Blue hit all the right chords

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This article was published 10/09/2022 (1099 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers struck all the right chords, finding their rhythm early before rolling to a 54-20 beatdown over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in front of a sold-out Banjo Bowl crowd of 33,321 at IG Field Saturday.

The Bombers offence was humming all afternoon, earning points on nine of 10 drives, including seven touchdowns. The defence surrendered just 13 total points and shutout Saskatchewan’s offence for the entire second half, finishing the day with four turnovers.

It was about as complete a game as we’ve seen from the Blue and Gold this season. Which is saying something for a club that has lost just once in 13 weeks this year.

“It was a pretty good effort, that’s for sure. We’ll get closer to that. We gave up 10 points in about 40 seconds surrounding the half,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said after the game. “That’s the only thing that maybe stops you from saying it was a complete game. We played really well.” With the win, the Bombers improved to 12-1 on the year, further distancing themselves from the pack atop the West Division. The victory also clinches the season-series against the Roughriders, after Winnipeg defeated Saskatchewan, 20-18, in last week’s Labour Day Classic.

It’s just the fourth time since the Banjo Bowl was first played in 2004 that the Bombers have swept the mini two-game, back-to-back series, and the second time in as many years after claiming both games in 2021. The Roughriders, who dropped to 6-7, dipping below the .500-mark for the first time this season, have now lost the last six games to the Bombers, including twice in the playoffs.

“It’s crucial. You want to take down the West (Division). You want to take down every team,” said Bombers receiver Nic Demski, who finished with seven catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns. “But when you take control of the West, it gets us closer and closer to our goal. It speaks volumes to what this team brings.”

The Roughriders were dealt a major blow prior to kickoff, as a stomach virus swept through the club, leaving a handful of players unable to dress. Reports said as many as 15 players and eight coaches were affected.

Notable absences included receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Justin McInnis, as well as defensive back Jeremy Clark and No. 2 quarterback Mason Fine. There were others who fell ill but were cleared to play through in order to field as close to a full team as possible.

“It started with walking into the locker room, and it looked like triage in there. The amount of guys that were sick, throwing up, coming out both ends, it was pretty ridiculous,” Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo said. “I have a lot of heart for those guys. Our entire offensive line was sick and they went out. We were giving them IVs just to get them on the field. We didn’t have anything else to do.”

The Bombers showed little mercy to their opponent, marching down the field on their opening drive to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Zach Collaros, who finished the game 21-of-25 passing for 273 yards and four touchdowns, capped off the 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 16-yard strike to Demski.

It was one of three total drives in the opening quarter, with the Roughriders running just three plays and possessing the ball for fewer than two minutes through the first 15 minutes. The Bombers then opened the second frame with a three-yard QB sneak touchdown from short-yardage pivot Dakota Prukop on the very first play to take a 13-0 lead.

Collaros had preached this week the need for better execution and sustaining longer drives after struggling to do so against the Roughriders last week. The Bombers opened the game with four straight touchdowns, totalling 33 plays and 263 yards.

“It’s definitely rewarding. We come to work every day to try to get better. The guys did a good job,” Collaros said. “It’s different when you’re playing the same team twice. There’s less you can really do, not in game-planning, but there’s less film to watch. Guys do a really good job of taking care of their bodies and spending time executing.”

Saskatchewan found some life late in the second quarter, with Fajardo capping off a well-executed 16-play, 86-yard touchdown drive with a one-yard QB sneak. That cut the Bombers lead to 13-6.

The only other Bomber blemishes were a 52-yard field goal by Brett Lauther to end the first half and a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown by Mario Alford to open the second. By then, though, the Bombers had already built up a 27-10 halftime lead, owing to Demski’s second touchdown and a highlight-reel catch-and-run score by Rasheed Bailey, who did his best Superman impression, diving through the air just enough to catch the orange pylon.

“I waited to be in that position for a while now. I ain’t taking no for an answer,” said Bailey, who paced all receivers with five catches for 83 yards and the score. “I’m going to continue proving that I’m one of the best dudes in this league. And tonight, I was able to prove that. I want to keep building off that momentum and just ride this wave.”

The Bombers finished with 407 yards of net offence, while the Roughriders had just 214. Saskatchewan and Winnipeg entered the game the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked rushing teams in the CFL, respectively, with the Bombers finishing with 131 yards on the ground, and the Roughriders with 104.

Alford’s touchdown provided some momentum for the visitors, but it was brief.

The Bombers offence kept clicking in the second half, with Collaros finding Brendan O’Leary-Orange, who replaced an injured Drew Wolitarsky, for his first CFL touchdown. Collaros was pulled from the game midway through the fourth quarter, providing backup QB Dru Brown an opportunity for meaningful reps behind centre.

Brown made the most of it by completing one of two passes – an 11-yard touchdown to Dalton Schoen. It was Schoen’s 10th score of the season, giving him the most among receivers in the CFL.

Marc Liegghio rounded out the scoring with two field goals, connecting from 45 and 23 yards.

You don’t go out there to punt the ball, you don’t go out there to get field goals. You do it to score touchdowns,” Collaros said. “It’s a credit to the room, it’s a credit to the coaches getting those guys ready, it’s a credit to the leadership. Guys who have been here for a long time set the tone in that room and everybody understands the expectations that we have.”

Meanwhile, the Bombers defence saved its best for last. Of the four turnovers, three came on the Roughriders final four drives.

Willie Jefferson forced a fumble on a sack – one of four sacks on the day – which was recovered by Jackson Jeffcoat. Jamal. Jamal Parker then broke up a pass to Shaq Evans for a turnover on downs. Finally, Winston Rose picked off a Fajardo pass, providing an exclamation point on the win.

“I said at the beginning of the game to the guys, today was our day. If not today, then why not today?” Jefferson said. “We at home, we got a perfect crowd, the atmosphere was amazing, we had a great week of preparation. Everybody was locked in, dialled in, ready to play. Like I said, ‘why not today?’ And we did that.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton