It all comes down to the Banjo Bowl

It all started with a comment made by a kicker.

In 2003, Troy Westwood referred to the fine folks of Saskatchewan as “banjo-pickin’ inbreds.”

The following season, the Banjo Bowl was officially born, and it quickly became one of the most notable annual events on the Prairies.

The 22nd edition kicks off today, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-6) hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-4) at 3 p.m. in a crucial West Division showdown.

The Bombers are 13-8 in the Banjo Bowl and have won eight of the last 10.

“That’s awesome that 20-plus years later it’s still called the Banjo Bowl,” said Bombers defensive back Major Williams.

“We’re embracing it and it’s going to be loud and rowdy. We’re going to give it all we got.”

The Bombers will need to in order to avenge the 32-26 overtime loss they suffered in Regina in last weekend’s Labour Day Classic. Since these two clubs aren’t scheduled to meet a third time, this contest will also decide the regular-season series. For the Bombers to claim it, they’ll need to beat the defending Grey Cup champions by seven points or more.

“We have a lot to prove as a team,” said Bombers defensive lineman Jake Ceresna.

“We want to prove we’re one of the best teams in the CFL, and they are one of the best teams.”

To get you ready for game day, here’s the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

Collaros still has it

Zach Collaros apologized to the media for being extremely brief — 47 seconds, to be exact — in last week’s post-game interview.

He doesn’t have to apologize for his recent play, however, as the 38-year-old has been extremely efficient as of late.

In his last three outings, the Bombers quarterback has completed 70 per cent of his passes and has a 5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Collaros owns a 5-1 record in Banjo Bowls — four of those wins coming as a Bomber and one with the Riders — but last year is one he likely wishes he could forget. A helmet-to-helmet hit by then-Riders linebacker C.J. Reavis in the third quarter, which was flagged for roughing the passer, knocked the veteran pivot out of the contest. Saskatchewan went on to win 21-13, and Collaros missed the next two games.

Collaros shared on Friday that he hasn’t thought about that play this week.

“It’s the same intensity each year,” he said.

“It’s gonna be a game where we need to match the physicality and surpass it.”

 

Bounce-back Brady

The Riders have somehow found a way to slow down Brady Oliveira.

The Bombers star running back was held to a season-low 28 yards on nine attempts in Saskatchewan.

The Blue and Gold are 4-2 this season when the Winnipegger carries the ball 15 or more times.

It won’t be easy for Oliveira to bounce back, though. The Riders have limited him to fewer than five yards per carry in their last six meetings.

He hasn’t exploded for 100-plus rushing yards against the Green and White since the 2023 Banjo Bowl, when he took 18 handoffs for 154 yards. He also added four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown through the air in what was one of the best games of his career.

 

Just for kicks

The Riders have benched struggling kicker Alex Hale.

The Australian made 24 of his 32 attempts this season — going six-for-13 on attempts of 40 yards or more — but missed a pair of field goals on Labour Day.

Saskatchewan will now turn to Dawson Hodge, a 24-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., who made 51-of-76 career field-goal attempts during his time at Wilfrid Laurier.

Winnipeg has a clear advantage at the position, as Sergio Castillo has drilled his last 22 three-pointers and went a perfect four-for-four in Regina.

Castillo’s single-season streak is tied with Justin Medlock for the second-longest in franchise history. Medlock’s streak of 28 is the club record.

To make Castillo’s run even more impressive, his average distance this season is 37.4 yards, which tops the CFL.

With the last two Banjo Bowls being decided by one score, a misfire by either kicker could ultimately be the difference.

 

Here come the reinforcements

The Bombers are getting a massive boost this week with the return of safety Redha Kramdi (hand) and receiver Nic Demski (ankle).

Kramdi, an important leader on defence, has missed the last six games. Demski was sidelined last week.

“(Kramdi) sees things like how Adam Bighill saw the game,” said Collaros.

“I think some people just have it naturally with football intelligence. I think he definitely has that, but it’s also the work that he puts in… He’s like a lot of quarterbacks I’ve been around… (football is) just on his mind constantly.”

The Bombers went 2-4 without Kramdi.

Unfortunately for Winnipeg, it’s not all good news on the injury front. Receiver Ontaria Wilson (hand) and linebacker Jaiden Woodbey (hamstring) both got hurt in Regina and have been ruled out. Rookie receiver Kenneth Womack will make his CFL debut by replacing Wilson.

Aging like fine wine

Kramdi’s return comes at an ideal time considering what the Riders have been doing through the air lately.

Despite being 40, quarterback Trevor Harris has 3,893 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns, which has him on pace for a new career high in both categories.

He’s benefited from the breakout of third-year Canadian receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby, who torched the Bombers with 10 catches for 148 yards last week.

Then there’s KeeSean Johnson, who has established himself as one of the best targets in the three-down league with 81 catches for 1,022 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Johnson, who passed NFL superstar Davante Adams as the all-time receptions leader at Fresno State, is second in the CFL in catches and fourth in touchdowns and receiving yards.

To stop Harris and company, the Bombers desperately need to find a way to apply more pressure. They had zero sacks in the Labour Day Classic and have just two in their last four games.

The Riders will once again be without starting tailback A.J. Ouellette, who is working his way back from a knee injury. They’ll continue to roll with rookie Quali Conley in his absence. Conley rushed 14 times for 59 yards last week.

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