Blue Bombers set up Grey Cup rematch with Tiger-Cats after West final victory over Roughriders
CBC
Andrew Harris ran for 136 yards and one touchdown as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers overcame six turnovers in a 21-17 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division final on Sunday in Winnipeg.
The result set up a Grey Cup rematch next weekend in Hamilton. The defending Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers will face the Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field after Hamilton beat Toronto 27-19 in the East final.
Harris, playing his first game since Oct. 15 because of an injured knee, had 23 carries and a three-yard TD run in front of 31,160 fans at IG Field, who braved on-and-off snow, gusty winds and a wind chill that made it feel like minus-20 C.
The Bombers finished first in the West Division this season and earned a bye into the final after putting up an 11-3 record in a shortened 14-game campaign. Saskatchewan went 9-5 and beat the Calgary Stampeders 33-30 in overtime in the semifinal.
Winnipeg also got touchdowns Sunday from receiver Rasheed Bailey and backup quarterback Sean McGuire on a sneak. Kicker Sergio Castillo made all three converts.
William Powell had a one-yard touchdown run for Saskatchewan and Duke Williams pulled in a pass for a 67-yard catch-and-run TD. Brett Lauther was good on two converts, booted a 16-yard field goal and missed an attempt from 36 yards out.
Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, the West Division nominee for most outstanding player, completed 17 of 21 pass attempts for 229 yards with one TD and three interceptions.
Cody Fajardo was 19-of-27 passing for 265 yards and one TD for the visitors.
The score was tied 7-7 after the first quarter, Saskatchewan led 10-7 at halftime and the Riders held a 17-14 edge after the third.
Five of Winnipeg's six drives in the first half ended with turnovers, including three interceptions and a pair of fumbles. A sixth was added in the third quarter.
On the game's first possession, Collaro threw to a wide-open Nic Demski at the back of the end zone but the ball bounced off his hands and into the grasp of Riders defensive back Ed Gainey. The turnover didn't lead to any points.
On Winnipeg's next drive, Collaros completed a pass to Drew Wolitarsky near Saskatchewan's goal line, but Riders defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy knocked the ball out of his hands and teammate Elie Bouka scooped it up and ran 94 yards.
The Bombers responded with a six-play, 71-yard drive capped by Bailey's TD catch at 11:21.
The second quarter opened with Riders defensive back Nick Marshall intercepting Collaros, a turnover that led to an eight-play, 65-yard drive and Lauther's 16-yard field goal at 5:02.
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