Roughriders 45
Blue Bombers 23
Final
  for this game

Roughriders take down Blue Bombers

Sep 12, 2011 - 3:27 AM
Winnipeg, MB (Sports Network) - Darian Durant threw for 230 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Saskatchewan Roughriders to their second straight win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 45-23, at Canad Inns Stadium.

Durant completed 14-of-27 passes for Saskatchewan (3-7), which snapped a four- game slide with last Sunday's 27-7 triumph at home against Winnipeg.

Weston Dressler caught four passes for 97 yards and one score, while Chris Getzlaf's two receptions resulted in trips to the end zone.

"We overcame adversity and distractions," Roughriders coach Ken Miller said. "It was a big win in a hostile place. The men showed a lot of character."

The Roughriders' defense picked off Winnipeg quarterback Buck Pierce five times. The last interception was returned for a touchdown by Chris McKenzie in the fourth quarter.

Pierce finished with 287 yards while completing 21-of-33 attempts.

The Blue Bombers (7-3) have lost 12 of the last 15 games between the two clubs since 2005.

"We had way too many mistakes," Pierce said. "It doesn't matter who you're playing, you're going to lose that ball game. It hurts a lot. We have to get better. That's evident."

Trailing 10-0 after the opening 15 minutes, Saskatchewan seized control with 24 points in the second quarter.

The Roughriders took a 17-10 lead on TD passes of 34 and 13 yards to Getzlaf sandwiched around a 12-yard field goal by Chris Milo.

After Justin Palardy converted a 46-yard field goal for Winnipeg, Dressler and Durant hooked up for a 27-yard touchdown.

Following the break, Palardy hit a 45-yarder before Durant found Neal Hughes for a five-yard TD late in the third quarter. Wes Cates ran for a three-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the visitors up 38-16.

Alex Brink took over following Pierce's fifth interception and found Terrence Edwards for a nine-yard TD inside the final minute of regulation.

Palardy opened the scoring with an 18-yard field goal, then Fred Reid scored on a 15-yard TD run for Winnipeg.

Game Notes

Saskatchewan slotback Andy Fantuz, the CFL's top Canadian in 2010, made his season debut after returning from an NFL tryout with the Chicago Bears...Durant threw one interception...Cates gained 50 yards on 12 carries...Winnipeg's Cory Watson had 111 yards on nine catches, while Edwards caught six balls for 123 yards in defeat.






Related News