Bombers take Classic with thrilling 35-33 win over Roughriders

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/09/2024 (395 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA – After digging themselves an early hole, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers couldn’t have found a sweeter way to return to the top of the West Division.

In what will go down as one of the crazier finishes in the annual Labour Day Classic — which sure is saying something – the Bombers survived a late scare to narrowly beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 35-33 in front of a sold out crowd (33,861) at Mosaic Stadium Sunday night.

The game was ultimately decided on a failed 60-yard field goal attempt by Brett Lauther with zeroes remaining on the clock, his boot falling well short of the goal posts. That came after the Riders mounted a late touchdown drive, only to miss on the game-tying two-point convert and then recover the ensuing onside kick to set up a chance to win on the last-second field goal.

“It was crazy. It was nuts,” said Bombers receiver Nic Demski. “There are not really any words for it. You’re excited one moment, then you’re holding your breath the next moment and the emotions are just flying all over the place. You just got to stay even-keeled and ride the wave and it ended up working out in our favour.”

The victory improved the Blue and Gold to 6-6 on the season, putting them one point ahead of the Riders for first place in the division.

While the Bombers are surely thrilled to leave such a hostile environment with the two points, it might have come at a hefty cost. Star quarterback Zach Collaros was knocked out of the game with an undisclosed injury late in the second quarter and veteran linebacker Adam Bighill was also unable to finish the game with an injury to his left knee. There were no updates on either player after the game.

The two prairie rivals won’t have to wait long to see each other again, with the annual Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg set for Saturday – a game that will decide the season series and first tiebreaker in the standings. But before we look too far ahed, let’s dive even deeper into Sunday’s win.

PUTTING UP POINTS

While many pundits were predicting a low-scoring affair given the strength of each club’s defences, neither team seemed to get the memo.

It felt like it was going to be a defensive battle early on, with each side swapping a quick two-and-out on their opening possessions. By halftime, though, the game had turned into a shootout.

The scoreboard read 7-7 by the end of the first quarter, with touchdowns from Winnipeg’s Chris Streveler, followed by a Shawn Bane score from 12 yards out. That would set up a wild second quarter, with the Bombers finding the end zone three more times and the Riders once.

After Trevor Harris found Dohnte Meyers for an 18-yard score, Zach Collaros answered right back finding Nic Demski for a 44-yard TD to even the game. The Bombers would get a nice boost from the special teams – more on that in a moment – before Streveler rushed for his second score of the game and ninth of the season.

That’s a lot of points in a short amount of time, especially when you consider these teams combined for just one TD in a 19-9 Riders victory back in Week 7.

A SPECIAL PLAY – FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK

The Bombers special teams played a significant role in last week’s win over Hamilton Tiger-Cats, scoring its first touchdown of the season after Michael Ayers returned a forced fumble by Tony Jones to the house. They were back at it again in Regina, this time with a little help from their prairie foe.

With the Bombers up 15-14 midway through the second quarter, a Jamieson Sheahan punt grazed the fingers of Riders returner Mario Alford near his own five-yard line. Alford tried to retrieve the fumbled ball, but it was Bombers defensive back Nick Hallett that got to it first, jumping on it in the end zone to give Winnipeg a 22-14 lead.

“Got there for the tackle, saw the ball bounce off his hands towards me, in my direction and I just jumped on it,” Hallett said. “Just blessed I was there; kinda lucky, but I was glad to be able to help my team in that way.”

It was a bit of redemption for Hallett, who appeared to be the culprit on a 12-yard TD by Shawn Bane in the first quarter. The score also provided some breathing room, the second of three straight TDs for the visitors in the first half, giving the Bombers a 29-14 through two quarters.

COLLAROS OUT, STREVELER IN

The Bombers suffered a serious blow moments before halftime as Collaros – who finished 12-for-18 passing for 218 yards, to go with one TD and one interception – was on the receiving end of a heavy hit by Riders defensive lineman Miles Brown.

Brown appeared to catch Collaros’s helmet with his shoulder. A roughing-the-passer penalty was given to Brown, adding to a defensive pass interference on a separate, both of which helped set up Winnipeg on Saskatchewan’s one-yard line, leading to Streveler’s second TD.

Streveler took over in the second half and wasn’t asked to throw the ball down field, completing four of just six passes for 46 yards. Indeed, the offence was pretty stagnant with Collaros out of the game and not even the league’s leading rusher could pick up the slack, with Brady Oliveira finishing with just 42 rushing yards on 12 carries. Winnipeg was also playing with a banged-up offensive line, with veterans Stanley Bryant and Patrick Neufeld both sidelined.

“No one had us to win this game,” Oliveira said. “Just a total nail-biter. We had a lot of belief on the sidelines but it was still a rollercoaster of emotions. We just needed to gut it out for the win and we did.”

Meanwhile, the Riders started to pick away at the Bombers lead, beginning with a pair of field goals from Lauther, including a 55-yarder, that cut the game to 29-20.

That’s when Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo answered back in a big way, first connecting on a 52-yard field goal that put the Bombers back up by 12 points, 32-20. When the Riders cut the lead to 32-27 after Trevor Harris found KeeSean Johnson for a five-yard score, Castillo was trotted back out there and he made it a critical eight-point edge for the visitors, 35-27, with a 56-yarder.

The 56-yard field goal tied Troy Westwood for the longest in an LDC. It also proved to be the difference after Harris’s pass attempt on the two-point convert was broken up by Bombers linebacker Tony Jones.

“There’s always plays you want to have back, but trust me, we’re not going to complain about this one,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea, who moves into a tie with Bud Grant for the most regular-season wins in franchise history, his record now at 102-68. “We’re going to enjoy this night and then get back to work.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton