The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 108th Gray Cup after defeating Saskatchewan 21-17 in the CFL West Final on Sunday.
Turnovers were the story of the game but, in the end, not the difference. The Saskatchewan Roughriders defense generated five turnovers in the first half alone, six in total, but were only able to convert one of them into points.
“You should win when you get six (turnovers),” said head coach Craig Dickenson. “I felt like Winnipeg did a good job hitting the ball. We hang with them. One play here or there and maybe it’s a different game. “
Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros was intercepted by Ed Gainey, Nigel Harris and Nick Marshall in the first half. The Riders also forced fumbles from Drew Wolitarsky and Rasheed Bailey. All of those turnovers resulted in just ten points, including a two-yard touchdown by the Riders’ running back William Powell and a 16-yard field goal by kicker Brett Lauther. The Bombers responded with a Rasheed Bailey touchdown with four minutes left in the first quarter.
“I’m very proud of the guys, the way they fought. We take every blow and we fight. That’s what happens when you play on a really good soccer team, it all comes down to the end. ”Fajardo said after the game.
Blue Bombers star and 2018 Gray Cup MVP Andrew Harris, who was a game-time decision, was a force on the ground. Harris rushed for 136 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown for Winnipeg.
“They can run the ball and they can control the pace. It’s hard to score when you don’t have (the ball), ”Dickenson said.
In the second half, the Bombers took the lead with a one-yard touchdown from Harris. The Riders responded on the final play of the third quarter, when Cody Fajardo connected with receiver Duke Williams, who carried the ball 67 yards home to restore the lead at 17-14.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros then proceeded to lead a six-minute drive that culminated in a quarterback being slipped into the end zone by backup Sean McGuire.
With the Bombers leading 21-17, the Riders offense proceeded to march down the field. Fajardo converted a long pass on the third down to Williams, who was checked but was declared caught. Heading into a second third, Fajardo tried to hit Regina’s Mitchell Picton, but the pass was broken, ending the team’s season. Picton was in the game in place of Williams, who was injured and unable to return to the field.
“Nothing against Picton, but he’s been standing on the bench the whole game, then he has to come in and make the biggest catch of the game. That is a difficult situation for him. I have all the faith in the world in him and that’s why I threw it at him, but it’s difficult when you lose your biggest receiver. “Fajardo said.
Fajardo finished the game with 265 passing yards, completing 19 of 27 attempts and a touchdown. Collaros completed 17 of 21 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown. He also threw three interceptions.
The Riders’ greatest offensive weapon was Williams. The 28-year-old caught four passes for 108 yards despite suffering a toe problem that nearly kept him out of Sunday’s Western Final.
Thirty-one thousand fans showed up to support their teams despite temperatures hovering around 20 degrees below zero with the icy wind.
The Bombers will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at the Gray Cup in Hamilton on December 12.
Reference-regina.ctvnews.ca