Strummin’ Along: Monster first half powers Bombers to Banjo Bowl victory
Trevor Hagan/CFL.ca
WINNIPEG — A 28-point first half by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers helped them cruise to their ninth Banjo Bowl and a 35-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday.
Quarterback Chris Streveler completed 15 of 21 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns while adding 70 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.
Johnny Augustine rushed for 44 yards on 13 carries, but it was his 58-yard touchdown reception that was his biggest highlight of the game.
Willie Jefferson continued to be a problem for opposing offensive lines. He compiled three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. Winston Rose also added two tackles and an interception.
Cody Fajardo went 16-for-24 with 196 yards in the loss.
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The Bombers’ opening drive was nearly cut short after the Riders got to Streveler and pushed him back to Winnipeg’s 3-yard line. He’d answer on the next play by tucking the ball and running for 17 yards and a first down. The Saskatchewan defence would have trouble with penalties to open the game. Derrick Moncrief was called for illegal contact, giving the Bombers a fresh set of downs, a roughing the passer call on Micah Johnson would tack on 15 and a pass interference penalty in the end zone by Ed Gainey gave the hosts the ball on the goal line.
From there, Streveler would hit pay dirt on the sneak play to open the scoring. After a Justin Medlock point after, it would be 7-0. Their opening possession spanned over half of the opening quarter and kept the opposing offence on their sideline.
Fajardo and the Riders would get their first points to finish off the first frame. He found Shaq Evans for 21 yards before hitting Kyran Moore for a pair of completions totalling 25 yards. However, a holding call would halt the drive and force the Riders to settle for three points. Brett Lauther would knock a 16-yard chip shot through the uprights to cut the lead to four.
Following a facemask penalty on the Riders have Winnipeg more free yardage, Streveler would scramble again, making a move to the right before pinballing off three defenders and getting the first down on a 21-yard run. After another 7-yard scamper, Streveler found Daniel Petermann in the middle of the end zone for the passing score. It would be 14-3 following Medlock’s convert.
With Lucky Whitehead out of the lineup, return duties fell on Janarion Grant. He’d make a mark to end the first half, corralling a Jon Ryan punt near his own 40, making a move to the right sideline before beating the kicking team and taking it all the way to the house for the 72-yard score. It would serve as Grant’s third return touchdown of the campaign.
Jefferson got his second sack of the game, going untouched to Fajardo and popping the ball loose. The Bombers would fall on it, giving them the chance to improve their lead before the end of the half.
They’d do just that. Streveler would hit Drew Wolitarsky over the middle for a gain of 10 before finding Petermann while rolling right for a 17-yard gain. That would set the stage for the pivot’s second rushing score of the afternoon. It would be a 27-3 lead for the Bombers heading into the locker rooms.
The second half would open the same way the first ended: with the Bombers in control. Following a three-and-out by Saskatchewan to open the third, Streveler went back to work, finding Rasheed Bailey twice — once for a gain of 15 and then another for 7 yards. Augustine then found himself behind the defence, and his quarterback hit him in stride. The running back made his way down the left sideline, won the foot race and extended for the pylon to complete the 58-yard catch and run to push the lead to 31.
Saskatchewan got its first point of the half when Ryan’s punt wasn’t taken out of the end zone by Grant.
They’d add to that total, as Fajardo led a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with him calling his own number and punching it in from eight yards out.
In an effort to get closer, Fajardo would chuck a ball up near the end zone, but instead of landing in the hands of Evans, Rose came up with the interception. That would all but seal the 35-10 win, as the Bombers would run out the majority of the clock. Saskatchewan backup quarterback Isaac Harker led the team down the field in a last-ditch effort to put up points. They got into the red zone, but the drive ended with a turnover on downs.
The Bombers have extended their lead atop the West Division standings with the victory. They have a bye week in Week 14 but will return to action on Sept 21 against the Montreal Alouettes. The Riders will be trying to avoid a second straight loss when they welcome the Als to Mosaic Stadium on Sept 14.
