Roughriders pound Bombers in Banjo Bowl

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This article was published 11/09/2011 (5463 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Cue the sad music.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers started strong but finished cold, losing a 45-23 decision to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 8th annual Banjo Bowl at Canad Inns Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Saskatchewan (3-7), who came into the Labour Day Classic with just one win in eight tries, has won two straight games over the Bombers (7-3).

A week ago, the Riders beat the Bombers 27-7 at Mosaic Stadium and the task doesn’t get any easier for the Bombers now, as they’ll head to Montreal to face the two-time defending Grey Cup champs next Sunday.

Montreal pounded the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-13 Sunday afternoon.

Things started well for the home side when they opened the scoring on their first drive with an 18-yard field goal from Justin Palardy five minutes into the contest. It was the first time this season the Blue and Gold have put points on the board in their first drive of the game.

Winnipeg made it 10-0 when they drove the ball 100-yards on seven plays, ending with a Fred Reid touchdown with 1:33 left in the opening quarter. On the drive, Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce took a tremendous hit on a sack by Riders safety Craig Butler.

The hit was reminiscent of the sack Pierce took in the season opener in Hamilton (on a hit by Tiger-Cats linebacker Jamall Johnson) — a blind-side shot that popped the pivot’s helmet off.

Pierce staying in the game, but the Riders finally answered the Bombers push in the second quarter. First, a 33-yard touchdown pass to Chris Getzlaf. That was followed by an 11-yard field goal from kicker Chris Milo with just over six minutes left in the half, and the score was back even.

The visitors took lead on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Darian Durant to Getzlaf, a short drive set up by a Butler interception on a pass from Pierce.

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The Winnipeg starter was hit hard all first half, and was constantly looked at by the Bombers medical staff when he wasn’t on the field.

Palardy booted a 46-yard field goal to make it 17-13, but the Riders answered back with a 27-yard touchdown catch to Westin Dressler with four seconds left in the half.

Palardy made it 3-for-3 from FG range when he booted a 45-yarder to open the scoring in the second half. The Riders put in another touchdown before the third quarter was up, a 5-yard pass from Durant — his fourth TD pass of the game — to fullback Neil Hughes with 15 seconds on the clock.

That was essentially the final dagger, as the visitors added touchdown from Wes Cates and Chris McKenzie, the latter coming on an interception — the fifth of the game from Pierce. Edwards added a late score — from quarterback Alex Brink — to close out the scoring.

Injury news: Linebacker Joe Lobendahn suffered a right leg injury in the second quarter and did not return. He was carted off to the locker room.