In a tightly contested matchup, the Saskatchewan Roughriders emerged victorious against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with a score of 21-13 during the Banjo Bowl. Kicker Brett Lauther played a crucial role in this victory, successfully making all five of his field goal attempts, which included distances of 20, 35 (twice), 41, and 33 yards. Despite some earlier struggles, Lauther’s performance propelled the Roughriders to a CFL-leading record of 10-2, marking the first time the team has reached ten wins since 2019. Meanwhile, the Blue Bombers, now sitting at 6-6, struggled to maintain their lead after the injury to their starting quarterback, Zach Collaros.
The game took a pivotal turn late in the third quarter when Collaros sustained an injury after being sacked by Saskatchewan’s C.J. Reavis. Collaros struggled to get up after the tackle but managed to jog off the field to applause from the home crowd of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium. Up until that point, Collaros had mixed results, completing 9 of 15 passes for 165 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. His replacement, Chris Streveler, found himself in a tough position as he could only complete 5 of 9 passes for 39 yards while also throwing two interceptions.
Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris showed steadiness, completing 18 of 31 passes for 239 yards while also tossing one interception. The Roughriders’ lone touchdown came from a five-yard run by A.J. Ouellette, who also recorded 50 rushing yards on 11 carries. The Blue Bombers fought hard with running back Brady Oliveira bouncing back from a previous game with a total of 83 rushing yards on 20 carries, contributing to the team’s offensive efforts.
After a slow start, the Blue Bombers managed to take the lead, starting with a 39-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo, which capitalized on an interception thrown by Harris. The momentum shifted back to Saskatchewan with Lauther responding with a 20-yarder, followed by Ontaria Wilson’s 24-yard touchdown reception, putting Winnipeg ahead 10-3. Castillo added another field goal just before halftime, giving the Bombers a 13-6 advantage. However, errors, including another interception thrown by Collaros, proved costly for Winnipeg.
As the second half unfolded, Saskatchewan benefited from a crucial interception of Collaros by DaMarcus Fields, leading to Ouellette’s rushing touchdown. Lauther’s consistency came into play as he helped the Roughriders regain the lead with critical field goals in the fourth quarter. By the time Streveler was intercepted with less than three minutes remaining, Saskatchewan had solidified an 18-13 lead, effectively putting the game out of reach for Winnipeg.
Looking ahead, the Roughriders are set to host the Montreal Alouettes, while the Blue Bombers will travel to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in their next matches. This win not only boosts Saskatchewan’s confidence but also enhances their position in the league, while Winnipeg faces pressure to regain form as they navigate the second half of the season. The outcome of this closely contested rivalry game underscores the unpredictable nature of the CFL and sets the stage for an exciting remainder of the season.
