Saskatchewan just produced a big victory over Winnipeg in the Labour Day Classic.
Now the Roughriders will strive to do it again in the rematch.
Six days after Saskatchewan notched a 34-30 home win over the Blue Bombers, the two squads square off in the “Banjo Bowl” in Winnipeg.
Saskatchewan (9-2) is in first place in the West Division and owns the best record in the CFL. The Roughriders are one game ahead of the Calgary Stampeders (8-3) while Winnipeg (6-5) is three games off the pace.
That’s not a good predicament for the Blue Bombers, who have played in the last five Grey Cups. Saturday’s game is approaching must-win territory for Winnipeg.
Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros passed for 326 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in Sunday’s defeat.
“We lost the game, and the standings will show that as an ‘L,'” Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira said. “Hats off to Sask. Good team, great defense. But we’re excited to have another opportunity against them.”
Winnipeg coach Mike O’Shea thinks the result will be different in the rematch if the miscues shrink.
“We’ve got to fix our mistakes,” O’Shea said. “I mean, it’s going to be another battle, but we have to be better.”
Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris passed for 219 yards and one touchdown while physical running back A.J. Ouellette rushed for 89 yards and one score on 18 carries. Ouellette is third in the league with 802 rushing yards.
“When you can make a defense sore the next day, that’s the running style that we want,” Ouellette told reporters after Thursday’s practice. “Especially with this quick turnaround, we hope that they’re still feeling it from the last game and know that we’re going to come out with the same M.O.”
Harris expects the Blue Bombers to bring high intensity and energy into the rematch.
“A hornet’s nest man, that’s what we’re kind of walking into,” Harris said. “We know that, but we feel like we can bring what we need to extinguish it. It’s going to be no easy task, but we know they’re a great team and their backs are against the wall. They’re coming off of a loss in a big game.”
The Banjo Bowl was first played in 2004 and is the annual rematch of the Labour Day Classic. Winnipeg has won the past five and eight of nine.
The teams will play a third time on Oct. 17 in Winnipeg.
–Field Level Media
