Written by: Andrew Parker
Last week the Winnipeg Blue Bombers may have had to eat humble pie at the hands of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but this weekend they’ll be serving the same right back – plus a free pancake breakfast. The Bombers will have a chance to right the wrongs of the Labour Day Classic loss as they welcome Saskatchewan to Canad Inns Stadium tomorrow for the highly anticipated Banjo Bowl.
Despite the polarity between the two teams’ records, the Riders emerged looking much better after the return of Head Coach Ken Miller and there is even talk of the team reaching a turning point in their season. The Bombers will be out to dispel these rumours, especially after last week’s loss.
“I don’t think there was one happy person in our locker room after last week’s game. The way that game ended, the amount of penalties that we took; the guys regrouped this week and have come to work with one goal and one goal only, and that’s to exact a bit of revenge on the team we lost to last week. Back-to-back games can be fun, especially when it’s a rivalry as big as this one. Last week they were able to beat us on offence, defence and special teams and this week our guys have to return the favour. It should be a great game for our fans to see,” said Winnipeg Head Coach Paul LaPolice.
The situation in last week’s match became extremely intense as it neared completion, with several penalties called, fights breaking out, and even two disqualified players. It’s an intensity the Bombers will be looking to channel tomorrow, as offensive lineman Obby Khan describes.
“We have a bad taste in our mouth after last week, a real bad taste. They took it to us – and good on them, they deserved it – but we really felt like we didn’t play up to our standards and they came out and beat us in all three facets of the game. Obviously, tempers were flaring at the end of the game and those kinds of things happen when you have two heated rivals like we are playing a game that means a lot, maybe not in the standings but in the eyes of our fans, “ said Khan.
Khan was one of many players who mixed it up throughout the game, with observable tension between him and Dario Romero. Obviously the loss gave a long-awaited opportunity for naysayers to decry Swaggerville and Winnipeg’s success this season, so swag-saturated defensive star Jovon Johnson will be looking to lead the Bombers in silencing the critics.
“There’s always a silver lining when it comes to having to play a team back-to-back, especially when we get taken to like we did. They may have beaten us in the Labour Day Classic, but now they have to come into our backyard, play in front of our 30,000 fans and try to handle a team that’s out to prove that we’re still a very good football team. We’ve got them right where we want them,” said Johnson.
The sold-out rematch kicks off in Winnipeg at 3 PM, after a pre-game tribute to honour the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
