A pair of Blue Bombers quarterbacks led the team to victory on Saturday afternoon in Winnipeg.
Starting QB Zach Collaros completed 18-of-22 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns while Sean McGuire, his backup, scored three touchdowns as the Bombers trounced the Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-9 in a CFL slugfest.
The game was played before a sold-out Banjo Bowl crowd of 33,134 fully-vaccinated fans at IG Field.
The game was also marred by a second-quarter brawl that resulted in two Roughriders getting ejected.
With back-to-back wins over the Riders, Winnipeg improved to 5-1 on the season and remained in sole possession of top spot in the West Division. Saskatchewan dropped to 3-2 and remained in second.
With the Bombers up 19-9 early in the fourth quarter, Collaros completed a 30-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Darvin Adams to finish off a five-play 76-yard drive. Collaros followed that up with a 52-yard touchdown pass to slotback Kennny Lawler late in the game.
CHILL OUT, <a href=”https://twitter.com/K_Law2nice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@K_Law2nice</a>! 🤯<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFLGameday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#CFLGameday</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/Wpg_BlueBombers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Wpg_BlueBombers</a> <a href=”https://t.co/62Yt6BtUnw”>pic.twitter.com/62Yt6BtUnw</a>
—@CFL
McGuire had scored his third touchdown of the game with his third one-yard quarterback sneak midway through the third quarter to give Winnipeg that 19-9 lead.
Another TD for <a href=”https://twitter.com/JohnnyMac_18?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@JohnnyMac_18</a>, he’s on 🔥 <a href=”https://t.co/KZ7jIDEsMR”>pic.twitter.com/KZ7jIDEsMR</a>
—@CFL
The Bombers grabbed a 12-9 lead on McGuire’s second one-yard touchdown of the first half. That’s when a brawl broke out with punches thrown, at least one facemask grabbed, players piling onto each other and flags flying all over the end zone.
As a result, Saskatchewan defensive lineman Garrett Marino and defensive back A.J. Hendy were ejected from the game. No Bombers were ejected.
Kicker Marc Liegghio, who was short on a 48-yard field goal attempt, missed his second convert of the half.
The Roughriders had taken a 9-6 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Brett Lauther.
Winnipeg had taken a slim 6-3 lead over the Riders into the second quarter. McGuire capped off a 13-play, 79-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown on a sneak. Liegghio’s convert attempt was wide.
Saskatchewan had opened the scoring on its first possession when Lauther connected on a 25-yard field goal.
Saskatchewan next plays host to the Toronto Argonauts on Friday while the Bombers travel to Edmonton to play the Elks on Saturday.
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