In the Banjo Bowl clash on Saturday, Brett Lauther was impeccable, nailing all five field goal attempts to lead the Saskatchewan Roughriders to a 21-13 triumph over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Lauther, who had a prior field goal success rate of 65.7%, converted kicks from distances of 20, 35 (twice), 41, and 33 yards, only missing a convert.
This victory pushed the Roughriders to a league-leading 10-2 record, marking the first time they have reached double-digit wins since 2019 when they finished with a 13-5 record but fell to Winnipeg in the West Division final.
Despite the Blue Bombers holding a 13-6 lead at halftime, their momentum took a hit when starting quarterback Zach Collaros left the game due to an injury sustained after a sack by Saskatchewan’s C.J. Reavis in the third quarter.
Collaros, who completed nine of 15 pass attempts for 165 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown before exiting, was replaced by Chris Streveler, who struggled, going 5-of-9 for 39 yards with two interceptions.
On the Roughriders’ side, Trevor Harris put up a solid performance, completing 18 of 31 passes for 239 yards with one interception. Running back A.J. Ouellette contributed 50 yards on 11 carries and scored the only touchdown for the Riders.
Winnipeg’s running back Brady Oliveira, who had a tough outing in their previous encounter, recording 24 yards on five carries, bounced back with 83 rushing yards on 20 attempts and added two receptions for 19 yards.
Ontaria Wilson, making his season debut, shone for the Blue Bombers with five receptions for 89 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown catch-and-run. Wilson, the team’s standout rookie last season, recently signed a contract extension through 2026 after being waived by the NFL’s New York Jets.
Bombers’ kicker Sergio Castillo managed to convert two field goals but missed two attempts from longer distances. Winnipeg maintained the lead in the first and second quarters but faltered in the final quarter, allowing the Roughriders to secure the win with Lauther’s flawless performance.
Looking ahead, the Roughriders are set to face the Montreal Alouettes, while the Blue Bombers will take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in their upcoming matchups.
