THE CANADIAN PRESS

REGINA -- Getting picked by the Saskatchewan Roughriders was a lot more fun for Michael Bishop in 2008.

The Roughriders intercepted three passes from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Sunday in a 29-14 Labour Day Classic win at Mosaic Stadium.

Bishop, who won the starting quarterback job for Saskatchewan prior to the 2008 playoffs, finished the game 20-for-33 for 329 yards.

He won the job after a lengthy controversy that saw the team split the position between Bishop, Darian Durant and Steven Jyles over the final month of the season.

"They made more plays than us in the end," said Bishop, who hit Adarius Bowman with 50-yard bomb that set up an 18-yard touchdown pass to his fellow former Roughrider in the third quarter.

"We turned the ball over and they stopped us down on the goal line," Bishop continued. "If we punch that in then the momentum changes and we go in at half feeling good. But they stepped up and made plays. But we're going to whoop their ass next week. Put that in there."

Shortly after Saskatchewan's West semifinal loss to the B.C. Lions, the Riders released Bishop and committed to making Durant their starter for 2009.

"You don't really want to compete with the other team's quarterback but given the situation that happened here last year and ... letting (Bishop) go to go with me and Steven, I just wanted to come out and show them that it was a good decision, and show the organization that myself and Steven we can lead this team," said Durant, who completed 23-of-37 passes in Sunday's game for 246 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

"I think they made the right decision and this (win) is one step toward validating that point."

The Roughriders continued their recent home field trend Sunday with another strong first half, scoring on four of their first five possessions.

Jyles, who plays in short-yardage situations, capped an eight-play opening drive with a one-yard touchdown run.

Tailback Wes Cates added to the lead with a three-yard touchdown run that put the Riders up 14-4 after the first quarter.

"It's really most evident in the first quarter when we had those two sustained drives into the wind and that's no small thing," said Roughriders head coach Ken Miller. "I think that showed that (Durant) has matured some and he threw the ball well all day."

Leading 18-4 after the first half, Saskatchewan broke a different trend by scoring just their second third-quarter touchdown of the year.

That major came two plays after Bishop was intercepted by Tad Kornegay, who returned the pick 25 yards to Winnipeg's 14. Durant converted a second-and-nine situation with a 13-yard pass to Weston Dressler who was waiting in the end zone.

"(Durant) made some plays for them," said Bishop. "He made enough of them to win. He delivered when he had to so hats off to him."

Kornegay led the Riders in tackles with five and also intercepted Bishop in the final minute of play.

"He has really been dynamite in that position all year and has made a lot of tackles in the run game, and has been instrumental in our pass defence as well," said Miller.

The Riders appeared to dodge a bullet in the third quarter when Miller's successful challenge negated a Winnipeg interception. The ensuing punt from Jamie Boreham was fumbled by Keyuo Craver and the Riders recovered, setting up another punt four plays later that pinned the Bombers inside their own 20-yard line.

But Bishop was perfect on the series that followed, connecting on passes of 19, 50, and 18 yards en route to his lone touchdown pass of the day.

The drive was in stark contrast to the rest of Winnipeg's game, which also saw Bishop sacked twice by John Chick on second down.

"John Chick is really pretty awesome," said Miller. "And he was physically superior to the people they had playing offensive tackle today. He was just running over them, and around them, and getting great pressure on Michael Bishop.

Alexis Serna rounded out the Bombers' offence with two field goals and a single.

Luca Congi kicked two field goals for the Roughriders and punter Jamie Boreham's second single of the game capped the scoring.

The Roughriders and Blue Bombers will play a return match next Sunday in Winnipeg.

Notes: Roughriders slotback Andy Fantuz (hamstring) missed his fifth consecutive game. ... Bombers cornerback James Johnson, the 2007 Grey Cup MVP with the Riders, was also a scratch. ... Entering the game, Saskatchewan had won the last four Labour Day Classics and their last five home games overall against Winnipeg. ... They had also allowed the most points in the CFL with 256. ... A miscommunication by the Bombers after Saskatchewan won the coin toss allowed the Riders to play with the wind at their backs in the second and fourth quarters.