It didn’t take long for the Riders to get going as Darian Durant was able to get the ball moving through the air and down into the red zone. From there the Riders called two straight quarterback keepers and Stephen Jyles was able to punch it in for the 1-yard touchdown making the score 7-1 Riders.

After the Bomber offense was forced to settle for a field goal the Riders picked up right where the left off in their second drive. Durant continued to move the ball through the air and with the aid of a pass interference call the Riders were once again in the red zone. This time it was Wes Cates who took a handoff and powered his was into the end zone for a 3-yard score putting the riders up 14-4.

Things would continue to go Saskatchewan’s way as Tad Kornegay picked up a fumbled Bomber handoff setting the Riders up around the Winnipeg 30-yard line. The Bomber defense was finally able to step up though, Forcing the Riders to settle for a field goal making the score 17- 4 with ten minutes to play in the second quarter.

Saskatchewan’s offense seemed to cool off as the second quarter continued on, meanwhile the Bomber offense continued to sputter.

The Bombers got their first break of the game with under a minute to go in the half as Lenny Walls was able to pick off a Darian Durant pass, setting the Bombers up inside Saskatchewan territory for only the second time. From there Bishop was able to hook up with Adarius Bowman who took a short pass and ran it down to the 1-yard line. With only one second left Mike Kelly had to decide whether to go for the touchdown from the one or kick the field goal. Opting to go for the touchdown Bishop handed the ball to Fred Reid, but Reid was met immediately in the backfield and the Bombers went into the half still down 18-4.

The Bombers came out in the second half and seemed to be a little more motivated than in the first half as they moved the ball down the field with a balanced attack. After a Terrence Edwards reception and a Saskatchewan penalty the Bombers were able to get down into the red zone, but again they were forced to settle for an Alexis Serna field goal making it 18-7 Riders.

Just when it looked as though the Bombers had gotten another break off of a Joe Lobendahn interception a Saskatchewan challenge overruled the call and allowed the Riders to punt. The challenge paid off as Keyou Craver muffed the punt allowing the Riders to cover and killing the Bomber momentum.

They weren’t able to completely kill that momentum though as the Bomber defense was able to make the stop and get the ball back to the offense. Michael Bishop went to work from there and was able to hook up with Adarius Bowman for a 50-yard catch and run. Bishop would stick with Bowman two plays later hitting him in the end zone for Bowmans first touchdown as a Bomber and the teams first of the game. With six minutes to go in the third quarter the Riders lead was cut to 18-14.

After the Bomber defense made another great stop the Bomber offense got the ball back with momentum on their side. But on the first play of the drive Michael Bishop stepped back to pass and had his pass picked off by Tad Kornegay. That set up the Riders for a quick two play touchdown drive punctuated by a 13-yard Weston Dressler touchdown making the score 25-14.

With the fourth quarter underway and the Bombers looking to answer, Michael Bishop fell victim to his own arm strength with another turnover. After completing a nice pass to Brock Ralph, Bishop stepped back to pass again, but his pass sailed over the receivers head into the arms of Omar Morgan for Bishop’s second interception of the day.

Things cooled off for both offenses until late in the fourth quarter when the Bombers were finally able to drive down the field into the red zone. With three tries from inside the 15-yard line the Bombers just weren’t able to put the ball in the end zone and down by two touchdowns with 2-minutes to go the Bombers wouldn’t be able to pull out the win.

The two teams will meet again next week in Winnipeg for the Banjo Bowl where the Bombers will look to avoid being swept in the home and home series for the second straight time.