Dan Plaster
The biggest and rowdiest crowd of the year greeted newly minted Head Coach Bobby Dyce and the Riders for the Labour Day Classic against the Blue Bombers.
In the first quarter, Winnipeg had the wind, but is was a Rider mistake on a botched direct snap to Jerome Messam that led to the first Winnipeg touchdown. Bombers took over deep in Riders territory and the drive was finished with a short Brian Brohm TD plunge and with and early Winnipeg field goal it was a 10-0 lead.
The second quarter saw the Riders have a long drive stop short of the goal line and ended up in a short Paul McCallum field goal. The tides turned on special teams. Nic Demski took a Liam Hajrullahu punt 60 yards to the house and the game was tied half way through the second quarter. McCallum hit a 43 yard field goal to give the Riders their first lead of the football game with two minutes left in the half and the 13-10 edge into the locker room.
The Riders opened the second half with another long drive that was stopped short again of the goal line and they had to settle for another McCallum field goal and the six point lead. The Green and White’s first touchdown of the game came when Brett Smith hit Ryan Smith on a 27 yard completion that capped off a 105 yard drive, the two-pointer was missed, but it was still a 22-10 lead heading into the final quarter. The drive was also helped by the Bombers taking 35 yards in penalties that included a roughing the kicker penalty that extended the drive.
The Riders went into the wind for the fourth quarter and they drove it down the Bombers throat with a 10 play 90 yard drive that was finished with a 1 yard plunge by Rob Bagg for the 18 point lead. After a Hajrullahu single cut the lead to 29-11. After a missed McCallum field goal gave the Riders a 30-11 lead, the Bombers went down the field on a late 4th quarter drive to cut it to 30-19, but Tyron Brackenridge had a strip and score with under a minute to play to seal the 37-19 victory.
The Riders will look for back to back wins next week in Winnipeg on the back end of a home and home series with the Bombers. Its a 4:30 kickoff next Saturday from Investors Group Field.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
Blue Bombers 10 0 0 9 19
Roughriders 0 13 9 15 37
Riders Leaders
Passing:
Brett Smith 19/25 211 YDS 1TD
Rushing:
Jerome Messam 17 CAR 73 YDS
Receiving:
Rob Bagg 5 REC 57 YDS
Defence:
Andre Monroe 2 Sacks 3 Tackles
