(Regina) The Winnipeg Blue Bombers moved into first place in the West Division with a thrilling 35-33 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday in Regina.
In front of a capacity crowd at Mosaic Stadium, the Bombers won their fourth straight game to improve to 6-6-0. The Riders, who are winless in their last six games (0-5-1), are now 5-6-1.
The Blue Bombers and BC Lions – who beat the Ottawa Redblacks 28-12 on Saturday – are now tied atop the West with 12 points.
The Bombers held off a late rally by the Riders. Sergio Castillo gave Winnipeg an eight-point lead on a 56-yard field goal with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter. After the ensuing kickoff, the Riders took the ball at their own 21-yard line.
On a third-and-6 at the Bombers’ 27-yard line, Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris connected with Samuel Emilus for a 26-yard pass and Emilus then scored by diving into the end zone to bring the Riders within two points.
PHOTO HEYWOOD YU, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Trevor Harris (7)
The two-point conversion was missed when Tony Jones knocked down the pass intended for Kian Schaffer-Baker.
The Riders recovered the ensuing kickoff for one last chance with 12 seconds left. Harris was intercepted by Nick Hallett, but the Bombers were penalized for receiver interference at the Winnipeg 52-yard line.
Kicker Brett Lauther had the chance to give his team the victory with a 60-yard field goal, but his attempt fell just short.
The Roughriders led 14-7 early in the second quarter, but that’s when the Blue Bombers took control of the game with three straight touchdowns.
Nic Demski tied it 14-14 on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Zach Collaros and Sergio Castillo gave the Bombers a one-point lead on the ensuing kickoff with a 99-yard single.
Disaster struck a few minutes later for the Riders when Mario Alford mishandled a punt on the Saskatchewan six-yard line, which was recovered in the end zone by Nick Hallett for a touchdown.
The quarter then went from bad to worse for Saskatchewan when Chris Streveler scored on a one-yard run with 1:16 left to increase Winnipeg’s lead to 29-14.
PHOTO HEYWOOD YU, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Chris Streveler (17)
The Bombers got a scare late in the first half when Collaros took a high tackle from defensive lineman Miles Brown, who was penalized for illegal contact. Bombers personnel attended to Collaros on the field and the veteran returned to the sidelines under his own power.
After halftime, Collaros returned to the field, but without his helmet, shoulder pads and jersey. The Bombers announced early in the quarter that Collaros, who has a history of head injuries, would not return to the game.
Streveler, who took over, scored two rushing touchdowns and Castillo added field goals of 53 and 56 yards.
Shawn Bane, Dohnta Meyers and KeeSean Johnson scored touchdowns for the Roughriders. Lauther added field goals of 55 and 25 yards.
The two teams will face each other again next Saturday, this time in Winnipeg.