Sep
Riders destroy Winnipeg in Banjo Bowl
Courtesy Regina Leader Post:
The Saskatchewan Roughriders weren’t worried about sending messages to the other seven teams in the CFL before Sunday’s Banjo Bowl against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
They were more concerned with beating Winnipeg before a sold-out crowd of 29,533 at Canad Inns Stadium. The Riders defeated the hapless Blue Bombers 55-10 on Sunday and still sent a message to all of the CFL teams that when each facet of their game is operating, they should be a formidable force down the stretch.
“We want to put on a show for our fans,” said Riders veteran cornerback Omarr Morgan, who has recorded interceptions in back-to-back wins over the Blue Bombers. “We try to win and score as many points as we can and keep them from scoring as few as possible. We don’t care about statements, we just want to play hard every week.”
The Riders did that Sept. 6 when they beat the Blue Bombers 29-14 in the Labour Day Classic. They also built on that performance with Sunday’s effort in Winnipeg while improving to 6-4, good for a share of first place in the West Division with the Calgary Stampeders.
They did that with an opportunistic defence that forced eight Winnipeg turnovers. The offence then turned seven of those eight turnovers into 31 points.
“That’s huge because early on in the season the defence was getting a lot of turnovers and we weren’t capitalizing as an offence,” said Riders quarterback Darian Durant, who threw for a touchdown and rushed for another. “Coming into the second half of the season, we wanted to take advantage of early single opportunity that was out there. We didn’t capitalize on every turnover but we’re getting better. Still, that’s a lot of points off turnovers and we’ll take it.”
The Riders turned a 7-7 first-quarter tie into a rout with 35 points spread over the second and third quarters. Saskatchewan led 42-7 after the third quarter. The Riders added 13 more points to finish just three shy of the team record of 58. The Roughriders beat the Ottawa Rough Riders 58-22 on Aug. 7, 1989.
“We should have had (the record) because we left two or three touchdowns out there,” said Durant, who was 18 of 36 for 225 yards.
Running back Wes Cates scored three touchdowns while rushing for 83 yards on 12 carries. He scored on a 10-yard pass from Durant in the first quarter and on runs of one and four yards.
Riders returner Jason Armstead also got into the scoring when he connected with slotback Andy Fantuz on a 34-yard pass off a double reverse that provided the Riders with a 37-7 third-quarter lead.
Kicker Luca Congi enjoyed his most productive game of the season, hitting on six field goals.
“It was nice to win in that fashion,” said Congi. “All facets were working and when that happens, you’re going to get a lot of opportunities.”
Those opportunities were set up by the defence. Morgan, Sean Lucas, Lance Frazier and Tad Kornegay recorded interceptions and Donovan Alexander and Eddie Davis had fumble recoveries. The defence held Winnipeg running back Fred Reid to 72 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown, on 11 carries.
The Riders also had a great deal of pressure on quarterback Michael Bishop, who was pulled in the third quarter after managing 98 yards of passing offence and two interceptions.
“We tried to stop the run and confuse Michael Bishop,” said Morgan. “I think we did a good job of that.”
While the Riders had something to cheer about heading into Sunday’s game at Mosaic Stadium against the Edmonton Eskimos, the same can’t be said about the Blue Bombers. Winnipeg was outscored 84-24 in two games against the Riders and were embarrassed by their non-showing Sunday.
“Since little league up to the professional level I’ve never had a score put on me like this,” defensive end Gavin Walls told reporters after the Blue Bomber fell to 3-7. “Even in 2005 when we were 5-13 we still never had anybody score on us like that. Fifty-some points in front of a sold-out crowd in Winnipeg? C’mon, man. That’s unacceptable.
“But it’s professional sports and you get to live another day and play another game. But we have to do something. It’s not good. We’re heading towards destruction.”
The Blue Bombers are to play the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal on Sunday.
