The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have the chance to run it back.
The Canadian Football League’s top regular-season team will play for the Grey Cup after defeating their bitter rival, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 21-17 in the bitter cold at Winnipeg’s IG Field during the CFL’s West Final on Sunday afternoon.
It was a game that had all the makings of December football in Canada – including a wind-chill of minus 18 before kickoff.
The Bombers looked set to open the scoring on the game’s first drive, but wide-open receiver Nik Demski bobbled the catch, the ball landing in the hands of Saskatchewan defensive back Ed Gainey.
The bad luck struck again just moments later.
After a Riders two-and-out, Winnipeg receiver Drew Wolitarsky fumbled the football just inches from the goal-line, which Saskatchewan returned into Bomber territory.
Two plays later, Saskatchewan running back William Powell opened the scoring on an inside run.
Receiver Rasheed Bailey capped a 71-yard drive by the Bombers with a touchdown to tie the game – and the first quarter ended tied at 7.
Winnipeg would turn the ball over three times in the second quarter, but the Riders could only turn that into a single field goal, leading 10-7 at halftime despite the 5-0 turnover margin.
Saskatchewan started the second half with the football and the lead, but their opening drive was halted by a fumble from quarterback Cody Fajardo that the Blue Bombers recovered – their first turnover of the game.
Riders kicker Brett Lauther missed a 36-yard field goal for Saskatchewan, and returner Janarion Grant brought it out to the Winnipeg 40-yard-line – kickstarting a Bombers touchdown drive highlighted by a magical Kenny Lawler catch and running back Andrew Harris’ first major since Oct. 8.
Saskatchewan needed just two plays to respond with their own score, a 67-yard touchdown by receiver Duke Williams.
Winnipeg didn’t pull any punches on their next possession, a 72-yard touchdown drive finished off by CFL rushing touchdown leader, backup quarterback Sean McGuire.
Fajardo led the Roughriders on an extended drive that included a controversial catch on third down by Williams, where Bomber fans thought the ball hit the ground.
But on the Riders’ third third-down on the drive, defensive back Nick Taylor stepped in front of the pass from Fajardo to force a turnover on downs.
Demski ran a sweep for one more Bombers first down to seal the win.
“We go in at half, we’re only down by three after giving the ball away that many times,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said on 680 CJOB after the game. “I thought the temperature in the locker room was pretty good. I thought we were going to be on the right side of the score (at the end of the game).”
Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, the West Division’s most outstanding player nominee, finished with 17 completions on 21 attempts, totaling 229 yards, three interceptions and one touchdown.
“Definitely had some plays that we left out there and I thought we were a much better football team than them,” Collaros said on the post-game show. “Happy to escape there with a victory. Should have been worse.”
On the other side, Fajardo finished 19 of 27 for 265 yards and one touchdown.
Andrew Harris, who returned from a knee injury that sidelined him for the final four games of the regular season, led the game in rushing with 136 yards on the ground, while also hauling in one pass for nine yards.
“Something about the playoffs just gets me going, puts a little spark, a little extra energy, a little more enthusiasm, a little more focus, and I felt that all the way through today,” Harris said.
“We gave the ball away too many times in the first half, it was a little frustrating. But our defence flexed on them in the second half and we were able to finally punch it in there in the third. I thought our defence kept us in it and offensively we’ve gotta be a lot better than that next week for sure.”
Williams was the games leading receiver with four catches for 108 yards – nearly half of them (52) after the catch.
Winnipeg is back in the Grey Cup game for the second straight year, sealing a rematch of the 2019 championship game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Sunday, December 12th from Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
Bob’s final call
It was only fitting that the Bombers sent legendary radio play-by-play man, Bob Irving, off with a win.
After a five-decade broadcast career, including 48 years at 680 CJOB, Irving’s iconic run came to an end when the fireworks sounded at IG Field on Sunday night.
Irving became the 13th member of the Bombers’ Ring of Honour before the game.
The legendary @BobIrvingCJOB signs off for the last time.
“I’ve loved every minute of what I’ve done … particularly covering the football and particularly being the voice of the Blue Bombers,” Irving said after announcing his retirement earlier this season.
Winnipeg loves you too, Bob. There will never be another like you.
3:21 Legendary broadcaster Bob Irving prepares for last call
Legendary broadcaster Bob Irving prepares for last call
The past weekend of football was all about the favourites.
The favoured teams went 13-1 straight up and 10-4 against the spread in the NFL. In college football, the three most teams bet at the BetMGM Sportsbook in terms of number of bets and money all won and covered. All three were favourites.
Trends of the Week
The three most bet college teams that won and covered on Saturday were Ohio State (-3.5) vs. Penn State, Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan State and Oregon (-14.5) at Michigan. Penn State has now lost seven straight home games as underdogs. The Nittany Lions were up 10-0 in the first quarter and were 3.5-point favourites at the time. The Buckeyes won 17-10.
In the NFL, the three most bet teams in terms of number of bets and money were the Washington Commanders (-4) at the New York Giants, the Detroit Lions (-2.5) at the Green Bay Packers and the Buffalo Bills (-6) vs. the Miami Dolphins. All three teams won, but only two of the three covered the spread as Buffalo beat Miami 30-27.
When it came to the players with the most bets to score a touchdown on Sunday, only two of the five reached the end zone — Chase Brown (-125) and Taysom Hill (+185). David Montgomery (-140), Brian Robinson Jr. (+110) and AJ Barner (+500) did not score.
Upsets of the Week
The biggest upset in the NFL was the Carolina Panthers coming from behind to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-22. New Orleans closed as a 7-point favourite and took in 76% of the bets and 79% of the money in against-the-spread betting. The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen following the loss. They have now lost seven straight games after starting the year 2-0.
Arguably the biggest upset in college football was South Carolina beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 at home. Texas A&M closed as a 2.5-point favourite and took in 59% of the bets and 58% of the money.
NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left-wing Alex Ovechkin, Carolina Hurricanes centre Martin Necas and Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby have been named the NHL’s three stars of the week.
Ovechkin had a league-leading five goals and nine points in four games.
The 39-year-old Capitals captain has 14 points in 11 games this season, and his 860 career goals are just 34 shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record.
Necas shared the league lead with nine points (three goals, six assists) in three games.
Crosby factored on seven of the Penguins’ eight total goals scoring four goals and adding three assists in three appearances. The 37-year-old Penguins captain leads his team with 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 13 games this season.
Crosby and Ovechkin, longtime rivals since entering the league together in 2005-06, will meet for the 70th time in the regular season and 95th time overall when Pittsburgh visits Washington on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2024.
TORONTO – Running back Brady Oliveira of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.
Oliveira led the CFL in rushing this season with 1,353 yards while Mitchell was the league leader in passing yards (5,451) and touchdowns (32).
Oliveira is also the West Division finalist for the CFL’s top Canadian award, the second straight year he’s been nominated for both.
Oliveira was the CFL’s outstanding Canadian in 2023 and the runner-up to Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for outstanding player.
Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s top Canadian nominee.
Voting for the awards is conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
The other award finalists include: defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette (outstanding defensive player); Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland and Toronto’s Ryan Hunter (outstanding lineman); B.C. Lions kicker Sean Whyte and Toronto returner Janarion Grant (special teams); and Edmonton Elks linebacker Nick Anderson and Hamilton receiver Shemar Bridges (outstanding rookie).
The coach of the year finalists are Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Montreal’s Jason Maas.
The CFL will honour its top individual performers Nov. 14 in Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 31.
