REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders defence dominated in a Division battle that kept the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a single-digit score Friday night.
In his third-straight start, Riders quarterback Shea Patterson led his team to a 19-9 victory at Mosaic Stadium. The pivot completed 17 of 25 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown.
Winnipeg starter Zach Collaros completed 20 of 31 passes for 266 yards, one interception and no touchdowns. All of Bombers points came off the leg of veteran kicker Sergio Castillo, who added two more 50-plus field goals on the season.
With the win, the Roughriders stay perfect at home and improve to 5-1 on the season while the Bombers drop to 2-5.
RELATED
» Depth Chart: WPG | SSK
» Images: Winnipeg at Saskatchewan
» Game Tracker: Blue Bombers, Roughriders by the numbers
Friday marked the first meeting of the West Division rivals in the 2024 campaign with both defences dueling to tie the game 6-6 at the half.
Through the first two quarters, fourth-year Rider defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. had three pass knockdowns, while Jameer Thurman led with five defensive tackles for the Green and White. Winnipeg Blue Bomber Kyrie Wilson led his team with four defensive tackles through 30 minutes.
Former Hamilton Tiger-Cat Malik Carney earned his first sack as a Rider, which was the lone sack of the first half.
Winnipeg kicked off scoring on the opening drive with a 35-yard field goal from Sergio Castillo. Ten minutes later, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther responded with a 28-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3.
It was déjà vu in the second quarter with Castillo regaining the lead on a 56-yard boot. The veteran kicker is now five-for-six on attempts over 50 yards in the 2024 regular season. Lauther returned the favour again, tying the game with a 41-yard field goal.
Winnipeg’s confidence in Castillo led to a 61-yard attempt, which fell short, with just over a minute left in the second quarter.
Coming into the third quarter, the Riders were without Patterson’s favourite first-half target, Kian Schaffer-Baker. The fourth-year Canadian receiver made four of eight receptions for 60 yards before leaving the game due to an injury.
Saskatchewan rookie Ajou Ajou filled in for Schaffer-Baker, making two receptions — both for first yards — in the game’s first touchdown drive. Patterson connected with rookie fullback Clint Ratkovich for his first CFL major.
Rolling with momentum, former Ottawa REDBLACKS linebacker Adam Auclair caught the first interception of the night and his first as a Rider.
On the next drive, Winnipeg defensive end Willie Jefferson got a sack for a loss of 16 yards that ultimately kept the Riders to a field goal, extending the Green and White’s lead to 10 points to start the fourth quarter.
The Riders defence put on the pressure to close out the final frame. Lauther capped the night with two more 30-plus yards field goals for a 19-9 final.
Up next, the Saskatchewan Roughriders open Week 8 action in the CFL with a trip to face the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, July 25. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg gets an extra day of rest with a Saturday matchup at BMO Field to take on the Toronto Argonauts. That game gets underway 7:00 p.m. ET on July 27.