back Jamal Morrow rushed for a gain of 23 yards but a face mask penalty on Saskatchewan put them at their four-yard line. Two plays later, Jake Dolegala completed a 64-yard pass to Tevin Jones.
Two plays later, Dolegala threw a 37-yard pass to Mitchell Picton. The Roughriders got to the Blue Bombers’ one-yard line before backup quarterback Antonio Pipkin muscled his way into the endzone for a touchdown. It was now 10-0 with 5:59 left.
Winnipeg’s offense struggled in the first half until their next drive. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw two passes for 66 yards to Dalton Schoen and Nic Demski. On the next play, Collaros scrambled out of the pocket with pressure on him to throw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Drew Wolitarsky. It was now 10-7 Saskatchewan with 3:34 left.
Late in the second quarter, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther kicked a 27-yard field goal which made it 13-7 with 1:30 left. Saskatchewan had one last possession of the second quarter but ended up punting the ball but led 13-7 at halftime.
Early in the third quarter, both offenses struggled to get going. On the third play for the Roughriders, running back Jamal Morrow rushed up the middle for a gain of 26 yards. They got to the Blue Bombers’ 21-yard line before kicker Brett Lauther kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 16-7 lead with 9:04 left in the third quarter.
On the fifth play for Winnipeg, quarterback Zach Collaros threw a deep pass to Nic Demski, who made a great catch for a gain of 52 yards at the Roughriders’ two-yard line. After losing a yard on the next play, running back Brady Oliveira rushed up the middle for a three-yard touchdown. It was now 16-14 Saskatchewan with 1:21 left.
Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther kicked a 53-yard field goal to close out the third quarter. The Roughriders led 19-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 14-yard field goal which made it a two-point game again 19-17 with 11:10 left. Then, Saskatchewan punter Adam Korsak punted the ball 61 yards into the endzone where Jamal Parker conceded the single point. It was now 20-17 with 8:56 left.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed a short pass to Brady Oliveira for a gain of 12 yards before he was tackled on their 52-yard line. Later in the drive, Saskatchewan linebacker Pete Robinson headbutted Zach Collaros which led to an unnecessary roughness penalty and the ball was placed on the Roughriders’ two-yard line. Running back Brady Oliveira scored a two-yard touchdown to give the Blue Bombers its first lead of the game 24-19 with 4:05 left.
Saskatchewan came back to score four points in the last three minutes of the game. Punter Adam Korsak punted the ball for 65 yards. The ball bounced in the endzone and out of bounds for a single point. It was now 24-20 with 2:52 left. Then, with 31 seconds left, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther made an 18-yard field goal that tied the game 24-24.
In overtime, each team got the ball on the 35-yard line. If they scored a touchdown, they had to attempt a two-point conversion. Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala made a short pass to Jamal Morrow for a gain of 21 yards. Then, Antonio Pipkin scored a one-yard touchdown. They converted a two-point conversion which made it 32-24.
It was Winnipeg’s turn. On the first play, Zach Collaros threw a 35-yard touchdown which made it 32-30. Then, Zach Collaros attempted to throw the ball at Drew Wolitarsky but it was deflected and incomplete. The Roughriders survived to beat the Blue Bombers 32-30 in overtime.
This was a great game between these two teams. The Roughriders have now beaten two good West Division teams in a span of three weeks. Saskatchewan seems to be getting hot at the right time with eight weeks left of the regular season.
Saskatchewan’s offense had 382 yards. Quarterback Jake Dolegala completed 22 of 39 passes (56.4%) for 326 yards, and three carries for 19 yards. Running back Jamal Morrow had nine carries for 37 yards and four catches for 76 yards.
Wide receiver Tevin Jones had a nice game with five catches for 96 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense had 32 tackles, one sack, and one interception. Kicker Brett Lauther made five field goals.
Winnipeg’s offense had 372 yards. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 13 of 26 passes (50%) for 279 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and one carry for five yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had a nice night with 17 carries for 88 yards, two touchdowns, and one catch for 12 yards.
Wide receiver Nic Demski had five catches for 118 yards, Dalton Schoen had three catches for 68 yards, and Kenny Lawler had two catches for 48 yards and one touchdown. Winnipeg’s defense had 39 tackles, and three sacks (two of them by Adam Bighill).
The two teams will meet again next Saturday at 4 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
