Jason Halstead/CFL.ca
WINNIPEG — While they didn’t rack up the most yards or win the time of possession battle, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers did more than enough to earn a 48-28 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl.
‘Clean football’, Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea called it after the game. In Saturday’s win, which secured a 2-1 victory in the season series, the Bombers took only five penalties (60 yards) and turned the ball over just once, claiming a 3-1 edge in that category.
“We need to play clean football,” said O’Shea. “We need to do that.”
The Bombers did not take a single penalty or commit one turnover in the first 30 minutes of Saturday’s game, jumping out to a 29-20 lead a halftime.
In the second half, Maurice Leggett scored on a pick-six while Andrew Harris did the dirty work, putting the Bombers’ offence on his back and grinding out the team’s sixth win in seven games with some key late rushing yards.
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Patrick Neufeld celebrates with Bombers fans during Saturday’s Banjo Bowl win (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
It wasn’t perfect — there’s still lots of work to do — but a complete effort has the Blue and Gold on a high heading into the bye.
“We’ll figure that stuff out when the guys get back,” said O’Shea following the game. “They’ve been grinding for 11 straight games. They deserve a break — they’ve done really well.”
The Bombers’ head coach hopes his players can tune out for a week and enjoy some much-needed time off. Although in the highly-competitive West, where the Bombers sit second as of Saturday night, it may be difficult to avoid at least a little scoreboard watching.
“They need to go get their mind off some football, visit with their families, have some fun and get refreshed so when they get back, we can grind for another bunch of games,” said O’Shea. “It’s never a clean game, we’re always searching for a perfect game and you’re never going to get it.
“We’ve got guys watching film already, they’ll want to look at it before they take off. It’s a good group.”
Matt Nichols threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns on 24-of-37 passing, adding 53 rushing yards — including a 41-yard run that he fumbled on in the second half. Harris finished with 57 rushing yards on 12 carries. Clarence Denmark added two more touchdowns to his 2017 total, along with 65 yards on five receptions.
The stat sheet may be deceiving, however. For example, the Riders rolled up 471 yards against the Bombers’ 410 yards. The Green and White, meanwhile, had a slight edge in the time of possession (30:14 vs. 29:46).
Yet there’s a reason the Bombers came into the weekend sitting second in the league in points scored. Saturday’s contest marked the ninth time in 11 games the Bombers have scored 30 points and the fourth time they’ve gone over 40.
O’Shea’s team is learning how to finish — on both sides of the ball.
“They understand what good football is and how you finish off games,” said O’Shea. “Any time you can control the clock like that and control the ball, and Andrew Harris can grind out yards – I think he got some pretty tough yards at the end to get first downs to make sure we can end the game with the football – it’s always pleasing.
“I know the O-line loves it. It’s certainly easier on coaches to see us execute and then finish like that.”
With the week off, the Bombers begin their final seven-game stretch on Friday, Sept. 22, when the Ottawa REDBLACKS roll into Investors Group Field. For the Bombers, first place in the West remains a possibility — but so does last place.
The good news for the Bombers is that four of their final seven games are at home. Three of them are against East Division opponents.
And of course, while they’re not on the list of remaining opponents, Mike O’Shea doesn’t rule out the chance of seeing the Riders again in 2017.
“I imagine we’re going to see them in the playoffs again or something,” said O’Shea. “They’re a good football team. They’re tough.”
