October 5, 2019

Riders top Bombers to claim first place in West

Arthur Ward/CFL.ca

REGINA — Three key turnovers and a big game from Shaq Evans led the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 21-6 home win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday night. The Riders improved their record to 10-4 and now hold sole possession of first place in the West after winning nine of their last 10.

Saskatchewan’s defence forced six straight punts while holding the Bombers to just three points in the first half. A pair of field goals from Brett Lauther helped give the Riders a five-point lead heading into the third quarter.

The Riders kept up their defensive pressure in the second half by notching a strip sack and a red zone interception to shut down a pair of promising Winnipeg drives.

The Bombers made it a five-point game early in the fourth quarter with Justin Medlock’s second field goal of the game, but the Riders responded with Lauther’s fourth field goal to extend the lead. The Riders’ defence shut down another potential scoring drive late in the game when defensive back L.J. McCray came up with a one-handed interception.

Evans exploded for a 61-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the final minutes to seal the victory for Saskatchewan. Evans finished with a career-high 193 yards on seven catches, and he is now over 1,000 yards on the season.

Cody Fajardo has now gone three straight games without throwing an interception.

RELATED:
» Shaq Evans reaches milestone in win over Bombers
» Images: Blue Bombers at Roughriders
» By the Numbers: View Boxscore
» Watch: Evans makes juggling catch after help from defender
» Watch: Evans puts game on ice with late TD strike

 

The Riders grabbed an early lead on their second drive of the game with a 49-yard field goal from Lauther. Saskatchewan’s defence frustrated the Bombers early and generated major pressure up front, including a thunderous sack from Cameron Judge that forced a second straight two-and-out.

The Riders kept the ball on the ground on their next drive with seven consecutive running plays. Fajardo and William Powell combined for 41 rushing yards to set up a 48-yard field goal from Lauther that extended the lead to six points.

Saskatchewan added another point to their total to start the second quarter when a 53-yard punt from Jon Ryan went out of bounds for a single.

Fajardo got the passing game going later in the quarter on a 38-yard completion to Evans down the left sideline. Evans reached up high to make the grab after beating Winston Rose in coverage, but the Bombers shut down the drive from there to force a punt. Ryan’s 67-yard punt bounced into the end zone for another single, giving the Riders an 8-0 lead.

Winnipeg began to move the ball on offence just before half-time. Chris Streveler kept the chains moving with a quarterback sneak on third down, and he followed it up with a 14-yard completion to Darvin Adams that set up a 27-yard field goal from Medlock.

Fajardo found Evans again for another deep completion in the third quarter, with Evans making a juggling catch on a 49-yard pass that was tipped by Rose. But Fajardo’s attempt to connect with Kyran Moore at the goal line for a touchdown fell incomplete, and the Riders had to settle for a 21-yard field goal from Lauther to extend the lead to eight points.

 

The Bombers began to respond on offence when Streveler completed a 50-yard bomb to Nic Demski, but the Riders’ defence stepped up to force a turnover just two plays later. Defensive lineman A.C. Leonard came zooming off the right edge and brought Streveler down for the strip sack. Zack Evans recovered the fumble for Saskatchewan.

Winnipeg was driving down the field again later in the third quarter after Lucky Whitehead gained 22 yards on a catch-and-run, but Streveler’s attempt to throw a deep touchdown pass later in the drive was picked off in the back of the end zone by Ed Gainey.

The Bombers forced a quick two-and-out, as Fajardo could not generate a spark against Winnipeg’s stout defence. The Bombers generated points after the defensive stop with a 37-yard field goal from Medlock that made the score 11-6 with 14 minutes to play.

Lauther hit a 34-yard field goal later in the fourth quarter to reestablish Saskatchewan’s eight-point lead, and the Riders’ defence denied the Bombers once again on the following drive when McCray reeled in an incredible one-handed pick.

The Riders put the game away when Evans broke multiple tackles and found the end zone on a 61-yard reception. Evans gained 54 yards after the catch.

Week 18 will see the Saskatchewan Roughriders travel to take on the Calgary Stampeders next Friday at 9:30 p.m. EDT., while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will host the Montreal Alouettes next Saturday at 4:00 p.m. EDT.

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Cody Fajardo
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Shaq Evans
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William Powell
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Charleston Hughes
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Brett Lauther
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