SASKATOON — It’s safe to say that fans of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Saskatoon got their money’s worth in their Canadian Football League preseason contest against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Despite falling behind 17-7 in the first quarter, the Riders would steadily chip away offensively, eventually engineering the game-winning drive in the final two minutes and go on to a 31-27 victory at Griffiths Stadium. As a result, Saskatchewan wraps up their pre-season with a 1-1 record and will head into their three-week break in a positive frame of mind.
Former University of Saskatchewan Huskies standout Daniel Wiebe was the hero of the final drive, hauling in a three-yard pass in coverage with 48 seconds remaining. The catch was Wiebe’s second of the game, but came at a perfect time after quarterback Brayden Schager put together the game-winning drive.
The contest backed up his performance from Monday in Calgary at McMahon Stadium, as the Riders rookie quarterback capped off a solid quarter-and-a-half of action by putting together the seven-play, 84-yard series for the winning points. All told, Schager would finish 14-for-19 passing for 179 yards, the game-winning touchdown and two interceptions.
It was an up-and-down game for both teams, with the starting offences showing off fireworks off the opening drive.
Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros led his team down the field for a seven-play, 66-yard drive on the game’s first possession, only for Saskatchewan’s Trevor Harris to respond with a five-play 82-yard touchdown drive on the very next series. As the preseason would have it, that would mark the only series of the game for both starting pivots.
Jack Coan took over for Harris on the Riders second drive and after a rough start that included a pick-six, he’d end up going 10-for-18 passing for 100 yards while playing into the third quarter. That included a slick touch pass to Johnny Johnson III to give Saskatchewan their first lead of the game 21-17 with 9:42 to play in the third.
Winnipeg regained the lead on a pick-six interception off Schager early in the fourth quarter and they’d extend their edge to 27-21 with 4:27 to play. Cue the comeback, beginning with a gutsy field goal call with 2:34 remaining that saw Jonathan Kim hit a 35-yarder to get the Riders within four. All told, Kim would finish 3-for-3 on field goals, including a long of 51.
The Riders defence did their job on the ensuing drive by getting the two-and-out, and Schager and crew would do the rest.
A.J. Ouellete had Saskatchewan’s other major on the first drive, plunging in from three yards out. Abdul Janneh led the Riders receiving corps with six catches for 107 yards, with 11 different players having at least one catch in the game.
Ridge Texada and Ja’Kobe Clinton had the pick-six majors for Winnipeg, Brady Oliveira scored the touchdown on their first drive. Brady Lidster was 2-for-3 on field goals, including a long of 50.
The game marks the end of Saskatchewan’s pre-season schedule, and they’ll shift to Regina for the final week of training camp before receiving their first bye of the regular season in Week 1. The Roughriders home opener is set for Saturday, June 13 against the B.C. Lions at Mosaic Stadium.
