Rob Vanstone: Labour of love — everything you could ever want to know about the Labour Day Classic … and more!

The other day, I had my annual idea. 

With the 58th Saskatchewan Roughriders/Winnipeg Blue Bombers Labour Day Classic fast approaching, why not immerse oneself in the long and eventful history of the matchup? 

In many cases, I can speak from experience, having attended every green-influenced Labour Day weekend game since 1975. But this year’s Roughriders-Blue Bombers September showdown will be my first as the Roughriders’ historian. 

In this new capacity, I have taken full advantage of an opportunity to belabour the past — to the extent that this scroll-like submission is divided into six parts: 

1. Tidbits, tidbits and more tidbits. 

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders versus Winnipeg Blue Bombers — all 57 matchups, dating back to 1949. 

1. Regina Roughriders versus Winnipeg Blue Bombers (two games). 

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders Labour Day weekend home games involving everyone except the Blue Bombers (17 games). 

1. Regina Roughriders versus Calgary Bronks (two games). 

1. The two forgotten road games. 

First, the torrent of tidbits, with profuse apologies in advance for any confusion about the Regina Roughriders/Saskatchewan Roughriders references, such as … 

THE RAW NUMBERS 

•  Leading up to Sunday’s game (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium), the Saskatchewan Roughriders have a 37-20 record in LDCs against Winnipeg. Factor in non-Winnipeg games and the record improves to 50-26. Tack on the Regina Roughriders’ record versus Winnipeg (1-1) and the two road games (0-2) and our favourite football franchise is 51-29, all-time, on Labour Day weekend. Winning percentage: 63.8!
•  Overall, the Regina/Saskatchewan Roughriders are 38-21 against the visitors from Winnipeg on Labour Day weekend. The teams met at Park de Young (later Taylor Field) in 1939 and 1940, with the losing side scoring one point on each occasion.
•  At home, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are 12-5 against EBW (Everyone But Winnipeg). The Regina Roughriders were 1-1 against the Calgary Bronks.

TIME TRAVEL 

• The Roughriders’ two road games on Labour Day weekend were in Calgary (1946) and Winnipeg (1952).
• 1952! A never-to-be-duplicated (presumably) Labour Day weekend! On a Friday night (Aug. 29), the Roughriders played in Winnipeg. The teams met again on the actual Labour Day (Mon., Sept. 2) at Taylor Field. The latter matchup is considered the game of record from 1952 when Roughriders/Bombers LDC matchups are documented.
•  As referenced earlier, the Roughriders have played one exhibition game on Labour Day weekend. The date: Aug. 30, 1947. The opponent: The Ottawa Rough Riders, who won 54-0 at Lansdowne Park. Let’s move on from that one, shall we?

ILLUMINATING EXPERIENCE 

• The Roughriders made history on Sept. 6, 1937 by: (a) Playing a home game on Labour Day weekend for the first time; and, (b) Playing their first game under the lights at Park de Young. Calgary won 4-1. One year later, the Roughriders blanked the Bronks 9-0 in another floodlit contest.

PASSING PEDIGREE 

•  Dating back to 1949, the Roughriders have started 28 different quarterbacks over 57 Labour Day weekend home games against Winnipeg. Here is the complete list, with each player’s won-lost record in parentheses: Darian Durant (6-1), Kent Austin (4-1), Ron Lancaster (4-2), Warren Jones (2-0), Kerry Joseph (2-0),  Joe Paopao (2-0), Frank Tripucka (2-0), Reggie Slack (2-1), Michael Bishop (1-0), Rocky Butler (1-0), Zach Collaros (1-0), Marcus Crandell (1-0), Jack Hartman (1-0), Kevin Mason (1-0), Brett Smith (1-0), Don Weiss (1-0), Doug Belden (1-1), Henry Burris (1-1), Kevin Glenn (1-1), John Hufnagel (1-1), Cody Fajardo (1-2), Joe Adams (0-1), Larry Dick (0-1), Glenn Dobbs (0-1), Nealon Greene (0-1), Homer Jordan (0-1), Bob Ptacek (0-1), Dave Sarette (0-1) and Tom Burgess (0-2). Pre-1949, Jim Lander was the Regina Roughriders’ quarterback of record in 1937 (loss) and 1938 (win).
•  Quarterbacks’ records in non-Winnipeg LDCs, post-second World War: Lancaster (8-1), Tripucka (2-1), Joe Barnes (1-0), Al Dorow (1-0), Don Allard (1-0), Bob Brodhead (1-0) and Johnny Cook (0-1). Plus, Lander and the Regina Roughriders played against Calgary in 1937 (loss) and 1938 (win).

RONNIE ON A ROLL 

•  Lancaster was 12-3 as a starting quarterback on Labour Day weekend. From a practical perspective, his record should be regarded as 13-3. On Sept. 7, 1970, Don Weiss started at quarterback against Winnipeg after Head Coach Eagle Keys made the decision to rest a sore-armed Lancaster. However, Lancaster entered the game after halftime — with Winnipeg leading 10-7 — and proceeded to complete nine of 10 passes for 240 yards and two TDs.
•  For 17 consecutive seasons, a Roughriders quarterback wore No. 23 in a Labour Day weekend game. Dave Sarette got the nod in 1962. Lancaster was behind centre from 1963 to 1978.
• Lancaster’s stats over 16 Labour Day weekend games, against Winnipeg, Montreal, B.C. or Edmonton: 229 completions in 395 attempts for 3,519 yards, with 28 TDs and 15 interceptions. He threw at least one TD pass in each of those 16 games. Beginning in 1966, The Little General threw multiple TD passes in eight consecutive Labour Day weekend games.
•  Lancaster’s 3,519 passing yards are the most by a Roughrider in Labour Day weekend games. Austin is second at 1,881, followed by Durant at 1,865. Austin is also second in TD passes (14), with Durant (12) next in line.

BY GEORGE! 

•  George Reed’s numbers on Labour Day weekend: 13 games, 195 rushes, 1,070 yards, 11 TDs.
• Hugh Campbell caught eight TD passes over five Labour Day games. He also played a role in a scoring play in 1964. After making a six-yard reception, Gluey Hughie flipped the ball to Ed Buchanan, who travelled the remaining 42 yards to the end zone.
• Campbell’s eight TD catches are an all-time Roughriders weekend for Labour Day weekend games. His is followed by Don Narcisse (seven) and Ray Elgaard (six).
• Elgaard leads the way in Labour Day weekend receiving yards (868 in 13 games). Narcisse had 54 catches, one more than Elgaard, in 12 games.
• Richie Hall, the Blue Bombers’ current Defensive Co-ordinator, intercepted three Winnipeg passes on Sept. 2, 1990.

BLOWN-OUT BOMBERS 

• Saskatchewan has recorded three of its five highest single-game points totals versus Winnipeg in a Labour Day Classic (56 in 1991 and 1995; 55 in 1990). The Roughriders’ team record was set Aug. 7, 1989 in a 58-22 home-field victory over Ottawa.

And now, we will really dig into the details. Here is a capsule of every single Labour Day weekend game in Roughriders history … 

SASKATCHEWAN VS. WINNIPEG: THE FIRST 57 

Sept. 5, 1949: Saskatchewan 20, Winnipeg 0 — Roughriders rush for 250 yards.  

Sept. 4, 1950: Saskatchewan 17, Winnipeg 2 — Key receptions, including a TD, by Matt Anthony.  

Sept. 3, 1951: Winnipeg 24, Saskatchewan 22 — Three fourth-quarter TD passes by Winnipeg’s Jack Jacobs. 

Sept. 1, 1952: Winnipeg 16, Saskatchewan 8 — Another big TD toss for Jacobs.  

Sept. 7, 1953: Saskatchewan 23, Winnipeg 19 — Taylor Field record crowd (14,904).  

Sept. 6, 1954: Saskatchewan 18, Winnipeg 14 — Joe Aguirre kicks four field goals in victorious effort. 

Sept. 4, 1961: Winnipeg 17, Saskatchewan 11 — Bombers’ Leo Lewis rushes for 106 yards.  

Sept. 3, 1962: Winnipeg 30, Saskatchewan 7 — Bill Gray catches 85-yard TD pass before Taylor Field record crowd (16,663).  

Sept. 2, 1963: Saskatchewan 15, Winnipeg 9 — 93 rushing yards and two TDs for Reed.  

Sept. 7, 1970: Saskatchewan 30, Winnipeg 11 — Gord Barwell with 202 receiving yards and two TDs.  

Sept. 4, 1972: Saskatchewan 32, Winnipeg 21 — Three TD tosses for Lancaster.  

Sept. 2, 1974: Winnipeg 20, Saskatchewan 18 — Walt McKee kicks game-winning, 16-yard field goal on final play. 

Sept. 1, 1975: Saskatchewan 27, Winnipeg 23 — Lancaster to Steve Mazurak for winning TD with 1:18 remaining.  

Sept. 5, 1977: Saskatchewan 26, Winnipeg 18 — 10 catches and 135 yards for Mazurak.  

Sept. 4, 1978: Winnipeg 31, Saskatchewan 29 — Bombers’ Richard Crump rushes for 103-yard TD late in fourth quarter.  

Sept. 3, 1979: Winnipeg 28, Saskatchewan 11 — Two TD passes by Dieter Brock.  

Sept. 1, 1980: Winnipeg 32, Saskatchewan 29 — Game-winning field goal by Trevor Kennerd with 1:09 remaining. 

Sept. 5, 1982: Winnipeg 36, Saskatchewan 35 — William Miller with game-winning two-point conversion at 12:38 of fourth quarter.  

Sept. 4, 1983: Saskatchewan 32, Winnipeg 30 — Ken Clark, the punter, kicks game-winning 41-yard field goal with 43 seconds left.  

Sept. 2, 1984: Saskatchewan 30, Winnipeg 25 — Dave Ridgway’s 52-yard field goal puts Riders ahead to stay. 

Sept. 1, 1985: Winnipeg 18, Saskatchewan 10 — 105-yard TD reception by Jeff Boyd is game-changer. 

Aug. 31, 1986: Saskatchewan 34, Winnipeg 30 — Elgaard wins it with 22 seconds left by catching 56-yard TD bomb from Joe Paopao. 

Sept. 6, 1987: Winnipeg 29, Saskatchewan 25 — Ridgway kicks 60-yard field goal (then a league record).  

Sept. 4, 1988: Saskatchewan 29, Winnipeg 19 — James Hood’s only TD as a Roughrider puts them ahead to stay.  

Sept. 3, 1989: Winnipeg 28, Saskatchewan 20 — Sean Salisbury throws two rapid-fire TD passes for Blue Bombers.  

Sept. 2, 1990: Saskatchewan 55, Winnipeg 11 — Four TD passes for Austin, including team-record 107-yarder to Jeff Fairholm.  

Sept. 1, 1991: Saskatchewan 56, Winnipeg 23 — 461 yards and four more TDs for Austin.  

Sept. 6, 1992: Saskatchewan 32, Winnipeg 20 — Austin strikes for another three aerial scores, giving him 11 in three-season span. 

Sept. 5, 1993: Winnipeg 25, Saskatchewan 24 — Troy Westwood’s 37-yard field goal wins it.  

Sept. 4, 1994: Saskatchewan 42, Winnipeg 31 — Mike Saunders rushes for 164 yards and two majors.  

Sept. 3, 1995: Saskatchewan 56, Winnipeg 4 —Elgaard catches two passes, both for TDs.  

Sept. 1, 1996: Saskatchewan 41, Winnipeg 23 — Kevin Mason to Curtis Mayfield for TDs of 95 and 87 yards. 

Aug. 31, 1997: Winnipeg 43, Saskatchewan 12 — Bombers’ Kevin McDougal goes 15-for-19 for 182 yards and two TDs.  

Sept. 6, 1998: Saskatchewan 32, Winnipeg 18 — Reggie Slack passes for 316 yards and three TDs.  

Sept. 5, 1999: Saskatchewan 42, Winnipeg 17 — Curtis Mayfield scores three TDs (two punt returns, one reception). 

Sept. 3, 2000: Saskatchewan 38, Winnipeg 29 — Henry Burris throws for two majors.  

Sept. 2, 2001: Winnipeg 20, Saskatchewan 18 — Riders’ Kevin Glenn throws first of 293 career TD passes. 

Sept. 1, 2002: Saskatchewan 33, Winnipeg 19 — Three TD runs by first-time starter Rocky Butler. 

Aug. 31, 2003: Winnipeg 36, Saskatchewan 18 — 40,320 fans flock to Taylor Field, with temporary bleachers installed for 2003 Grey Cup game.  

Sept. 5, 2004: Winnipeg 17, Saskatchewan 4 — Glenn throws two TD passes against former team.  

Sept. 4, 2005: Saskatchewan 45, Winnipeg 26 — 170 rushing yards for Kenton Keith.  

Sept. 3, 2006: Saskatchewan 39, Winnipeg 12 — Two TD passes and 48 rushing yards from Joseph.  

Sept. 2, 2007: Saskatchewan 31, Winnipeg 26 —Joseph scores game-winning, 26-yard TD run with six seconds left.  

Aug. 31, 2008: Saskatchewan 19, Winnipeg 6 — Luca Congi kicks four field goals.  

Sept. 6, 2009: Saskatchewan 29, Winnipeg 14 — Tad Kornegay leads Riders’ defence with two interceptions and fumble recovery.  

Sept. 5, 2010: Saskatchewan 27, Winnipeg 23 —Durant throws for 111 yards in fourth quarter and runs for key TD.  

Sept. 4, 2011: Saskatchewan 27, Winnipeg 7 — Chris Getzlaf catches two TD passes. 

Sept. 2, 2012: Saskatchewan 52, Winnipeg 0 — Durant and Weston Dressler connect for two TDs in first 16 minutes.  

Sept. 1, 2013: Saskatchewan 48, Winnipeg 25 — Riders improve to 8-1 behind Durant’s four TD passes.  

Aug. 31, 2014: Saskatchewan 35, Winnipeg 30 — Anthony Allen runs for 15-yard, game-winning TD with 28 seconds left. 

Sept. 6, 2015: Saskatchewan 37, Winnipeg 19 — Roughriders win 11th consecutive Labour Day Classic.  

Sept. 4, 2016: Winnipeg 28, Saskatchewan 25 — Justin Medlock kicks 43-yard field goal on final play.  

Sept. 3, 2017: Saskatchewan 38, Winnipeg 24 — Roughriders score 34 first-half points.  

Sept. 2, 2018: Saskatchewan 31, Winnipeg 23 — Roughriders win fourth quarter 14-3.  

Sept. 1, 2019: Saskatchewan 19, Winnipeg 17 — Game-winning, 26-yard field goal by Brett Lauther on final play.  

Sept. 5, 2021: Winnipeg 23, Saskatchewan 8 — Two TD passes by Zach Collaros.  

Sept. 4, 2022: Winnipeg 20, Saskatchewan 18 — 55-yard game-winning field goal by Marc Liegghio.  

REGINA ROUGHRIDERS VS. WINNIPEG — THE FIRST TWO 

Sept. 4, 1939: Winnipeg 17, Regina 1 — Bieber fever! Winnipeg’s Andy Bieber rushes for one TD and laterals to Jeff Nicklin for another. 

Sept. 2, 1940: Regina 3, Winnipeg 1 — Riders ride Toar Springstein’s 20-yard field goal to victory.  

EBW: SASKATCHEWAN VS. EVERYONE BUT WINNIPEG 

Sept. 6, 1948: Calgary 14, Saskatchewan 8 — Roughriders walk off field with 12 seconds left to protest officials’ call. 

Sept. 5, 1955: B.C. 24, Saskatchewan 23 — Three TDs for Roughriders’ Ken Carpenter.  

Sept. 3, 1956: Saskatchewan 24, B.C. 10 — Two TD passes by Tripucka.  

Sept. 2, 1957: Saskatchewan 28, B.C. 13 — Tripucka to Carpenter for two scores. 

Sept. 1, 1958: Saskatchewan 22, B.C. 14 — Riders’ Cookie Gilchrist rushes for 173 yards.  

Sept. 7, 1959: B.C. 35, Saskatchewan 17 — Riders get blocked punt by future Minnesota Vikings legend Jim Marshall. 

Sept. 5, 1960: B.C. 31, Saskatchewan 21 — Three TD passes by Don Allard. 

Sept. 7, 1964: Roughriders 32, Montreal 0 — Ed Buchanan rushes for 122 yards; adds 105 receiving yards.  

Sept. 6, 1965: Edmonton 24, Saskatchewan 22 — 29 first downs, 290 rushing yards for Roughriders. 

Sept. 5, 1966: Saskatchewan 44, Montreal 0 — Three TDs from Reed and Campbell.  

Sept. 4, 1967: Saskatchewan 18, Edmonton 6 — Both Campbell catches produce a TD.  

Sept. 2, 1968: Saskatchewan 29, Edmonton 2 — 150 receiving yards for Barwell.  

Sept. 1, 1969: Saskatchewan 32, B.C. 14 — Two more TD catches for Campbell.  

Sept. 6, 1971: Saskatchewan 35, B.C. 24 — Lancaster throws three TD passes.  

Sept. 3, 1973: Saskatchewan 28, Edmonton 27 — Reed scores game-winning TD with 33 seconds left, capping 105-yard drive. 

Sept. 6, 1976: Saskatchewan 17, B.C. 14 — Limping Lancaster finds Rhett Dawson for game-winning TD with 1:48 left.  

Sept. 6, 1981: Saskatchewan 35, Montreal 26 — John Hufnagel throws three TD passes as Riders rally from 26-8 deficit.  

SPOTLIGHTING (LITERALLY!) THE REGINA ROUGHRIDERS VS. CALGARY BRONKS 

Sept. 6, 1937: Calgary 4, Regina 1 — Bronks’ Ed Rorvig snaps 1-1 tie with 35-yard field goal midway through fourth quarter.  

Sept. 5, 1938: Regina 9, Calgary 0 — Leo Danaher and Howard Cleveland lead the way as Roughriders rush for 182 yards in second consecutive Labour Day weekend night game.  

THE LONESOME ROAD (GAMES) 

Sept. 2, 1946: Calgary 9, Saskatchewan 0 — Paul Rowe scores game’s lone TD on 70-yard interception return.  

Aug. 29, 1952: Winnipeg 27, Saskatchewan 9 — Bombers outgain Roughriders 339 yards to 124.