BANJO PICKIN’
Riders pick up big win in Winnipeg
WINNIPEG The 15th Banjo Bowl left the Saskatchewan Roughriders picking and grinning.
The Riders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-27 at Investors Group Field on Saturday to sweep the home-and-home set with their West Division rival. The result extended Saskatchewan’s winning streak to four, with each victory coming at the expense of a West team.
Saskatchewan is 7-4, good for second place in the West Division. The Calgary Stampeders (9-2) are in first place despite Saturday ’s 4842 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos (7-5). Winnipeg ’s record dipped to 5-7 as a consequence of its fourth straight loss.
The Riders hit the right chords on defence, intercepting five passes and returning two for touchdowns.
Defensive end Willie Jefferson (97 yards) and linebacker Samuel Eguavoen (103 yards) both had pick-sixes. Loucheiz Purifoy added two picks and Mike Edem also had an interception.
“It says that we all ball hard,” Purifoy said Saturday when asked about the Riders’ interceptions. “That’s the way we are taught over here and it’s making a difference. We have a team of great athletes and that’s what they are supposed to do when they have the ball in their hands. They are supposed to score.”
The Riders struck some sour notes on Saturday. Zach Collaros served up a first-quarter interception that was returned 55 yards for a touchdown by Anthony Gaitor. A fumble by Collaros in the fourth quarter led to another Blue Bombers’ touchdown.
The fumble came after Collaros was hammered by a blitzing Jeff Hecht. There wasn’t any update on Collaros’s status after the game. More information is not expected until the Riders return to practice Tuesday.
“We don’t know if it’s a concussion or not,” said Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager. “I know they took him out of the game (for) precautionary (reasons) because we have a good backup quarterback (Brandon Bridge) and a good Number 3 quarterback (David Watford)
“It was one of those situations where we have to evaluate him. He’ll go through all of the protocols to see exactly where he is before we play.”
Bridge came off the bench to lead the Riders on two late drives capped by Brett Lauther field goals of 15 and 45 yards. The field goals were part of a 6-for-6 afternoon for Lauther.
Bridge had not played since July 28, when the Roughriders lost 3422 to the visiting Stampeders.
“As a football player, you always want to be out there,” Bridge said. “Any opportunity that I have, I’m going to try to make the most of it whether it’s starting or coming off the bench.”
Collaros missed four games earlier this season while dealing with neck and concussion issues. If need be, Bridge is ready to fill in once again.
“I’m going to have to be,” Bridge said. “I will be prepared and I will be ready. I think Zach will be fine and he’s our leader. He has taken us to the promised land right now. If he’s not prepared, I will definitely be there.”
The Riders came through a sixgame stretch against West Division teams with a 4-2 record. They now face three games against East Division teams — the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium (Saturday) followed by road games against the Toronto Argonauts (Sept. 22) and Montreal Alouettes (Sept. 30).
The Riders scoffed at a suggestion it might be an easy stretch of games after dealing with West Division powerhouses.
“There is too much parity in this league to say that,” said guard Brendon Labatte. “We had better bring in the same mindset that we’ve had the last four weeks. Everybody has seen the upsets over the last few weeks and you have to be on your P’s and Q’s in every game if you want a chance to win.”
Having said that, Labatte has been impressed by his team’s performance during the win streak.
“The biggest thing is the belief system,” he said. “Guys believe that when we show up we’re going to win. It’s not just play the best and hope to win. It’s come in and expect to win.”
I think Zach will be fine and he’s our leader ... If he’s not prepared, I will definitely be there BRANDON BRIDGE