Banjo Bowl serves as Round 2 for Riders-Bombers

WINNIPEG — Andrew Harris sent some medical advice to one of his Saskatchewan rivals this week.

The Blue Bombers running back revealed with a grin what he messaged to a Roughriders defender ahead of today’s sold-out Banjo Bowl rematch in Winnipeg.

“I texted one of the guys and said, ‘Make sure you get your electrolytes in,’ “Harris said following Friday’s walk-through. “So hopefully they get the Pedialytes and electrolytes in and we can get our hurry-up (offence) going.”

And what was the response by the unnamed Rider?

“He just gave me the big lookie eye emoji so I don’t know what that means,” Harris said. “He might have snitched on himself.”

Last week’s 38-24 win by Saskatchewan in the Labour Day Classic featured controversies on and off the field, from allegations of the home team faking injuries to Saskatchewan receiver Duron Carter saying a Bombers fan spit on him while another Winnipeg fan reportedly tried to grab Rider mascot Gainer’s costume head.

Saskatchewan’s defensive line had three injuries that interrupted Winnipeg’s hurry-up offence.

Tackles Eddie Steele, a Winnipeg native like Harris, and Makana Henry both stopped Winnipeg’s offence when they allegedly cramped up.

Ese Mrabure, who was wearing a cast for a broken finger, halted play because the cast supposedly was pressing on the injury.

The players had to sit out three plays as per CFL rules, but Saskatchewan was rotating eight defensive lineman, so it was suspected to be a ploy to disrupt Winnipeg’s hurry-up attack.

Harris said the delays weren’t to blame for Winnipeg’s loss, which halted its five-game win streak (7-3) and gave the Riders their third straight victory and a 5-4 record.

The Bombers fell behind 24-3 in the first quarter as the Riders scored on their first four possessions, including a major after quarterback Matt Nichols was intercepted.

The visitors are a banged-up bunch right now, with 18 players on the injured list, including 17 on the six-game list.

“Hopefully, our guys can continue to rise to the occasion,” said Saskatchewan head coach and general manager Chris Jones, whose team has been doing that during its three-game win streak, putting up at least 38 points in each of those victories.