Posted: September 7,2014 07:00PM
Updated: September 7,2014 09:56PM
CFL.ca Staff
WINNIPEG -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 30-24 in the 2014 Banjo Bowl, but at what cost?
Darian Durant was forced out with an elbow injury in the third quarter, forcing Tino Sunseri to carry the load under centre the rest of the way.
Prior to exiting the game, Durant had completed eight of nine pases for 77 yards. The Riders were incredibly run heavy on Sunday, rushing the ball a total of 31 times compared to just 14 pass attempts.
Already with the season-series victory under
their belt, the Riders entered the 11th edition of the Banjo Bowl
looking for the sweep over their prairie rivals.
But things didn’t pan out exactly how they would have preferred, as the Bombers jumped out to a quick 7-1 lead thanks to a 12-yard touchdown scamper by Nic Girgsby.
The rushing score was Grigsby’s league-leading eighth of the season.
With the second quarter underway, the Bombers looked poised to increase their lead with a field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu.
However Riders linebacker Weldon Brown broke through the line and blocked the rookie kicker’s attempt, allowing Rod Williams to scoop up the loose ball and return it 62 yards for a touchdown, silencing the Investors Group Field faithful.
From there, the Riders just kept piling on offensively.
Spearheaded by a dominant three-pronged rushing attack consisting of Jerome Messam, Will Ford and Anthony Allen, the Riders pounded the ball on the ground to the tune of 68 yards over the next two drives before Allen scored on a 13-yard gallop.
Prior to the conclusion of the first half, the Riders would find the endzone one last time, as Weston Dressler returned a Hajrullaju punt 75 yards for a touchdown.
The Riders took a 27-8 lead over the Bombers into the break.
Saskatchewan’s RB trio combined for 97 yards on 13 carries in the first half, while Grigsby ran five times for a total of 33 yards in the opening 30 minutes.
With momentum seemingly in Saskatchewan’s corner, the Bombers wasted no time getting their sold-out crowd back into the game once the second half got underway.
Willy, who threw for 161 yards on 11 completions in the first two quarters, cruised through a critical five-play, 61-yard drive that was capped off by a 14-yard strike to Rory Kohlert for a touchdown.
On the drive, Willy completed four consecutive passes, and also ran one himself for a gain of 18 yards.
Though Willy came out gunning in the second half, the same couldn’t be said for his counterpart Durant, who was forced out of the game with an apparent elbow injury with 9:43 remaining in the third quarter.
Tino Sunseri came in for relief and Durant did not return.
Following Durant's exit, the game settled down in terms of scoring, with both teams putting points on the board using their kickers.
On the same drive that Durant was forced out, Chris Milo connected on a 35-yard field goal, while the two punters exchanged singles afterwards.
However, with time winding down in the fourth quarter, Willy orchestrated a clutch late-game drive that would allow the Bombers to be within striking distance of the Riders' lead.
Taking over from his own 25-yard line, Willy completed six passes, the last of which found the hands of Aaron Kelly in the endzone for a 29-yard touchdown strike, bringing the Bombers within seven.
Rather than gambling on an onside kick with less than 2:30 remaining in the game, the Bombers elected to kick deep and rely on their defence to stop a Riders run game that had been enjoying plenty of success to that point in the game.
However, some staunch defensive play Abraham Kromah forced Messam to fumble on a gutsy third down gamble by the Riders, giving possession right back to Willy and the Bombers.
But on the very first play of the drive, Willy saw his deep pass intercepted by Williams.
Winnipeg would get one more chance to drive for the win with :49 left in the game, but Willy saw his pass intercepted once again, this time by Tristan Jackson.
Next week, the Bombers will travel to Vancouver, where they'll take on the Lions at BC Place on Saturday night, while the Riders will head east to Tim Hortons Field to face the Tiger-Cats.
WINNIPEG -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 30-24 in the 2014 Banjo Bowl, but at what cost?
Darian Durant was forced out with an elbow injury in the third quarter, forcing Tino Sunseri to carry the load under centre the rest of the way.
Prior to exiting the game, Durant had completed eight of nine pases for 77 yards. The Riders were incredibly run heavy on Sunday, rushing the ball a total of 31 times compared to just 14 pass attempts.
| Related: 2014 Banjo Bowl |
|---|
 » View Game Stats » Photos: Riders vs. Bombers » Video: Dressler's Punt Return TD » Video: Riders Block FG for TD » Video: Durant Hurt in Win » Preview: Riders visit Bombers |
But things didn’t pan out exactly how they would have preferred, as the Bombers jumped out to a quick 7-1 lead thanks to a 12-yard touchdown scamper by Nic Girgsby.
The rushing score was Grigsby’s league-leading eighth of the season.
With the second quarter underway, the Bombers looked poised to increase their lead with a field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu.
However Riders linebacker Weldon Brown broke through the line and blocked the rookie kicker’s attempt, allowing Rod Williams to scoop up the loose ball and return it 62 yards for a touchdown, silencing the Investors Group Field faithful.
From there, the Riders just kept piling on offensively.
Spearheaded by a dominant three-pronged rushing attack consisting of Jerome Messam, Will Ford and Anthony Allen, the Riders pounded the ball on the ground to the tune of 68 yards over the next two drives before Allen scored on a 13-yard gallop.
Prior to the conclusion of the first half, the Riders would find the endzone one last time, as Weston Dressler returned a Hajrullaju punt 75 yards for a touchdown.
| Carry the Rock |
|---|
 Spearheaded by 115 yards and a touchdown by Anthony Allen, the Roughriders ran the ball hard on Sunday, totalling 196 yards on 31 carries. » View Game Stats |
Saskatchewan’s RB trio combined for 97 yards on 13 carries in the first half, while Grigsby ran five times for a total of 33 yards in the opening 30 minutes.
With momentum seemingly in Saskatchewan’s corner, the Bombers wasted no time getting their sold-out crowd back into the game once the second half got underway.
Willy, who threw for 161 yards on 11 completions in the first two quarters, cruised through a critical five-play, 61-yard drive that was capped off by a 14-yard strike to Rory Kohlert for a touchdown.
On the drive, Willy completed four consecutive passes, and also ran one himself for a gain of 18 yards.
Though Willy came out gunning in the second half, the same couldn’t be said for his counterpart Durant, who was forced out of the game with an apparent elbow injury with 9:43 remaining in the third quarter.
Tino Sunseri came in for relief and Durant did not return.
Following Durant's exit, the game settled down in terms of scoring, with both teams putting points on the board using their kickers.
On the same drive that Durant was forced out, Chris Milo connected on a 35-yard field goal, while the two punters exchanged singles afterwards.
However, with time winding down in the fourth quarter, Willy orchestrated a clutch late-game drive that would allow the Bombers to be within striking distance of the Riders' lead.
Taking over from his own 25-yard line, Willy completed six passes, the last of which found the hands of Aaron Kelly in the endzone for a 29-yard touchdown strike, bringing the Bombers within seven.
Rather than gambling on an onside kick with less than 2:30 remaining in the game, the Bombers elected to kick deep and rely on their defence to stop a Riders run game that had been enjoying plenty of success to that point in the game.
However, some staunch defensive play Abraham Kromah forced Messam to fumble on a gutsy third down gamble by the Riders, giving possession right back to Willy and the Bombers.
But on the very first play of the drive, Willy saw his deep pass intercepted by Williams.
Winnipeg would get one more chance to drive for the win with :49 left in the game, but Willy saw his pass intercepted once again, this time by Tristan Jackson.
Next week, the Bombers will travel to Vancouver, where they'll take on the Lions at BC Place on Saturday night, while the Riders will head east to Tim Hortons Field to face the Tiger-Cats.
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