as the Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Regina, SK, September 4, 2016 Photo Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards
An 11-game Labour Day Classic winning streak was on the line this afternoon when Saskatchewan Roughriders hosted the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in their annual end of summer gathering at Mosaic Stadium.
The two teams struggled to a stalemate for the early parts of the first quarter with the Bombers Justin Medlock picking up the only points on a 43-yard field goal.
That all changed when Matt Nicholls hit Quincy McDuffie on an 82-yard pitch and catch for the 10-0 lead after the first quarter.
The second quarter saw more of Justin Medlock as he hit two more short field goals for the lead and Tyler Crapigna hit a 41-yard field goal as Winnipeg took the 13-point lead to the locker room
In that first half, Tyler Crapigna was 1-for-3 missing from 39 and 45-yards. The Riders also took seven penalties for 70 yards to Winnipeg’s two for 19 yards.
Just like last week in Edmonton, the Riders exploded in the third quarter. A pair of long drives ended up in Saskatchewan touchdowns.
It started off with another Justin Medlock field goal to extend the Bombers lead to 19-3.
Then the first long drive was an eight-play, 65-yard drive finished with Caleb Holley’s first ever CFL touchdown, and to top it off, he then caught the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 19-11.
The next drive was a six-play, 66-yard stretch that was topped with a Darian Durant 4-yard touchdown. The veteran pivot then took it upon himself on the two-pointer to tie the game at 19-apiece.
Winnipeg then picked up another pair of Medlock field goals to take the six-point edge when things got real interesting.
Kendial Lawrence took a punt 85-yards for the touchdown, but the extra point was missed and the game was tied 25-25 with under a minute left.
The Bombers had enough time to drive down the field, helped by a very questionable pass interference penalty to set up a 43-yard Medlock field goal on the final play of the game to seal the 28-25 victory.
Justin Medlock finished the day with seven field goals, while the Riders tool 10 penalties for 109-yards.
The Riders and Bombers will do it again next Saturday in Winnipeg. It’s a 2pm kickoff from Investors Group Field.
Rider Leaders:
Passing – Darian Durant: 36/47, 399yds, 1TD, 2INT, 90.76QBR
Receiving – Caleb Holley: 10/121, 1TD
Rushing – Kendial Lawrence: 6/26
Defence – Otha Foster: 7 Tackles
