Bombers prevail in wild-west shootout

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This article was published 16/06/2023 (843 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA — It was a Wild West shootout between a pair of old-time rivals.

But when the smoke finally cleared, a familiar scene played out — the Winnipeg Blue Bombers once again stood tall over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, this time by a 45-27 score. Make it eight straight for the Blue & Gold over the guys in green dating back to 2019.

“It’s good to get a win in Sask,” a smiling coach Mike O’Shea said outside the team’s locker room. “Their fans are always loud, they always try to make it very difficult for you. I thought our offence did a good job of executing in this kind of environment.”

The latest battle on Friday night at Mosaic Stadium had no shortage of action and a dose of controversy.

You had Winnipeg quarterbacks running for not one, not two, but three touchdown scores. Zach Collaros had the first, while backup pivot Dru Brown had the other two. Collaros also connected with receivers Dalton Schoen and Drew Wolitarsky for majors.

“That was a fun one,” said Collaros. “It was back and forth. I thought we did a good job of staying on the football field and scoring points. There were a lot of swings in momentum in the game and I thought we did a good job of weathering that storm.”

It was a two-man show on the other side of the field. Saskatchewan QB Trevor Harris found Samuel Emilus for a trio of touchdowns as they repeatedly exploited coverage and torched Winnipeg’s secondary.

However, the true star of the night was Janarion Grant, who broke open a close game late in the third quarter with an electrifying 90-yard punt return touchdown. It was as sweet and slippery as it gets, with the speedster dodging numerous tackles on his way to the end zone.

Initially, it appeared it may all be for naught. Officials called an illegal block against linebacker Les Maruo, so it looked like the score was coming back. O’Shea tossed a challenge flag. After a lengthy video review, the CFL command centre ruled that it had reviewed all Bombers blocks on the play and deemed all were within the rules.

“It’s a group effort,” O’Shea said of seeking another look. “I think, because of the magnitude of the play, it’s worth it. From what we saw on film, there was enough there to make that challenge.”

The penalty was wiped out. The touchdown stood. Fans were irate. And that was pretty much all she wrote.

Winnipeg is now off to a perfect 2-0 start on the 2023 campaign. Saskatchewan falls to 1-1.

“I think we just understand what the task is,” Collaros said of repeatedly getting the same successful results, especially when facing the Roughriders. “It always comes down to execution. Prior to that, your preparation has to be key. We’ve got a very methodical method of how we do things, and everyone’s bought in.”

The first pass of the game for Collaros would be a sign of things to come, as he looked Nic Demski’s way and found him for a three-yard gain. It was similar to how last week’s season-opener began, with one big difference — Demski hung on to the ball this time.

Progress! In fact, a Bombers team that coughed it up five times in that 42-31 triumph over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats didn’t have a single lost ball on this night.

A punt gave Saskatchewan its first offensive opportunity, but Winnipeg’s defence came up with a big early play as Adam Bighill stuffed a third-and-one plunge to turn the ball over on downs. That set up the first scoring play of the night, as Sergio Castillo connected on a 36-yard field goal to put the visitors up 3-0. Castillo is now a perfect five-for-five early in the year.

The Roughriders responded later in the quarter as Harris, who was a question mark to play after getting banged up in the final minute of last week’s win in Edmonton, connected with Emilus for a five-yard major. But it was one play earlier that had the stadium buzzing, as Tevin Jones made an incredible one-handed grab for a 38-yard gain.

A significant turning point occurred near the end of the opening quarter, and from a most unlikely source. Punter Jamieson Sheahan executed a perfect 59-yard kick that ended up on the Saskatchewan three-yard line. A no-yards penalty gave the Roughriders a bit more breathing room, but it was negated by two straight sacks by the Bombers — first by Brandon Alexander, and then by Celestin Haba.

Grant’s 17-yard punt return put Winnipeg in Saskatchewan territory to start the second stanza. And they quickly made their opponent pay. Demski’s fifth grab of the night helped set up a tricky 13-yard touchdown grab by Schoen to make it 10-7 for Winnipeg. Schoen pretty much took it off his shoetops for the score.

Winnipeg’s defence went to work once again, with Haba sacking Harris, followed by Jake Thomas doing the same. A 51-yard field goal try from Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther went just wide to the right, and Grant ran it back for 41 yards to give his team good field position once again.

After hooking up for sizable gains with Schoen and Wolitarsky, Collaros used his legs to get his team back in the end zone. He scampered for 13 yards under heavy pressure to keep the drive alive, then ultimately ran it in from the four-yard line to make it 17-7. It’s his first rushing touchdown since 2016.

“That was fun. I didn’t know what to do,” Collaros joked. “I’m going to get blasted in the team meeting.”

One thing was crystal clear: All that early action that came Demski’s way led to the Roughriders focusing heavily on him, which seemed to create some time and space for other Bombers ball-catchers.

“We’ve returned a lot of guys, and everyone’s played a lot of football together now,” Schoen said of the wealth of receiving riches on the team. “We just know if we all do our job, someone’s going to be open. That’s how we draw it up. We have all the faith in the world of everyone out there that if the ball comes their way, they’re going to make the play.”

Winnipeg looked on its way to a perfect quarter only to have a bit of air let out in the final minute, Harris, running a hurry-up offence, drove his team down to the 20-yard line and then found Emilus for a touchdown with 39 seconds remaining.

The second half began just like the first half ended — with a Saskatchewan touchdown in the form of Harris to Emilus. He’s the first Roughriders player since Weston Dressler to record the football version of a “hat trick.”

Just like that, the Bombers were now behind 21-17.

A curious officiating call also helped the cause. Willie Jefferson was called for an “illegal participation” foul after he made a tackle without his helmet. There was just one problem — referees clearly missed, or ignored, the fact that an illegal hands to the face infraction by Saskatchewan caused him to get unmasked.

But then came a statement from Winnipeg, as Collaros connected on six straight passes, then gave way to Brown who ran it in from the one-yard line to give Winnipeg the lead back.

Grant’s incredible dash a few minutes later made it 31-21

Brown’s second plunge of the game early in the fourth ended any hopes of a comeback, and an 11-yard Collaros touchdown toss to Wolitarsky put it completely out of reach. Lauther connected on two field goals to round out the scoring.

Collaros finished the night 23-of-31 for 288 yards in the air, and three runs for 17 yards on the ground. Schoen led the way with eight catches for 145 yards and a major. Wolitarsky (5 for 66) and Demski (5 for 51) were right behind him.

Harris had a monster game, going 29-for-41 for 405 yards.

“I don’t think we ever felt at ease,” said O’Shea. “Saskatchewan was able to drive the ball and make some big plays. I don’t think they were ever out of it. I bet in their locker room they never felt out of it, which to me is the sign of a good football team.”

The clubs will meet two more times later this season, for the annual Labour Day Classic and Banjo Bowl the following week.

Winnipeg now returns home to host the British Columbia Lions next Thursday.