The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-6) took on the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-7-1) in the annual Banjo Bowl on Saturday afternoon from Princess Auto Stadium in their final regular season meeting. Like last week, this game came down to the wire.
First Quarter:
Saskatchewan got the ball to start the first quarter from their 26-yard line. Quarterback Trevor Harris threw three passes for 25 yards and reached their 51-yard line before the drive stalled. On third down, Saskatchewan punter Adam Korsak’s punt was blocked by Willie Jefferson and Tanner Cadwallader scooped it up for a return of 14 yards to the Roughriders’ 43-yard line with 12:25 left.
On the first play for Winnipeg, quarterback Zach Collaros was sacked by Bryan Cox Jr. for a four-yard loss. Then, Collaros threw a 9-yard pass to Brady Oliveira short of the first down. Kicker Sergio Castillo made a 46-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 10:41 left of the first quarter.
On the next Saskatchewan drive, quarterback Trevor Harris intended to throw the ball to KeeSean Johnson but Johnson tripped and Tyrell Ford intercepted it. Ford returned it for a 14-yard return and reached the Roughriders’ 40-yard line.
Winnipeg’s offense moved the ball up to the Roughriders’ two-yard line, where backup quarterback Chris Streveler scored the touchdown with a quarterback sneak. Winnipeg led 7-3 with 7:01 left of the first quarter capping off a five-play drive for 35 yards.
Saskatchewan running back Frankie Hickson started the next drive with a five-yard run to their 39-yard line. Next, quarterback Trevor Harris completed two passes for 62 yards to reach the Blue Bombers’ 9-yard line. Two plays later, Harris threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to KeeSean Johnson for a 10-7 lead with 3:03 left of the first quarter capping off a six-play drive for 76 yards in over three minutes.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed two passes for 16 yards but the drive stalled and they punted the ball to Saskatchewan with seven seconds left. Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris threw two incomplete passes to end the first quarter down 10-7 to the Blue Bombers.
Saskatchewan had 101 yards on offense (96 yards passing, 5 yards rushing), four first downs, and 1 for 1 in the red zone. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 6 of 11 passes for 96 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Winnipeg had 56 yards on offense (45 yards passing, 15 yards rushing, 4 yards lost), four first downs, and 1 for 1 in the red zone. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 5 of 7 passes for 45 yards.
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Winnipeg had the ball on their 39-yard line to begin their next drive. They went on a nine-play drive for 54 yards before kicker Sergio Castillo made a 26-yard field goal for a 13-7 lead with 8:32 left.
On the next Saskatchewan series, Quarterback Trevor Harris threw two passes for 19 yards, and running back Frankie Hickson had two carries for eight yards before kicker Brett Lauther made a 50-yard field goal and the Roughriders trailed the Blue Bombers 13-10 with 6:06 left before halftime. For the rest of the second quarter, both defenses forced two-and-outs and the Blue Bombers held on to a 13-10 lead at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Winnipeg had 130 yards on offense (103 yards passing, 31 yards rushing, 4 yards lost), 9 first downs, 1 for 2 in the red zone, and was penalized one time for five yards. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 11 of 16 passes (69%) for 103 yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had six carries for 26 yards, and five catches for 55 yards, and backup quarterback Chris Streveler had four carries for four yards and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Nic Demski made four catches for 34 yards, and Drew Wolitarsky made one catch for 12 yards. Winnipeg’s defense made one tackle for loss and one interception.
Saskatchewan had 139 yards on offense (127 yards passing, 13 yards rushing, 1 yard lost), 5 first downs, 1 for 1 in the red zone, and was penalized two times for 15 yards. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 10 of 17 passes (59%) for 127 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Running back Frankie Hickson had four carries for 13 yards and two catches for 28 yards. Wide receiver Samuel Emilus made two catches for 56 yards, and KeeSean Johnson made two catches for 19 yards and one touchdown. Saskatchewan’s defense made one sack.
Third Quarter:
Saskatchewan would get the ball again to start the third quarter. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed two passes for 88 yards including an 81-yard pass to Kian Schaffer-Baker. On the next play, Harris threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Samuel Emilus for a 17-13 lead with 12:45 left capping off a three-play drive for 96 yards in two minutes.
On Winnipeg’s first possession of the third quarter, quarterback Zach Collaros threw four passes for 48 yards to reach the Roughriders’ 27-yard line. Kicker Sergio Castillo made a 35-yard field goal and the Blue Bombers trailed the Roughriders 17-16 with 9:50 left of the third quarter.
For the next three drives, both defenses forced a two-and-out. Saskatchewan punter Adam Korsak punted the ball with 4:55 left of the third quarter going into the end zone and out of bounds for a single point. The Roughriders led the Blue Bombers 18-16 with 4:36 left of the game.
Winnipeg had the ball for the rest of the third quarter. On second and two, backup quarterback Chris Streveler got hit on the left knee by Miles Brown and was holding it. Brown was given a roughing the passer penalty giving Winnipeg a first down on their 53-yard line.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw three passes to close out the third quarter for 40 yards to reach the Roughriders’ six-yard line down 18-16.
Fourth Quarter:
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed a six-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Lawler for a 23-18 lead with 14:19 left capping off a nine-play drive for 70 yards in over five minutes.
Saskatchewan running back Frankie Hickson started the next drive with two carries for 20 yards plus a tripping penalty by Winnipeg defensive lineman Jamal Woods moved the ball to the Roughriders’ 31-yard line.
Quarterback Trevor Harris threw four passes for 35 yards and Frankie Hickson got two more carries for 17 yards before the drive stalled. Kicker Brett Lauther made a 35-yard field goal and the Roughriders trailed the Blue Bombers 23-21 with 8:14 left of the game capping off a nine-play drive for 72 yards.
On the next two series, both defenses combined to give up 14 yards forcing two-and-outs. Winnipeg’s offense was back out with 3:38 left of the game. They went on a seven-play drive for 22 yards before kicker Sergio Castillo made a 39-yard field goal for a 26-21 lead with 1:05 left.
Winnipeg’s defense sealed the game when Tyrell Ford intercepted Trevor Harris’s pass with 37 seconds left and the Blue Bombers win the Banjo Bowl over the Roughriders 26-21. The Blue Bombers win the season series 2-1.
Final Stats:
Winnipeg had 280 yards on offense (231 yards passing, 62 yards rushing, 13 yards lost), 19 first downs, 2 for 3 in the red zone, and was penalized three times for 25 yards. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 24 of 31 passes (77.4%) for 231 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Brady Oliveira had 11 carries for 43 yards and six catches for 60 yards.
Wide receiver Kenny Lawler made six catches for 64 yards, and one touchdown, and Nic Demski made seven catches for 46 yards. Kicker Sergio Castillo made 4 of 4 field goals with a long of 46 yards. Winnipeg’s defense made 28 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, and eight tackles on special teams.
Saskatchewan had 332 yards on offense (287 yards passing, 46 yards rushing, 1 yard lost), 14 first downs, 2 for 2 in the red zone, and was penalized five times for 49 yards. Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 21 of 33 passes for 287 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Running back Frankie Hickson had 9 carries for 46 yards.
Wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker made six catches for 120 yards, while Samuel Emilus made four catches for 66 yards and one touchdown, and KeeSean Johnson made three catches for 33 yards, and one touchdown. Kicker Brett Lauther made 2 of 2 field goals with a long of 50 yards. Saskatchewan’s defense made 46 tackles, two sacks, and eight tackles on special teams.
Next week, both teams are on a bye week. Saskatchewan’s next game will be on Friday, September 20, 2024, against the Calgary Stampeders at 9:30 pm on TSN and CFL+, while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next game is on Saturday, September 21, 2024, against the Edmonton Elks at 7 pm on TSN and CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2024 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
