Riders, Bombers meet for third time of 2024 CFL season

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will head into hostile territory to try and get their season back on track.

The Green and White carry a six-game winless streak (0-5-1) into Winnipeg where the Bombers await them in the Labour Day Classic rematch. Kickoff for the game is set for 1 p.m. The game will be shown on CTV this week but will not be available on TSN.

The Riders last win came back on July 19 in a 19-9 win over the Bombers.

So with the Riders looking to get back into the win column, the mission this week is simple for linebacker Jameer Thurman.

“We need a win. It doesn’t matter how,” Thurman said. “We need to come away with a win. That’s it.”

Saskatchewan has kept things close in games during this skid, only losing by an average of about four points per game. That includes the team’s most recent loss – a 35-33 decision to the Bombers in the Labour Day Classic.

Despite the recent stretch, quarterback Trevor Harris believes the team can get things turned around.

“We’re fighters. We have been down double-digits so many times this year in the fourth quarter and in the second half and this team just continues to continue throwing punches,” Harris said. “There’s no die in this team – there is always fight.

“When you face adversity, you can do two things: you can lay down or you can get up and fight. I know what this group is going to choose to do and I know the talent level we have and I know our leadership. That’s a championship DNA in my opinion.”

The Labour Day Classic rematch – also known as the Banjo Bowl – hasn’t been kind to the Riders. Winnipeg holds a 12-7 advantage in the series and the last two games have been blowouts in Winnipeg’s favour – a 54-20 game in 2022 and then a 51-6 decision last year.

The Riders’ offensive line will go through yet another change as the team continues to battle injuries. Centre Peter Godber (ankle) and guard Zack Fry (elbow) are the latest members of the group to go onto the six-game injured list. They join tackles Jermarcus Hardrick (quad) and Jacob Brammer (knee), guard Philip Blake (quad), guard Ryan Sceviour (elbow) on that list.

Noah Zerr will make his first career CFL start this week at left guard with Nick Jones, who played in two previous games, playing right guard while Logan Ferland, who is one of two Riders’ offensive linemen to start every game this season, will move to centre. Left tackle Trevor Reid is the only other mainstay along the Riders’ O-line this season.

“When a new guy steps up, it’s all about consistency and staying on the same page,” Ferland said. “I’ve played with (Godber) for a while now and I understand how he sees the game and that’s how the other guys see it because of that.”

On defence, Saskatchewan will look to once again keep the CFL’s leading rusher in check. Brady Oliveira comes into the game with 851 rushing yards so far but in both games against Saskatchewan, he has been held to under 50 – he had 49 in the first meeting and then 42 in the second meeting.

“I just think we have a sense of pride when it comes to stopping the run,” Thurman said. “I think everyone is held accountable in that regard and we just go out there and can execute very well. We just have to carry it over into all aspects of our defence.”

Saskatchewan is only giving up 74.3 yards on the ground per game – the fewest in the CFL so far.

The Riders will also try to stop an aerial attack led by Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros. While Collaros hasn’t played up to his high standards thus far, the veteran did throw for 218 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the first half of the Labour Day Classic.

Collaros left the game after Riders defensive tackle Miles Brown hit Collaros in the head. Brown was fined by the CFL for the hit.

The Riders has a CFL-high 29 sacks so far led by defensive tackle Micah Johnson who has six sacks. Johnson and Winnipeg defensive end Willie Jefferson are tied for the league-lead.

While the Riders come into the game third in the CFL West Division, they can jump over the Bombers in the standings with a win and move into second. If the Riders win, Winnipeg, who is currently in first place, would drop to third.

The B.C. Lions would claim the first spot after their 37-23 win over the Montreal Alouettes.

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