Enlarge Image

liam richards / the canadian press Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Kory Sheets blows by Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Brandon Stewart on Sunday. (CP)

Related Items

1. Articles

   • Dissent grows as Bomber fans fume
   • Big Blue will have one helluva punter

In case you missed it (and some of you probably wish you did)...

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were thumped 52-0 by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Labour Day Classic at Mosaic Stadium Sunday afternoon, the club's worst loss since a 68-7 loss to Edmonton in the West semifinal in 1996 and the fourth-largest margin of defeat in team history.

The last-place Bombers simply didn't show up in Regina, and are now looking at a 2-7 record with nine games left to play in the 2012 season.

"I can't think of any aspect (of the game) that we won," a disappointed Tim Burke offered after the bludgeoning. Burke made his head coaching debut Sunday, taking over the duties after club management fired Paul LaPolice last weekend, and chewed out the players in the closed door, locker-room meeting following the historic loss.

Also included in the desperate, post-game pep-talk: Bombers GM Joe Mack.

Riders receiver Weston Dressler scored two touchdowns in the first half, while former Bomber Terence Jeffers-Harris and backup quarterback Drew Willy added majors in the second half. Defensive back Tyron Brackenridge added a special teams touchdown during the opening 30 minutes, as well, when he blocked a Mike Renaud punt and scooped it up for the easy score.

Saskatchewan kicker Sandro DeAngelis added five field goals.

The Bombers offence -- if you can call it that -- was shut out for the first time since 1969 and managed only 102 net yards. Starting quarterback Joey Elliott struggled to move the ball in his half-plus of work, finishing 9-of-19 for 61 yards with one interception. He was replaced by Alex Brink late in the game.

The Bombers turned the ball over five times and had the ball for just 20 minutes in the game. On top of that, the club took 12 penalties (to Saskatchewan's seven) -- an area Burke was supposed to rectify.

Winnipeg, now winless in five tries on the road this year, hosts the Riders in the annual Banjo Bowl Sunday.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

Three ugly numbers: 0 points

Not just the game total, but the number of points Winnipeg scored in the first quarter Sunday. Surprised? The Bombers have managed just eight points in first quarters in nine contests. Averaging less than a point through the opening 15 minutes? That's pathetic.

102 net yards offence

This is still the CFL, right? Stop laughing. Deeper inside this production from the Winnipeg offence, we see the attack managed just 50 yards at the half and 63 net yards after three quarters. Take away the Bombers meaningless drive at the end of the game (33 yards), and... well, you get the picture.

10 first downs

That won't even get you the length of the CFL field, guys. Winnipeg had five two-and-outs and four three-and-outs Sunday. Not great, when you consider they only had 13 total possessions. Oh yeah, the offence only made it as far as the Riders 39-yard line (Winnipeg turned it over on downs). In a word, ugh.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 4, 2012 D3