OUT OF THE TUNNEL: BANJO BLOWOUT
BY: RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF
The Saskatchewan Roughriders six-game winning streak ended with an incredible thud after an inexplicable 35-10 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 16th edition of the Banjo Bowl on Saturday.
This was a huge game for the Green and White with everything seemingly going in their favour heading in. They were riding the momentum of a lengthy winning streak, they were dressing the same lineup in back-to-back weeks for the first time this season and they were facing an incredibly beat up Bomber club that is still missing their quarterback (Matt Nichols), a future hall of fame running back (Andrew Harris), their top playmaker (Lucky Whitehead) and a top Canadian receiving target (Nic Demski).
The Riders let a chance at first place and maybe more importantly, winning the season series with Winnipeg, slip through their hands.
Championship teams take opportunities like this to step on the throat of their opposition.
As the Leader-Post’s Rob Vanstone stated in his wonderful post-game editorial, the Riders also lost the Banjo Bowl in 2007 and 2013. There are big differences in those games.
2007 was a Bomber team that had their full arsenal of weapons with Kevin Glenn at the helm and 2013 was a horrendous defensive battle where the two teams combined for just 523 offensive yards and 15 sacks.
This was different.
It began with the play in the trenches. The Bomber offensive line dominated and it that was evident early with the second offensive play. Chris Steveler ran a designed draw play on 2nd and 17 from their own three-yard-line for a first down. They ended the day giving up just three sacks and pushed around the Rider defensive front to the tune of 155-yards.
The Rider offensive line couldn’t handle Willie Jefferson and the well-timed Richie Hall blitz packages. Jefferson’s play was expected, but after Hall’s defence let up the game winning field goal drive to the Riders in the Labour Day Classic, many thought the Riders had a solid game-plan coming into Saturday. Hall dialled it up and had a great game.
Enough of the negative, there is a huge bright side.
The Riders are tied for second in the West Division with the Calgary Stampeders with a potential statement game this Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.
The upstart Montreal Alouettes come to town playing some of their best football in years led by quarterback and former Rider, Vernon Adams.
It will be the game to watch this week because the Riders and Alouettes are mirror images of each other.
Great defences, dynamic offences led by the future star starting quarterbacks in the CFL, and solid special teams with big leg kickers.
The Riders will ride the green wave at Mosaic Stadium where they have been almost unbeatable with a 5-1 record.
Look for a turnaround this week and a return to form for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
We love the fact that the CFL and TSN have fully embraced the Banjo Bowl and its history.
Many Rider fans hate it, but that’s what makes this so awesome.
The way it came to be was fun via Troy Westwood’s big mouth. Winnipeg embracing the back end of this home-and-home series and a dumb trophy that even when the Riders win, they don’t get, is what makes the CFL special.
It sells out the stadium and gets great ratings!
It could be worse, there are some rivalry trophies in the NCAA that are a lot more…weird.
Like the Iron Skillet that TCU Horned Frogs and SMU Mustangs play for. There are two versions on why an Iron Skillet but both revolve around a TCU fan finding an SMU fan frying frog legs in an iron skillet and it goes from there.
Then there’s the Platypus trophy between Oregon and Oregon State. They made it a platypus because it’s the combination of both team’s mascots, a beaver and a duck.
Hate it or love it, either way embrace the Banjo Bowl.
Provincially, it’s great that the Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder play for the Shrine Trophy.
Now if only the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and University of Regina Rams would find a rivalry trophy.
Someone could steal a sign near Davidson and play for the town. Or maybe because both team’s wear green play for a green garden troll. Better yet, as the Banner Society’s Shutdown Fullcast podcast suggests, just steal something and make the other team play for it.
This Week in Canada West
The Alberta Golden Bears went on the road and stymied the University of Regina Rams and their dynamic first year quarterback Josh Donnelly in an 18-17 victory at Mosaic Stadium.
The Golden Bears racked up three interceptions while rolling up 129-yards on the ground in the victory. Both teams are now 1-1 to begin the season.
The Saskatchewan Huskies took out their week one frustrations by beating up on the visiting UBC Thunderbirds 40-7 in their home opener at Griffiths Stadium.
Mason Nyhus threw for 306 yards and Adam Machart ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. The win moves the Huskies to 1-1 and the Thunderbirds drop to 0-2.
The Calgary Dinos struggled a bit at home but were able to pick off the Manitoba Bisons 24-10 at McMahon Stadium.
Dinos quarterback Adam Sinagra was efficient but not outstanding with 207 yards passing and three touchdowns in the victory. The Dinos defence guided the way with three interceptions.
Week 3 in Canada West:(all times local)
Friday, September 13
Saskatchewan (1-1) at Regina (1-1) 7:00pm Mosaic Stadium
Manitoba (1-1) at Alberta (1-1) 7:00pm Foote Field
Saturday, September 14
Calgary (2-0) at UBC (0-2) 3:00pm Thunderbird Stadium
This Week in the Prairie Football Conference
The Saskatoon Hilltops needed a last minute touchdown drive to escape SMF Field with the 28-21 win over provincial rival Regina Thunder.
The Regina Thunder kicked a game tying field goal with 90 seconds remaining in Saskatoon on Saturday night to even the game 21-21. That’s when the Hilltops marched down the field and it was capped with a Ben Abrook touchdown run.
In the other game this week, the Calgary Colts picked up their first victory of the season edging the Edmonton Wildcats 17-12.
Week 5 in the PFC:(all times local)
Winnipeg Rifles (1-2) at Edmonton Huskies (2-1) 1:00pm Clarke Park
Bye: Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton Wildcats, Calgary
Canadian to Watch in the NCAA
WR – Chase Claypool (Sr)
Notre Dame (Independant)
6′ 5″ 229lbs.
Abbotsford, B.C.
High School – Abbotsford Senior Secondary School
Claypool was one of the highest ranked players to ever come out of high school in Canada. He played in Nike’s The Opening and the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in January 2016.
Claypool played with the Irish as an outright freshman in 2016 and hasn’t looked back. 2018 was a breakout season for him with 639 yards receiving and four touchdowns.
In the lone game for the Irish in 2019, Claypool led the way with five catches for 94 yards in a dominating 35-17 victory over Louisville.
(By: RodPedersen.com Staff/Photo: Lisa Lukye)
Got to say it,
Investors Group Field, Winnipeg Mb. – A fabulous jewel of a stadium. Premier high class, AAA+, 5 star, 5 diamond rating. Great place to watch a football game. The vibe inside that venue surreal and can’t be beat anywhere else in Canada. That building blueprint has got the bowl seating configuration correct making for close up on field action a pleasure to watch from any seat. A architectural esthetically pleasing marvel build top to bottom. Kudos Winnipeg Manitoba, you’ve got a lot to be proud of with your world class facility.
You sound like your trying to convince yourself. That your leaky stadium the Bombers couldn’t even afford and had to ask for debt forgiveness to have their portion cleared from the books. When the color panel even once mentions you have a great stadium. Maybe then we might start to forgive the embarrassing debacle of an NFL game having to use an 80 yard football field. Totally embarrassed the whole Country!
Until you get to the next level. Get use to Mosaic Stadium be referee to by all TVs color people the jewel of the CFL.
Oh ya? Try walking through the one concourse at half time! You can’t even move!! No concourse on upper level, all spills down to tbe one main concourse. And it’s not exactly wide to start with. Wearing my Rider gear 3 years ago at IG Field and Bomber fans were stopping me and saying “make sure your new stadium doesn’t do this!”
You are 100% wrong, there is most definitely a concourse on the upper level.