The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-3) hosted the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-6) on Saturday afternoon from IG Field in the annual Banjo Bowl. Last week, Saskatchewan stunned Winnipeg on Labour Day Weekend 32-30 in overtime.
Saskatchewan might have celebrated a bit too much because Winnipeg came in like a hurricane and outright whipped them all over the field to a point where a comeback was impossible.
In the first quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala completed two passes to Kian Schaffer-Baker for 19 yards. The drive would lead to a Brett Lauther 27-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 11:46 left. This was the only time the Roughriders led in this game.
On the third play for Winnipeg, quarterback Zach Collaros threw a ten-yard pass to Brady Oliveira before he was tackled on the Roughriders’ 49-yard line.
Three plays later, running back Brady Oliveira rushed up the middle for a gain of 11 yards plus an unnecessary roughness penalty on Saskatchewan moved the ball down to the Roughriders’ ten-yard line. The drive would lead to a Dakota Prukop one-yard quarterback sneak touchdown that made it 7-3 with 6:33 left of the first quarter.
Later, Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira rushed for a gain of 36 yards on their next drive. Two plays later, quarterback Zach Collaros completed a short pass to Brady Oliveira with pressure in his face for a 17-yard touchdown that made it 14-3 with 3:10 left of the first quarter.
After a two-and-out by Saskatchewan, Winnipeg had the ball for the rest of the first quarter. On the final play, Zach Collaros completed a two-yard pass to Rasheed Bailey before he was tackled on the Roughriders’ 50-yard line that ended the first quarter up 14-3.
In the second quarter, Zach Collaros completed a short pass to Kenny Lawler, who made a diving effort to break the goal line which resulted in a 24-yard touchdown. It was now 21-3 Winnipeg with 12:18 left.
Saskatchewan quarterback Jake Dolegala completed a 17-yard pass to Kian Schaffer-Baker before he was tackled on the Blue Bombers’ 54-yard line. Two plays later, Dolegala completed a 13-yard pass to Tevin Smith. The drive would lead to a Brett Lauther 39-yard field goal which made it 21-6 with 8:41 left. Those were the final points scored by Saskatchewan in the game.
On the next Winnipeg drive, quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schoen for a 28-6 lead with 4:45 left of the second quarter. The two had fun with the first touchdown and did it again on their next drive. This time, Collaros’s touchdown pass to Schoen went for 31 yards for a 35-6 lead with 1:46 left.
Just before halftime, Zach Collaros completed a deep pass to Kenny Lawler for 60 yards before he was tackled on the Roughriders’ eight-yard line. Then, Collaros threw to Dalton Schoen for his third touchdown of the game. It was now 42-6 at halftime.
Winnipeg had 405 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 16 of 17 passes (94%) for 285 yards, five touchdowns, and one carry for 11 yards.
Running back Brady Oliveira had ten carries for 93 yards, four catches for 57 yards, and one touchdown. Wide receiver Dalton Schoen had five catches for 104 yards, and three touchdowns, and Kenny Lawler had four catches for 104 yards and one touchdown. Winnipeg’s defense had one sack.
Saskatchewan had 108 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Dolegala completed 10 of 14 passes for 92 yards, and one carry for three yards. Running back Jamal Morrow had four carries for 20 yards, and one catch for one yard, and Kian Schaffer-Baker had four catches for 39 yards.
In the third quarter, Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira had four carries for 20 yards which led to a Sergio Castillo 40-yard field goal that made it 45-6 with 4:24 left.
After Saskatchewan went three-and-out, Winnipeg had the ball for the rest of the third quarter. On the final play, Dakota Prukop rushed for a gain of four yards before he was taken down on the Roughriders’ 19-yard line. Winnipeg led 45-6.
In the fourth quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made his second field goal for 24 yards which made it 48-6 with 13:06 left. Midway through the fourth quarter, Winnipeg put their backup players in with Dru Brown now at quarterback.
On the third play, Brown completed a 21-yard pass to Drew Wolitarsky. The drive would lead to a Sergio Castillo 18-yard field goal for a 51-6 lead with 5:01 left in the game.
Shea Patterson was the new quarterback for the Roughriders. He completed two passes for 20 yards to Shawn Bane Jr. and Thomas Bertrand-Hudon. They would get to the Blue Bombers’ 33-yard line but Brett Lauther missed a 41-yard field goal wide left.
Each team had one more possession before Saskatchewan running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon had two carries for nine yards that ended the game. The Blue Bombers decimated the Roughriders by the final score of 51-6. With the win, Winnipeg has clinched a playoff spot.
Winnipeg played an outstanding game. Head Coach Mike O’Shea prepared these guys, and they executed every play. Winnipeg had 603 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 18 of 21 passes (85.7%) for 319 yards, five touchdowns, and one carry for eleven yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had 18 carries for 154 yards, four catches for 57 yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receivers Kenny Lawler and Dalton Schoen combined with nine catches logging 208 yards, and four touchdowns. Winnipeg’s defense had 37 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
If there was a mercy rule in football, the Roughriders could’ve used it. They were unprepared for this game and were destroyed. The play-calling by the coaching staff was abysmal and poorly executed. Saskatchewan had 204 yards on offense.
Quarterback Jake Dolegala completed 15 of 21 passes (71.4%) for 113 yards, and one carry for three yards. Running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon had five carries for 41 yards, and two catches for 12 yards, and wide receiver Samuel Emilus had three catches for 41 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense had 44 tackles.
Next Friday, the Roughriders host the Edmonton Elks at 9:30 pm on CFL+, while the Blue Bombers visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on 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.
