Tuesday Morning Skate: Roughriders top Bombers in wild 35-30 game

On Saturday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders played labor day weekend host to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As gracious hosts, they let Winnipeg score the first touchdown, and the only one in the first quarter.

Saskatchewan fought back by starting the 2nd quarter with a pair of safeties (!!!). The Roughriders then scored a rushing TD  of their own, then Chris Milo kicked a field goal to cap off the second quarter. Saskatchewan led 14-7 at the half.

Anthony Allen ran in an early TD for Saskatchewan, extending the lead. But the bombers weren't dead yet. Former Roughrider backup QB Drew Willy scrambled 11 yards for a TD. Some poor punt coverage let Winnipeg back in the game with a 60+ yard return. Lirim Hajrullahu made up for giving up 2 safeties with a pair of field goals to start the fourth as the bombers regained the lead for the first time since the middle of the second.

But Saskatchewan wasn't done just yet. They answered with a 59 yard pass to Taj Smith that ended up in the end zone, going up by one with the extra point and 5 minutes left. Lirim Hajrullahu kicked one more field goal, putting Winnipeg ahead 30-28 with just over 3 minutes left. Saskatchewan got the ball and marched downfield. Their running game saw little action, except at the end of the drive. With 28 seconds on the clock, Anthony Allen scampered into the endzone from 15 yards out.

Roughriders win! They haven't lost a labor day weekend game to Winnipeg in a long time, something like a ten game streak. This is also Saskatchewan's 6th win in a row this season, good for a 7-2 record and second in the West. Next week, they play at Winnipeg in a rematch.

What's on tap, y'all?