Saskatchewan remains undefeated at home and beats Winnipeg

REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defence dominated in a division battle that held the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a single-digit score on Friday night.

In his third consecutive start, Riders quarterback Shea Patterson led the team to a 19-9 record. Victory at Mosaic Stadium. The center completed 17 of 25 passes for 261 yards and a touchdown.

Winnipeg starter Zach Collaros completed 20 of 31 passes for 266 yards and one interception. All of the Bombers’ points came off the leg of veteran kicker Sergio Castillo, who had two field goals of 50-plus yards this season.

With the win, the Roughriders remain perfect at home and improve to 5-1 on the season, while the Bombers fall to 2-5.

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Friday marked the West Division rivals’ first meeting of the 2024 campaign with both defenses facing off to tie the game 6-6 at the half.

Through the first two quarters, Rider fourth-year defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. knocked down three passes, while Jameer Thurman led the Green and White with five defensive tackles. Winnipeg Blue Bomber Kyrie Wilson led his team with four defensive tackles through 30 minutes.

Former Hamilton Tiger-Cat Malik Carney got his first sack as a Rider, which was the only sack of the first half.

Winnipeg started scoring on the opening drive with a 35-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo. Ten minutes later, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther responded with a 28-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3.

In the second quarter, there was a sense of déjà vu, as Castillo regained the lead with a 56-yard field goal. Lauther returned the favor once again, tying the game with a 41-yard field goal.

Winnipeg’s reliance on Castillo resulted in a 61-yard attempt that fell short with just over a minute left in the second quarter.

Entering the third quarter, the Riders were without Patterson’s favorite target of the first half: Kian Schaffer-Baker. The fourth-year Canadian receiver made four of eight receptions for 60 yards before leaving the game due to an injury.

Saskatchewan rookie Ajou Ajou replaced Schaffer-Baker and made two receptions. —both for the first few yards—on the game’s first touchdown drive. Patterson connected with rookie fullback Clint Ratkovich on a 15-yard pass for his first CFL title.

Ajou finished the night with a standout performance in the second half, making four of five receptions for 110 yards, with the longest being a 46-yarder. After the catch, he led the game with 70 yards, three more than Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira.

With great momentum, former Ottawa REDBLACKS linebacker Adam Auclair caught the only interception of the night and his first as a Rider.

On the ensuing drive, Winnipeg defensive end Willie Jefferson got the Bombers’ only sack, for a loss of 16 yards, ultimately holding the Riders to a field goal to start the fourth quarter.

The Riders’ defense applied pressure to close out the fourth quarter, and Marcus Sayles added a forced fumble to his three defensive tackles on the night. Thurman led the team in tackles with six, while Winnipeg cornerback Evan Holm added a game-leading eight.

Lauther capped the night with another 30-plus-yard field goal for a final score of 19-9.

While the Bombers held a slight edge in passing yards, 266 to 261, the Riders’ defence limited Winnipeg to 65 rushing yards while Saskatchewan’s offence generated 135 rushing yards.

Oliveira had nine carries for 49 yards, averaging 4.5 yards, with a 16-yard run as his longest. Saskatchewan’s AJ Ouellette had 17 carries for 88 yards, while Patterson averaged 8.8 yards on four carries for 35 yards.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will next open Week 8 CFL action with a trip to face the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, July 25. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.

Winnipeg will have an extra day of rest with a game on Saturday at BMO Field against the Toronto Argonauts. That game will tip off at 7:00 p.m. ET on July 27.