Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Janarion Grant (80) returns the kick for the touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of CFL action in Winnipeg Saturday, September 7, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
5 Quick Takes on the Bombers win over the Roughriders in the 16th annual Banjo Bowl:
1. It wasn’t just a bounce back. No, this was getting up off the mat and then absolutely pulverizing an opponent with authority. It was a beat down with a capital BEAT and a thumpin’ that should raise eyebrows across the rest of the Canadian Football League
Still stinging from last week’s 19-17 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Labour Day Classic, the Bombers rebounded in a mammoth way Saturday, pulverizing their rivals 35-10 in front of a sold-out IG Field crowd of 33,000.
The victory not only improves the Bombers to 9-3 and drops the Riders to 7-4, it helps Winnipeg even the season series with Saskatchewan at 1-1. The two clubs meet again on October 5th in Regina.
2. The Bombers got significant contributions from all three phases in winning their ninth straight at home dating back to last year’s Banjo Bowl loss to the Riders — the longest win streak since a 10-game run across 1993-94.
Winnipeg got two rushing TDs from Chris Streveler, who also hooked up with Daniel Petermann and Johnny Augustine for aerial strikes; Janarion Grant returned a punt 72 yards for a TD and the defence was stifling in sacking Cody Fajardo and Isaac Harker five times – including one that led to a fumble – and forcing three turnovers.
3. QB numbers: the Bombers Chris Streveler was sensational in the win, completing 15 of 21 for 186 yards, with TD strikes of five-yards to Petermann and 58 yards to Augustine, while rushing 11 times for 70 yards, including the two short QB-sneak scores.
Saskatchewan’s Cody Fajardo was 16 of 24 for 196 yards with no TDs and an interception, while rushing five times for 46 yards and the Riders lone TD. He was replaced by Isaac Harker with just over three minutes remaining.
4. Other notable numbers:
- The Bombers are now 9-7 all-time vs. the Riders in the Banjo Bowl.
- The Bombers time of possession in the first 30 minutes in building a 28-3 lead was a whopping 20 minutes and 57 seconds.
- Winston Rose intercepted Fajardo in the fourth quarter for his league-leading eighth interception.
- Johnny Augustine’s second start for Andrew Harris saw him rush 16 times for 75 yards and pull in two passes for 63 yards, including the 58-yard score from Streveler.
- Grant’s TD was his third return in five games.
5. The Banjo Bowl ended a five-game run against the West Division for the Bombers, who went 4-1 with wins over Calgary, B.C, Edmonton and Saskatchewan, countered by the Labour Day Classic loss to the Riders.
