CFL SIM BANJO BOWL: BOMBERS 16 ROUGHRIDERS 8

WINNIPEG – Nic Demski’s 41-yard touchdown reception from Zach Collaros with just 3:27 remaining blew open a tight Banjo Bowl and lifted Winnipeg to a 16-8 victory over Saskatchewan Friday night in Week 14 of CFL SIM action.

In a computer-simulated game on Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football, the Blue Bombers were looking to avenge last weekend’s 29-0 loss to the Roughriders in the Labour Day Classic.

The Banjo Bowl was a low-scoring, grudge match type contest over the first half as Winnipeg led 4-0 after the first quarter courtesy a Justin Medlock 23-yard field goal and 58-yard punt single in the first quarter. A Rider safety in the second quarter gave Winnipeg a 6-0 lead at the half at a soldout Investors Group Field.

The game was broadcast on Facebook Live and featured Winnipeg slotback Drew Wolitarsky performing a guitar and harmonica set for the halftime show. Celebrity viewers of the Facebook broadcast featured Rider greats Don Narcisse and Kenton Keith along with Bomber linebacker Micah Awe.

Saskatchewan got on the board in the third quarter courtesy a 1-yard touchdown run by William Powell at the 5:55 mark. A 2-point convert attempt was foiled when Cody Fajardo’s pass hit the left upright! It was shades of the final moments of last year’s CFL West Final between the Riders and Bombers at Mosaic Stadium. The teams traded safeties before the quarter was out, and the game was tied 8-8 going into the fourth quarter.

Medlock nailed a 47-yard punt single and that set the stage for Demski’s game-winning touchdown.

With the win the Blue Bombers improved to 5-7 while Saskatchewan dropped to 9-3.

OTTAWA – In the early game of the Friday Night Football CFL SIM doubleheader, Ottawa QB Nick Arbuckle threw for 383-yards and three touchdowns as the RedBlacks rolled 34-14 over the Montreal Alouettes.

Ottawa led 2-0 after the first quarter and 15-0 at the break. They carried a 24-6 lead into the fourth quarter.

CFL SIM-leading receiver Brad Sinopoli caught two of Arbuckle’s touchdown passes while R.J. Harris had the other. John Crocket added 46 yards rushing.

In a losing cause, Montreal QB Vernon Adams Jr. tossed for 323 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Felix Faubert-Lussier led all Montreal receivers with 188 yards and a touchdown while Eugene Lewis snared the other score. James Wilder Jr. had 43 yards rushing.

The win upped Ottawa’s record to 5-8 while the Alouettes fell to 3-9.

(Nelson Hackewich/Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football)