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News September 11, 2021

Quick Hits | SSK 9 WPG 33

Jemarcus Hardrick 51 - Andrew Harris 33 celebration

@EdTaitWFC

5 Quick Hits from the Bombers win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the 17th annual Banjo Bowl:

1.  OPENING THOUGHTS: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have settled into first place in the Canadian Football League’s West Division and with every passing week are sending this message to their rivals:
They will have to fight, scratch and claw just for the opportunity to try and pry the championship belt from the defending Grey Cup champions collective grasp.
The Bombers — once again following their trademark script of owning the line of scrimmage and being stingy on defence — improved to 5-1 with a 33-9 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on a spectacular Saturday afternoon at IG Field in south Winnipeg.
The win gives the Bombers the season series with the Riders, now 3-2. It is also their third straight victory in what will be a run of eight straight games against the West.
Winnipeg is in Edmonton next Saturday to face the Elks.

2. BANJO BOWL NUMBERS: Winnipeg’s win was the club’s second straight in the Banjo owl and fifth in the last six editions of the game. The Bombers now hold a 10-7 edge in the 17 years the game has been played.
The announced attendance was 33,234 marking the 16th consecutive year the game has sold out.
The Bombers have now swept the Labour Day Classic three times, also accomplishing the feat in 2004 and 2016.

3 . TEMPER, TEMPER: The Bomber-Roughrider rivalry often brings out the ugly between the two Prairie rivals and that was certainly the case Saturday afternoon as the two clubs combined for 23 penalties for 232 yards — seven for 82 by the Bombers; 16 for 150 by the Riders.
The hate-on between the two squads was on full display in the second quarter after Sean McGuire’s second of three QB-sneak TDs.
The meleé that broke out saw two Roughriders ejected — linebacker A.J. Hendy and Garrett Marino — and 95 yards in penalties.

4. QB NUMBERS: Zach Collaros was dialled in for the Bombers, connecting with Darvin Adams and Kenny Lawler for TD strikes and finishing 18 for 23 for 278 yards.
The afternoon wasn’t as kind for Rider starting QB Cody Fajardo, who exited the game in the third quarter after looking to hit his head on the turf after a Willie Jefferson sack. Fajardo finished 11 of 17 for 169 yards with no TDs, while being intercepted by Adam Bighill.
He was replaced by Isaac Harker, who went 10 of 13 for 89 yards.

5. FYI: Andrew Harris finished with 18 caries for 80 yards and scored the 80th TD of his career… Bombers DB Nick Taylor was injured on the Riders first possession of the game, but returned later in the first quarter… Sean McGuire’s three QB-sneak TDs now gives him five in his career, all five coming in the last two weeks vs. the Riders… Marc Liegghio missed his lone field goal attempts and also two converts.