Blue Bombers barrage blanks barren Riders

Another Labor Day Classic showdown ended in a blowout. This time, the tables turned in favor of the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Incredibly, the Bombers came away victorious for just the second time in the past sixteen years on Labor Day.

Winnipeg’s vicious defense harassed Riders quarterback Cody Fajardo all night. Leading to three backbreaking interceptions. The Riders pivot struggled all night under the blue and white bombardment. In the end, the Riders fell for the first time this season 23-8.

The Blue Bombers defense shut out the Riders in the second half, while their offense scored 16 unanswered points to win. After a dominant first three weeks, Bombers held the Riders to to 258 total offensive yards.

Uncharacteristically, the Riders offense couldn’t move the chains. While Fajardo was harried and harassed to the point of throwing three picks.

Fajardo came into the game with the league’s best completion rate of 78.9%, but he struggled against the Bombers’ assault. Fajardo completed just 23 of 39 passes for 211 yards and three interceptions in the game.

Saskatchewan just weren’t themselves during this Labor Day Classic. Micah Teitz, the Roughriders linebacker, stated that the most disappointing aspect of the defeat was the Roughriders’ high expectations.

“I think everybody on the team knows we have such a great ball club and we know the Labour Day games are more magnified than ever,” Teitz said.

per CKOM 650AM

Second Half Dooms Riders

After trailing 8-7 at the half, the Blue Bombers came out of the locker room with a vengeance.

The Bombers came away with touchdowns from backup quarterback Sean McGuire and receiver Nic Demski in the second half, as well as a field goal from Marc Liegghio, to deliver the Riders their first loss of the season.

Throughout the game, the Riders struggled with penalties. During the classic, they were penalized 13 times for 102 yards. All the red flags are certainly a source of worry for Riders head coach Craig Dickenson. Most alarming is the Green & White’s lack of offense against the boys in blue.

Though it may seem improbable, the Blue Bombers have now held Saskatchewan to just 21 points and zero touchdowns over the last two meetings.

After the surprising Labor Day drubbing the Bombers (4-1) now lead the West Division, while the Riders (3-1) fall to second.

The Riders will now focus on the Banjo Bowl, where they will aim to even the season series at one apiece in Winnipeg on Saturday.

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