WINNIPEG — The Saskatchewan Roughriders took a step in the wrong direction Saturday.
After three straight CFL victories, the Roughriders were beaten 48-28 by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before 33,134 patrons at Investors Group Field.
The loss dropped the Roughriders’ record to 5-5-0 and put them in fifth place in the West Division, two points back of the B.C. Lions (6-5-0). The Bombers improved to 8-3-0.
“We’ve got to find some level of consistency,” said Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones, whose team beat the Bombers 38-24 in Sunday’s Labour Day Classic at Mosaic Stadium.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow. It’s kind of the medicine that they had to take last week and the medicine that the other two teams that we got after in the two weeks prior to that (had to take). It’s the same medicine — and it’s not fun to take.”
The Roughriders defeated the B.C. Lions 41-8 in Regina on Aug. 13 and then downed the host Edmonton Eskimos 54-31 on Aug. 25. Saskatchewan outplayed Winnipeg in the Labour Day Classic before succumbing in the rematch on Saturday.
“They executed and we didn’t play a full game from beginning to end,” Roughriders middle linebacker Henoc Muamba said. “We played good in some parts of the game, but not enough obviously to get the win and they made enough plays to win.
“Shout out to them; they did a good job, they played well in all three phases of the game and that was the difference.”
The Roughriders are to visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday, but Saskatchewan may face a change at quarterback.
Kevin Glenn injured his right (throwing) hand during the third quarter of Saturday’s game. He left the contest and didn’t return, forcing Brandon Bridge to finish the game.
Jones didn’t have an update on Glenn’s health after the game.
“If your starting quarterback is not there, it’s concerning for everybody,” Jones said. “It’s a concern, no doubt.”
The Bombers struck first Saturday, getting a 12-yard touchdown pass from Matt Nichols to Clarence Denmark at 6:29 of the first quarter. Justin Medlock added the convert to give the Bombers a 7-0 lead.
It was the first time since Saskatchewan’s 30-15 loss to the Lions in Vancouver on Aug. 5 that the Roughriders’ opponents had scored first. The Roughriders had opened the scoring in their victories over the Lions, Eskimos and Bombers.
Saskatchewan answered at 11:34 of the first quarter when Glenn found Duron Carter uncovered for an 88-yard pass-and-run TD. Tyler Crapigna’s convert tied the contest.
Winnipeg reclaimed the lead at 1:27 of the second quarter on a trick special-teams play.
Josh Bartel punted the ball to the left side of the field, but Winnipeg returner Kevin Fogg went to the defence’s right as if he was fielding the ball. Most of the Roughriders’ coverage team followed Fogg, which allowed Maurice Leggett to retrieve the ball, beat one would-be tackler and motor 97 yards for the major.
Medlock converted that TD and then added an 85-yard, wind-aided punt single on Winnipeg’s next possession.
The Roughriders took over at their 35-yard line and needed just one play to score. Glenn found Naaman Roosevelt open down the middle and the slotback broke one tackle en route to a 75-yard TD at 7:24. A two-point convert attempt failed.
Saskatchewan tried an onside kick on the subsequent kickoff, but the Bombers recovered at the Roughriders’ 47. Three plays later, Nichols hit Denmark for an 18-yard touchdown — just past the fingertips of Saskatchewan safety Mike Edem. Medlock’s convert put the Bombers up 22-13 at 9:00.
Saskatchewan replied again, driving 85 yards in eight plays. Kienan LaFrance plunged in from one yard out and Crapigna booted the convert to make it 22-20 at 12:57 of the second quarter.
But the Bombers finished up a frenzied first half by going 70 yards in 13 plays for another TD. Dan LeFevour dived in from the one-yard line and Medlock kicked the convert to make it 29-20 at 14:55.
The 29 points were the most Saskatchewan had given up in a first half since the Calgary Stampeders had 29 in a 42-19 victory over the Roughriders on Oct. 31, 2015.
After a Medlock single to open the second half, Leggett scored his second touchdown of the game — this time on defence. The Bombers’ linebacker ripped a pass out of the hands of Caleb Holley and returned the pick 54 yards for a touchdown at 8:12.
Medlock converted that major and added another single on the ensuing kickoff to put the Bombers ahead 38-20.
Glenn was injured on Saskatchewan’s next possession, smacking his right (throwing) hand on a Winnipeg defender while following through on a throw. Brandon Bridge replaced Glenn and, three plays later, scored on a 10-yard run. Bridge then found Holley for a two-point convert to cut the Bombers’ lead to 38-28 at 12:29 of the third.
Winnipeg was back for more early in the fourth quarter, as Nichols found Ryan Lankford for a 23-yard touchdown 26 seconds into the frame. Medlock’s convert stretched the lead to 45-28.
The Bombers’ kicker made it a 20-point game at 7:54 when he kicked a 36-yard field goal. Those were the final points of the game.
The 48 points allowed were the most surrendered by Saskatchewan since its 53-7 loss to Hamilton on Aug. 20 of last season.
“When they get that many points, there’s a lot of things that are not working,” Jones said. “It’s not just the defence (and) it’s not just special teams; it’s everything combined. Unfortunately we took a step backward today.”
Glenn completed 15 of 22 pass attempts for 327 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Bridge finished 4-for-8 for 67 yards with one pick.
Roosevelt was the Roughriders’ leading receiver with 102 yards on four catches, while Carter had 96 yards on two receptions.
Nichols was 24-for-37 for 282 yards. Denmark had 65 yards on five receptions and Darvin Adams added 62 yards on six catches.
