Riders look to hit all the right notes in Banjo Bowl

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will look for an encore performance on Saturday.

The Green and White will travel to IG Field in Winnipeg for the Banjo Bowl. For the first time since 2019, the Roughriders come into the rematch with the Blue Bombers as the victors of the Labour Day Classic, after winning a 32-30 overtime thriller last weekend.

Kickoff for the rematch is set for 2 p.m. The Green Zone’s pregame coverage starts at noon on 650 CKOM and 980 CJME.

Quarterback Jake Dolegala said he’s “super-excited” for the rematch, and plans to keep the team’s momentum going.

“We get another shot at them. It’s going to be fun and I know the crowd is going to be crazy again,” said Dolegala.

“It’s going to be loud and that’s going to be a challenge, but we are looking forward to the challenge.

Dolegala helped get the Riders suddenly thrust into the contenders conversation after back-to-back wins over the B.C. Lions and Bombers.

In the most recent outing, Dolegala didn’t throw for a touchdown but passed for 326 yards while also threading the needle on a two-point conversion in overtime to slotback Shawn Bane Jr. for the deciding points.

“That was the most perfect throw I have ever caught,” Bane Jr. said. “There was no dropping that one.”

It’s the 28-year-old Bane’s first season with the Riders, but he said he’s already accustomed to how heated the rivalry is between the two CFL clubs.

“It’s intense. It’s really cool,” Bane Jr. said. “It’s just another game, but it’s really cool to go online and see the Riders versus the Blue Bombers, so it’s really cool to be a part of it.”

The Riders’ offence has been among the league’s best when it comes to the passing attack. They are averaging 279.1 yards per game – third-most in the CFL. The Bombers have the second-best passing attack in the league, averaging 283.9 yards per game.

One thing the Bombers have done especially well this season has been bouncing back after a loss. After losing 30-6 to the Lions early in the season, the Bombers handled their business in the rematch, coming away with a 50-14 win.

“They are really well-coached on all sides of the ball,” Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson said.

“They are going to look at the film and make the corrections they need to. They are going to make adjustments and they have a lot of veteran players with a lot of pride.

“We expect their best effort on Saturday.”

The Bombers bring a 9-3 record to the Labour Day rematch, while the Riders are 6-5.

Saskatchewan’s offence will need to do some shuffling along the line this week. Guard Evan Johnson (foot) and tackle Colin Kelly (knee) are both out for the Banjo Bowl.

Coming in will be Logan Bandy at guard and Brandon Council at right tackle.

Council has appeared in five games for the Riders this season, all of them at the left tackle spot. Bandy has been used mostly as the team’s sixth offensive lineman this season, but had to play centre for three games due to Peter Godber missing those matches with a hand injury.

The offensive line has been steady over the last four games, giving up only six sacks.

“There’s no substitute for hard work, and the guys here are just putting in the hard work,” Godber said.

“Whether it’s coming in early or staying late together and watching film … it’s just guys putting in a lot of hard work and now we are seeing the payoff.”

The offensive line will need to once again keep defensive back Willie Jefferson in check. Jefferson didn’t have a sack last time out, but he did manage a pass knockdown.

On defence, a couple of key players will be missing for Saskatchewan.

Pete Robertson will miss the game due to a suspension after headbutting Bombers pivot Zach Collaros after a play in the Labour Day Classic.

Safety Jayden Dalke will also miss the game due to a knee injury. Regina product Jaxon Ford will start in his place for the first time in his career.

Defensive co-ordinator Jason Shivers said Ford has shown that he will be ready for the opportunity.

Shivers said it’s great to see a rookie “come in and put his nose to the grindstone, ask the right questions and learn,” and said the team has “full confidence” in Ford.

Saskatchewan will try to contain Collaros, who leads the league with 22 touchdown passes. The Riders will also need to try to stop a potent Winnipeg rushing attack led by Brady Oliveira, who has a league-leading 990 yards on the ground.

“We just have to keep rushing together and keep (Collaros) in the pocket. He does a good job of scrambling and getting out of the pocket and making big throws downfield,” defensive tackle Micah Johnson said. “He’s the best at it when it gets out of the pocket.”