Get your banjos out

This year’s Banjo Bowl has a tough act to follow.

The Labour Day Classic in Regina lived up to its name, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders trading haymakers before the green and white escaped Mosaic Stadium with a 34-30 victory.

No matter what happened the week before — or where the teams sit in the standings — the rematch in Winnipeg is always a game both fans and players circle on the calendar.

“It’s my favourite game of the year,” said running back Brady Oliveira. “It’s just the atmosphere, the energy — it’s exhilarating. There’s something about the Banjo Bowl.”

For the Bombers (6-5) to have any hope of catching the Riders (9-2), they’ll need to take care of business in today’s 3 p.m. showdown.

To get you set for kickoff, here’s the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

DOIN’ THE HOKEY POKEY

The bad news: Star receiver Dalton Schoen is out for the season with a torn ACL.

The good news: Ontaria ‘Pokey’ Wilson is back in blue and gold.

Wilson’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. With Schoen sidelined, the Bombers needed a reliable pass catcher, and they’re wasting no time getting Wilson involved. He’ll make his 2025 debut in the Labour Day rematch.

Wilson caught 71 passes for 1,026 yards and three touchdowns last season with Winnipeg, earning a look from the NFL’s New York Jets. He was waived on Aug. 23 and quickly reunited with his former club.

Despite limited time to learn first-year offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan’s playbook, Wilson said after Friday’s walk-through that he’s ready to roll.

“It’s been pretty smooth. Everyone’s been helping me out, and I’m getting polished with the playbook,” he said. “I’m not going to hold anyone back — I made sure I’m on top of (things).”

UNLEASH OLIVEIRA

Sometimes you have to throw the game plan out the window and go with the flow.

With that said, there’s no excuse for Oliveira — the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player — leaving The Queen City with just five carries.

That number needs to go up — way up, Saturday afternoon.

Oliveira spoke with Hogan after the loss to address his lack of opportunities in the LDC. He also admitted to media he’s been practising pissed off all week and that he’s excited to get back out there and show what he can do.

Bouncing back against the Riders won’t be easy, though. They own the league’s stingiest run defence, allowing just 71.6 yards per game on the ground.

Oliveira, who missed two games with a shoulder injury earlier this season, currently ranks fourth in the CFL with 574 rushing yards. He trails B.C.’s James Butler by nearly 300 yards for the league lead.

RIDERS ARE FOR REAL

It may pain Bomber fans to admit it — especially in a year when the Grey Cup game is in Winnipeg — but the Roughriders are one of the best teams in the CFL.

They boast the No. 1-ranked defence — which was evident by sacking Zach Collaros five times — and top the West in scoring at 28.3 points per game.

Quarterback Trevor Harris is aging like fine wine, with the 39-year-old leading the league with a 116.8 passer rating in addition to being in the top-three in touchdown passes (19) and completion rate (73.5 per cent).

Veteran tailback A.J. Ouellette is also getting the job done as he’s in the hunt for the rushing crown with 802 yards.

The Bombers are 1-5 this season when allowing 28 points or more.

“Trevor Harris is having an MOP season, but I’d say the offence runs through No. 45 (Ouellette),” said Bombers dime back Redha Kramdi, who returns to the lineup after missing the previous game.

“He’s a great football player who’s hard to tackle and punishes defenders. When he gets going, they’re hard to stop.”

The Riders are dangerous, but they have a glaring weakness in kicker Brett Lauther. He has the shakiest leg in the CFL as he’s connected on just 65.7 per cent of his field goal attempts.

HARDRICK’S RETURN

For seven seasons, Jermarcus Hardrick held down the right tackle gig for the Bombers, becoming a fan favourite for both his energy and affection for Winnipeg.

The Riders made him an offer he couldn’t refuse in 2024 free agency and he bolted for a big pay day. Their investment didn’t work out last year as he played five games due to a quad injury that required surgery and missed all three matchups with his former team.

Now healthy and looking as good as ever, the 35-year-old from Mississippi returns to the gridiron in Winnipeg for the first time in enemy colours.

Last week, he went head-to-head with Bombers star pass rusher Willie Jefferson — known as “Uncle Willie” to Hardrick’s kids — and kept him off the stat sheet.

The Riders are certainly getting their money’s worth now.

“He’s a guy you can’t put in a box. There’s so many great things about him that I miss,” said Bombers right guard Patrick Neufeld. “He’s playing extremely high-calibre football right now, and his attitude is infectious.”

PLAYING THE RIGHT TUNE

The Banjo Bowl has been real good to the Bombers lately.

They’ve won five in a row and eight of the last nine. The one loss came when quarterback Zach Collaros played for the Riders, making him a perfect 5-0 in his career when the two Prairie rivals duke it out this weekend.

Last year’s edition was a nailbiter with Winnipeg coming back in the fourth to claim a 26-21 win but, overall, the Bombers have owned the half decade by outscoring Saskatchewan 199-66 in their five-game streak.

Heading into the 21st annual Banjo Bowl, the Bombers hold a 13-7 edge in the all-time series. The Riders, however, have more series sweeps than the Bombers have: seven to five. They have a chance to win both meetings of the back-to-back for the first time since 2018. The Bombers have brought out the brooms three times since then: 2021, 2022 and 2024.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca