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Durant's TD run in 4th quarter lifts Roughriders past Blue Bombers

Sep 5, 2010 - 11:50 PM REGINA, Saskatchewan (CP) - Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant rushed for an 11-yard touchdown midway through the fourth quarter Sunday as the Roughriders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-23.

The 'Riders never trailed in the game but relied heavily on turnovers to spark their offence. Wes Cates' first touchdown of the afternoon gave the 'Riders an 11-3 lead early in the second quarter and was set up by a James Patrick interception return to the Blue Bombers 45-yard line.

A fumble by Winnipeg QB Buck Pierce fumble on the Blue Bombers' 33-yard line in the third quarter set up Cates' one-yard touchdown run that gave Saskatchewan a 18-10 lead.

Winnipeg cut the lead to one again on a three-yard touchdown run by Fred Reid late in the quarter after Saskatchewan's Dominque Dorsey fumbled on his own 21-yard line.

The Blue Bombers had a chance to take the lead when Moton Hopkins recovered a Durant fumble on Saskatchewan's 45-yard line, but a Jerrell Freeman sack ended any hope of Winnipeg scoring on that drive.

The Saskatchewan defence stood tall from there until Blue Bombers backup QB Steven Jyles found Adarius Bowman for a two-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds to go in the fourth. Jyles entered the game after Pierce was drilled in his own end zone on the previous series.

Saskatchewan opened the scoring on its first possession when Eddie Johnson unleashed a 68-yard punt that rolled into the end zone for a single point. Luca Congi added an 18-yard field goal 10:05 into the first quarter to put the 'Riders up 4-0.

Winnipeg's Justin Palardy cut the lead to one just two minutes later with a 27-yard field goal that was set up by a 63-yard completion to Bowman. The play featured a double reverse that was lateraled back to Pierce.

A fake punt in the second quarter set up Palardy's second field goal of the game. A Brandon Stewart interception then set up the Bomber kicker's third field goal of the half to cut Saskatchewan's lead to 11-9 at the break.

Johnson added a kickoff single and a punt single to round out the scoring.

The win improves the Riders to 6-3 while Winnipeg drops to 2-7.

These two teams will meet again on Sept. 12 in Winnipeg.

NOTES: Congi's first field goal moved him past Jack Abendschen and into third place on the Roughriders' all-time list most field goals made with 160.