Menu
October 13, 2018

Game Recap | SSK 0 WPG 31

Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Darvin Adams (1) and Weston Dressler (7) celebrate Adams' touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of CFL action in Winnipeg Saturday, October 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods


It started with an effective jab, was followed by a solid combination, and then ended with a knockout punch… and all before fans had a chance to top off their hot chocolates – or any adult beverages – at the intermission.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers administered a thorough beatdown of their prairie rival Saskatchewan Roughriders in front of an announced crowd of 26,070 at a frigid Investors Group Field Saturday afternoon, building up a 31-0 lead at halftime that stood until there were zeroes on the clock.

The victory, their fourth straight, improved the Bombers to 9-7 and keeps them in third place in the CFL’s West Division. The Riders, who won the season series against the Bombers 2-1 after wins on Labour Day and in the Banjo Bowl, fall to 10-6.

The result marked the first time the Bombers had shutout an opponent since a 29-0 win in Hamilton over the Tiger-Cats on July 28, 2006, and it was the first shutout at home since a 56-0 spanking of the Riders on July 5, 1986.

“It’s a lot more than (defence) keeping zeroes on the scoreboard,” said Bombers middle linebacker Adam Bighill. “It’s the offence moving the ball and making smart decisions. It’s special teams changing the field position and so keeping it zeroes all game long is a team effort. But obviously, it’s a big emphasis on the defence doing their part.”

Indeed, in a game in which the Riders’ vaunted ‘D’ got most of the pre-game love, it was the Bombers defensive dozen that left THE significant imprint on the game. Winnipeg forced four turnovers, allowed just 170 yards net offence by the Riders, and forced starter Zach Collaros from the game in the third quarter after he was just 8-of-19 for 69 yards and two interceptions.

Consider this: the Riders had 17 offensive possessions, resulting in the two interceptions, two fumbles, 12 punts and another that ended as time expired in the first half.

“Especially up here, (a shutout) is extremely rare,” said quarterback Matt Nichols, who finished 10 of 18 for 155 yards – including a 72-yard TD strike to Darvin Adams – before being replaced by Chris Streveler late in the third quarter. “I’ve been a part of games where the defence played good enough for a shutout but maybe there was a single scored at some point. To have no points scored… I mean, unbelievable effort by our defence. They’ve been playing unbelievable football.”

Nichols then grinned, before adding, “I’d like to just think we prepare them very well all week in practice.”

The Bombers defence was led by Bighill – he had eight tackles, including three sacks and a forced fumble – and they set an early tone with the all-star middle linebacker forcing a Kyran Moore fumble after a 10-yard catch that was grabbed in the air and returned by Gaitor for a 45-yard score.

“I think that set an early tone,” said Gaitor, clutching the football from that TD in a raucous Bombers locker room afterward. “It just takes one spark to get a team going sometimes and I felt that did it. Our goal as a defence is to get better each and every week. If you’re still at the same spot now that you were at the beginning, that’s not good. We can always get better… and we’re about to get even better. That’s how I think.”

And with the defence doing their thing, the Bombers just needed to be efficient on offence. Nichols connected with Adams for the long score that followed the Gaitor TD, before Chris Streveler found Weston Dressler for a spectacular 31-yard score. That was followed by a Streveler one-yard TD with 37 seconds left in the half, giving the Bombers a 31-0 halftime advantage.

That trend continued into the final 30 minutes as the Riders had seven possessions – six punts and a fumble – that resulted in a measly 63 yards.

The Bombers now head into their third and final bye week of the season on a four-game heater, with a home date against Calgary and then a trip to Edmonton rounding out the regular season.

“It feels great,” said Nichols. “Another win, another chance to celebrate with our teammates in the locker room. Obviously, it feels great going into the bye. All those things. It’s just creating more momentum for us heading down the stretch here.”


THE BIG STAT

9-0: The Bombers record this season when winning the turnover battle. Winnipeg forced four turnovers, resulting in 10 points. The Bombers have a league-high 149 points off those mistakes.

FYI

The Bombers two inactives were WR Corey Washington and LB Kyrie Wilson. Weston Dressler had been a game-time decision after pulling up lame during practice on Wednesday, but did suit up and finished with two receptions for 51 yards and a TD… The Riders had two players carted off the field due to injury. OL Dariusz Bladek exited in the first half with what the Riders told TSN’s Sara Orlesky was a ‘significant knee injury’ while DL Mic’hael Brooks left with 2:10 remaining in the game.

NUMBERS GAME

8: Tackles by Bighill, giving him 98 this season.

2: Interceptions by Taylor Loffler, giving him three this year – all in the last three weeks.

45: Turnovers forced by the Bombers this season, most in the CFL.  

31-507-3: The numbers by Dressler – 31 receptions for 507 yards and three TDs – in six games against his old club.

128: Passing yards by the Riders, the lowest total allowed by a Bombers defence since surrendering just 114 against the Riders in the 2015 Banjo Bowl.

26%: The Riders second-down conversion rate (5-of-19) against the Bombers defence.

QUOTABLE:

“(Bighill) really did well tonight. I don’t know what his numbers are, exactly, but it looked like he was all over the place. He made some timely plays that if he didn’t make that play, they would have resulted in a pretty decent game or a different outcome on those drives.

“What’s really important about Adam is he’s making guys better around him, too. He’s bringing guys along with him as he’s playing better and better football, the guys are stepping up around him, too. That’s the key to more success on defence.” – Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea on Adam Bighill.