Blue Bombers dump Riders to extend winning streak to 4

Winnipeg improves to 9-7 while getting its first shutout victory since 2006 against Hamilton

WINNIPEG — Adam Bighill was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for his leadership and tenacious talents. He delivered big time Saturday.

The veteran linebacker had three sacks, one forced fumble that led to a touchdown and eight defensive tackles in Winnipeg’s 31-0 shutout of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“When you get a quarterback sack it feels good,” said Bighill, a seven-year veteran who was the Canadian Football League’s top defensive player in 2015 with the B.C. Lions.

“You’re really taking the wind right out of them and it’s demoralizing for them, and it’s demoralizing for your opponent when you’re just beating your man one-on-one and you’re winning.”

Winnipeg extended its winning streak to four games and improved to 9-7, remaining in third place in the tight West Division standings.

It was the Blue Bombers’ first shutout victory since a 29-0 win over Hamilton in 2006. The Riders’ last shutout loss was a 24-0 decision to Edmonton in 2014.

“It’s just a taste of reality. It happens,” said Saskatchewan defensive lineman Charleston Hughes, who had two tackles, including one for a loss. “We did get shut out. They pretty much dominated the whole entire game. Now you just really go back to the drawing board and figure out what happens.”

The Bombers avoided a seasonseries sweep by the Riders (10-6), who had already secured a playoff spot. Saskatchewan, which had its three-game win streak halted, finished the game with four turnovers while Winnipeg had one.

Bombers safety Taylor Loffler intercepted quarterback Zach Collaros twice and the home team scored all 31 points by halftime in front of 26,070 fans at Investors Group Field.

“We’ve got to protect (Collaros),” Riders offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte said. “You can’t let him get roughed up, especially early in the game.

“And we can’t turn the ball over because I think no matter what else we focus on, that was the one thing that truly put the dagger in us.”

Winnipeg led 14-0 after a first quarter in which Saskatchewan turned the ball over on its second and third possessions of the game.

A Collaros pass was caught by Kyran Moore, but Bighill forced a fumble and Anthony Gaitor caught the loose ball and ran 45 yards for the 7-0 lead at 5:22.

Darvin Adams made it 14-0 after he got behind Riders safety Mike Edem and hauled in a long bomb from quarterback Matt Nichols that he turned into a 72-yard catch-and-run score with two minutes left in the first quarter.

Loffler’s second interception of the game — his third pick of the season — led to Justin Medlock’s 29-yarder at 6:11 of the second quarter. Medlock was also good on four converts.

Weston Dressler stretched for a 31-yard TD pass from backup Chris Streveler, who also plunged in for his own major with less than a minute remaining the first half.