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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 19-6 in the Banjo Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Princess Auto Stadium. Defensive back Redha Kramdi played a central role in the victory, forcing a fumble and making a key interception to secure the win. The result improved Winnipeg’s record to 7-6 and pushed them back into contention in the West Division playoff race.
Kramdi Leads Winnipeg Defence
Kramdi returned from a hand injury that kept him out for six games. His teammates had spoken all week about his importance to the defence, praising his playmaking ability and football IQ. He delivered on both counts Saturday.
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Midway through the first quarter, Kramdi forced a fumble by receiver D’Sean Mimbs on a promising Saskatchewan drive. Evan Holm recovered the ball near midfield. Then, in the fourth quarter, Kramdi intercepted Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris while Winnipeg protected a 10-point lead. That interception effectively ended Saskatchewan’s hopes of making it a one-score game.
The Roughriders finished with five turnovers compared to Winnipeg’s two. Saskatchewan also struggled on second down, converting just 4 of 22 attempts. Those numbers told the story of a team that could not sustain drives when it mattered most.
Collaros Exits Early, Bombers Offence Holds Firm
Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros had been playing some of his best football in recent weeks. He entered Saturday converting 70 percent of his passes and carrying a five-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio over his previous three games. However, he left the game in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury.
Before exiting, Collaros completed 13 of 19 passes for 175 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Backup Dru Brown took over and went 4-for-5 for 46 yards without a turnover. Tommy Nield scored the game’s only touchdown, hauling in a 30-yard pass from Collaros early in the second quarter. It was Nield’s first touchdown of the season after a quiet start following his off-season signing.
Kicker Sergio Castillo added four field goals, connecting from 31, 44, 45 and 36 yards. Winnipeg finished with 291 net yards of offence. Running back Brady Oliveira also bounced back strongly after a difficult outing the previous week. He rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries. Furthermore, Oliveira became the first Canadian in CFL history to record five consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Saskatchewan Struggles to Generate Momentum
The Roughriders dropped to 8-5 with the loss but remain in second place in the West Division behind the Edmonton Elks. Harris completed 24 of 45 passes for 231 yards and threw one interception. He entered the game on pace for career highs in passing yards and touchdowns, but Saturday’s performance fell well short of that standard.
Saskatchewan also made a change at kicker. The team benched struggling kicker Alex Hale and dressed Dawson Hodge, a 24-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C. Hodge went two-for-two on field goals, including one from 33 yards. Receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby led all Saskatchewan pass-catchers with 80 yards on seven catches. Running back Quali Conley managed just 35 yards on seven carries.
The game started as a defensive battle. Winnipeg moved the ball early but lost possession when a deep pass deflected off Nic Demski’s hands and into the arms of Roughriders linebacker Aubrey Miller. Saskatchewan then threatened on the next drive before Kramdi forced the Mimbs fumble. The first quarter ended scoreless.
Bombers Pull Away in Second Half
Winnipeg broke through early in the second quarter. Collaros connected with Demski for 42 yards, then found Nield wide open near the left sideline for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead. A Castillo 31-yard field goal later extended the margin to 10-0 after a pair of sacks stalled a deeper drive.
Saskatchewan closed the half with a Hodge field goal, making it 10-3 at the break. After the Roughriders opened the third quarter with a two-and-out, Castillo pushed the lead back to 10 points with a 45-yard field goal. Another Saskatchewan fumble, this time by KeeSean Johnson, halted a promising Roughriders drive. However, a Collaros interception by Seyi Oladipo Jr. gave Saskatchewan life, and a Hodge field goal made it 13-6 with two minutes left in the third.
After Collaros left with his injury, Brown took over and moved the offence efficiently. A 44-yard Castillo field goal pushed the lead to 16-6. Kramdi’s interception in the fourth quarter then sealed the outcome. Castillo added his final field goal from 36 yards with under two minutes remaining, completing the 19-6 final.
With the win, Winnipeg also claims the season-series tiebreaker over Saskatchewan based on point differential. The Bombers now hold a 14-8 all-time record in the Banjo Bowl and have won nine of the last 11 editions. The victory also avenged last week’s 32-26 overtime loss in Regina.
Next up, the Roughriders visit the B.C. Lions on Friday, September 25. The Blue Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts on the same date.
