Pats' Braxton Whitehead verbally commits to NCAA program
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Once again, the Saskatchewan Roughriders couldn’t come up with a game-winning play on Saturday, seeing a winless streak increase to seven for a third season in a row.
The Riders once again battled throughout another hard-fought game but lost 26-21 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Labour Day Classic rematch.
“It’s a bad taste in our mouth right now,” said quarterback Trevor Harris. “A winnable game today but you just get tired of saying that. You get tired of saying that every week … I’m sick of saying it. We just need to win games.”
Riders head coach Corey Mace said penalties and turnovers were key ingredients in the loss.
“I think some of the main things we talk about, we have lost those battles which put us in a tough spot,” Mace said.
The win in Saturday’s game at Princess Auto Field — also known as the Banjo Bowl — is the latest loss in a winless streak that has now grown to seven (0-6-1). In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, the Riders ended their seasons on seven-game losing streaks.
Winning ‘just a matter of when’
“Guys are frustrated. I know fans are probably frustrated but I think the feeling is probably the exact same — how they feel and how we feel,” Harris said. “We’ve got guys that are hungry and want to try to find ways to win … It’s just a matter of time. When we find that first win, it will start pouring over and the good things will start happening. It’s just a matter of when.”
Saskatchewan had a chance to drive the field and win the game but Harris left a pass up in the air for too long which was intercepted by Tyrell Ford to seal the game for Winnipeg. It was Ford’s second interception in the game.
“I felt the corner drift off and felt I had enough room to plug it to Sam (Emilus) and the ball was just in the air for a long time and he made a play on it and drove on it and it was just unfortunate,” Harris said.
Harris also added 287 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
Things started out tough for the Riders after the first two drives by the offence ended with a blocked punt and then an interception to spot Winnipeg a 10-0 lead early in the game.
But once again, the Green and White fought hard for their first-year head coach and stuck with the first-place Bombers (7-6) team throughout much of the game.
Emilus and KeeSean Johnson both hauled in touchdown passes in the game for Saskatchewan. It was the fourth game in a row Johnson has caught a touchdown pass.
The Riders’ offensive line came into play, once again dealing with injuries. Logan Ferland started the game at centre due to an injury to Peter Godber, while Noah Zerr made his first career CFL start as well along the line.
“They were able to do things together,” Harris said. “Even though we are decimated across the board with injuries and scrapping and clawing to try to find guys to play, they are doing a fantastic job and really, really fight hard.”
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros had 231 yards and a touchdown in the win.
The Riders once again held running back Brady Oliveira to under 50 rushing yards, only surrendering 43 in this game to the CFL’s leading rusher.
“I felt like we had a pretty good defensive game again. We didn’t have too many explosive plays (against us) and we didn’t have too many flags, if any,” said defensive back Marcus Sayles, who had three tackles in the game.
“We have to figure out how to win those late games and maybe give our offense better field position at times.”
Streveler sidelined by Miles Brown hit
Winnipeg quarterback Chris Streveler, who had a rushing touchdown in the game, had to leave in the third quarter after defensive tackle Miles Brown fell while battling through a block by the Winnipeg offensive line and reached out to wrap Streveler up low. The hit forced the veteran backup to leave with an apparent knee injury and Brown was flagged for roughing the passer on the play.
Brown was fined after a high hit on Collaros in the Labour Day Classic, which knocked the starting Bombers pivot from that game.
Mace said he was focusing on challenging for offensive pass interference on the play and hadn’t gotten a close look at the play.
“I was over there maybe talking too much to get the (offensive pass interference) but in saying that, I have been around long enough to know after what happened last week and that player being around the quarterback, things are a little bit heightened,” Mace said.
“I don’t want to comment and say anything crazy but I can only speak about Miles Brown as a person, and he is an A-1 guy.”
Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo made all four of his field goal attempts while Riders kicker Brett Lauther also made both of his. Both connected on both of their point-after attempts.
Despite the Riders’ record dropping to 5-7-1, Harris remains confident this team can put it together and go on a run.
“I know a lot of people don’t believe me, and I don’t blame people for not believing me, but at the end of this season, we will be able to look back and look at moments like this and know there was a turning point,” Harris said.
Saskatchewan will now enjoy a bye week before taking on the Calgary Stampeders (4-7) on Sept. 20.
“We have a lot of important games ahead of us. Not only come back dialed and focused but a little accountability in what we can do individually better to help this team push forward,” Mace said. “It’s going to be quite a dang western run here coming up.”
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