Taylor Shire
Regina Leader-Post
If the Saskatchewan Roughriders have to face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the playoffs, the Green and White know they can win at home and on the road.
On Saturday, the Roughriders (10-2) picked up a 21-13 win over the Blue Bombers (6-6) in the Banjo Bowl in Week 14 of the CFL season, giving Saskatchewan a sweep of the home-and-home series for the first time since 2018 after last weekend’s Labour Day Classic win.
Here are 10 takeaways from the game:
1. The Blue Bombers, who have won the West Division in five straight seasons, hadn’t lost a Banjo Bowl to Saskatchewan since 2018. That all changed on Saturday when the Roughriders made a statement with a 21-13 win after trailing 13-6 at half. There’s plenty of season left and unless an implosion happens, there will be playoff football at Mosaic Stadium this year.
2. Saskatchewan is now 8-13 in the Banjo Bowl since it began in 2004 and all eight wins they’ve had (2025, 2018, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2005) have been sweeps after also winning the Labour Day Classic the week prior. Winnipeg has swept five times (2024, 2022, 2021, 2016, 2004) while the other eight have been splits.
3. One of the biggest plays of the game happened in the third quarter when Riders linebacker C.J. Reavis laid a thunderous hit on Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, who did not return to the game. You never want to see a player get hurt — and thoughts to Zach on his recovery — but the roughing the passer call, which had to be challenged by Bombers coach Mike O’Shea, was soft. Reavis didn’t target the head, he didn’t lead with the crown of his helmet and his arms made first contact. Yes, there was facemask-to-helmet contact but what is Reavis supposed to do? He can’t spear him or hit him low, so maybe he’s supposed to just push him over. If Collaros isn’t injured, does the ruling change? I am all for protecting the quarterbacks but it’s still football, right?
4. For a second straight week, Riders cornerback Tevaughn Campbell helped secure the victory late in the game. After an interception on Winnipeg’s two-point convert last week, which would have tied the game, Campbell picked off Bombers’ backup Chris Streveler with two minutes left when Winnipeg was only down by five. Campbell, who added an interception on the final play of the game, has been Saskatchewan’s best off-season acquisition.
5. The Bombers led 13-6 at the half and they clearly came into the game with a run-first mentality. Just 12 minutes into the game, running back Brady Oliveira had as many carries as he had the week prior. The injury to Collaros completely flipped the game script though as Oliveira — who finished 83 yards on 20 carries after being limited to 24 yards last week — was held to 25 yards in the second half when Saskatchewan knew they would be a run-heavy offence with Streveler in the game.
6. I’m all for creativity and finding open holes but Mario Alford tried to make something out of nothing on his missed field goal return in the fourth quarter. Sometimes you have to realize it’s not there and just go down — not backwards.
7. Alford was quickly saved by the offence as Trevor Harris hit Joe Robustelli for a 48-yard gain to get Saskatchewan out of the shadow of the uprights. That play, which led to a field goal, was the biggest play of the game for the Roughriders.
8. Saskatchewan didn’t have an outstanding first half, but they went into the break with a little momentum after scoring a quick field goal in the final minute of the second quarter following Marcus Sayles interception. Plays like that can go a long way in changing the script of the game as well.
9. While the Riders likely should have had a fumble after the hit on Collaros, there’s no doubt they should have had another in the first half as safety Kosi Onyeka somehow couldn’t scoop up a loose ball after an Oliveira fumble. Winnipeg kept the ball and ended up kicking a field goal on the drive, but that’s another play that could have had bigger implications. Overall, Saskatchewan led the turnover battle 4-1 and it likely should have been five.
10. And props to Brett Lauther who made all five of his field goals, missing one convert, and accounted for 15 of Saskatchewan’s 21 points. It’s been a tough year for Lauther but maybe a performance like this can change the narrative going forward.
tshire@postmedia.com
