The Saskatchewan Roughriders visited the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Banjo Bowl IX Sunday afternoon at Canad Inns Stadium. The Riders went into the game at 4-5 while the Bombers were 2-7. The Riders won the opener to the back-to-back series 52-0 on Labour Day weekend. Here’s the game log from the broadcast booth:
- It was sunny and 16 degrees Celsius at the 12:00 pm kickoff. The wind was from the south at 14 km/h.
- The Riders wore their road white uniforms with white helmets and white pants while the Bombers wore their home blue jerseys with gold helmets and pants.
- The scratches from the Rider 46-man roster were RB Brandon West, DB/KR Tristan Jackson, OL Alexander Krausnick-Groh and DT Zack Evans.
- The Bombers won the coin toss and elected to take the ball to open the game, and got the wind at their back for their first series.
- The Bombers’ first drive started at their 35-yard line but Bomber receiver Terrence Edwards fumbled and the Riders’ Odell Willis recovered at Winnipeg’s 28. The Riders cashed in with a 34-yard Sandro Deangelis field goal for an early 3-0 lead just 1:46 into the game.
- On Winnipeg’s second drive Justin Palardy hit a 22-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3 with 10:24 left in the first period.
- With 2:03 left in the first quarter, Winnipeg returner Demond Washington returned a Chris Milo punt 81 yards for a major giving Winnipeg a 10-3 lead.
- Drew Willy came in at quarterback for the Riders with 1:24 to go in the first quarter. Darian Durant went out with a hip flexor.
AFTER ONE: BOMBERS 10 RIDERS 3
- 1:29 into the second quarter Willy threw a screen pass to Kory Sheets who scored a 32-yard TD to tie the game at 10-10. It was a 7-play, 61-yard drive.
- Riders regained the lead on a 23-yard Deangelis field goal with 9:00 to go in the half making it 13-10.
- With 5:16 to go in the half Willy was picked off by Bomber CB Brandon Stewart who returned it to the Rider 25. Winnipeg tied the game with a 32-yard Justin Palardy field goal. 13-13.
- Bombers took the lead with a missed 36-yard field goal by Palardy. Rider returner Jock Sanders gave up one point in the endzone. 14-13 Winnipeg with 1:11 to go in the half.
AT THE HALF: BOMBERS 14 RIDERS 13
- The Riders got the ball and the wind to open the second half, starting at their 36-yard line. They went 2-and-out.
- Winnipeg’s first series started at their 39-yard line. They went 2-and-out.
- On the Riders’ second series Kory Sheets scored on a 2-yard TD run, capping a 5-play, 71-yard drive. It gave Saskatchewan a 20-14 lead with 9:27 to go in the third.
- Riders got a 73-yard punt single from Chris Milo with 5:53 to go in the third, making it 21-14.
- Winnipeg got three back on a 19-yard Palardy field goal with 3:17 left in the third making it 21-17 Riders.
- The Riders turned it over on a bad punt snap on the first play of the fourth quarter, with Winnipeg taking over at the Rider 46. Bombers cashed in with a 21-yard Palardy field goal with 11:42 to play. 21-20 Riders.
- With 8:09 to go Sandro Deangelis lined up a 40-yard field goal but was wide ride and it went for a single. 22-20 Riders.
- With 6:15 left Justin Palardy lined up a 48-yard field goal but it was blocked by Rider lineman Mick Williams! No points.
- With 4:30 left the Bombers took over at the Riders’ 36-yard line. They took the lead with a 30-yard Palardy field goal making it 23-22.
- Riders took over at their 35 with 2:40 to go, down a point. They took a sack, an offside penalty, and went 2-and-out.
- Bombers got it back at their 52 with 1:52 to go. They got a 61-yard punt single making it 24-22 Winnipeg.
- With 0:28 to go the Riders started at their 35 and got down to the Winnipeg 33 with 0:04 to go. Deangelis lined up a 40-yard field goal with no time left and IT WAS GOOD!
GAME OVER: RIDERS 25 BOMBERS 24
POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM RIDER HEAD COACH COREY CHAMBLIN
- Good teams find ways to win. I told the guys before the game if you want it, you can have it. They fought to the end and we got it.
- With us, together, everyone achieves more. We had some injuries but with our depth, we got through. We believe in everybody on this roster and believe they can play.
- D-line, linebacker, it doesn’t matter. We’re building a team. Not individual stars, a team.
- They had a very strong will to win. Their defence was very tough but they’re always like that. Washington had a return, it was a very loud croud, but we muted the crowd with our play and we won it.
- I’ve been in a lot of big games with Sandro Deangelis and that’s why he’s here. I’ve been in the trenches with a lot of guys that are here and that’s why we have them. I believe in each and every guy.
- We’re not 5-5, we’re 1-0. That’s the only way we look at it.
- I don’t know the injury to Weston Dressler, I’ll have to check.
- I told them I don’t know why they’re so happy, because I expected to win! We’ve had a lot of things stolen from us this year so it was nice to steal one like that.
**The Riders visit Montreal next Sunday on TSN and CKRM.
