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Tevaughn Campbell put an end to a thrilling 60th Labour Day Classic and ended a Winnipeg Blue Bombers comeback.
With just 30 seconds left, Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros connected with Dalton Schoen to pull within two points.
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But on the ensuing try, Campbell picked off Collaros and ran it all the way back to score two points for the Saskatchewan Roughriders instead, clinching the 34-30 win.
“It was everything just to go out there in front of the fans. It was the last play to really matter and to make that play, it was great,” Campbell said. “I was tired, I was out of breath. It was exciting.”
The win by the Riders is just the second time the Riders have won the Labour Day Classic in the past five meetings, also winning back in 2023. That’s also just the third time the Riders have beaten the Bombers since the start of the 2021 season.
Saskatchewan was down 10-0 in the second quarter before battling back for a 14-10 lead heading into halftime. The Riders then enjoyed a 31-17 lead late into the fourth quarter before Winnipeg started their comeback flurry.
“They don’t call it the Labour Day Classic for nothing,” Riders quarterback Trevor Harris said.
“Very fortunate and happy to be on the winning side this year. There’s a lot to clean up, and a lot to get better but that’s what football is about.
“I just love the grit of our team toward the end. We were up 14 with three minutes left to go in the game. We didn’t close it out the way we wanted to, but there was no finger-pointing on the sideline or panic button. The moment is never going to be too big for a group like this.”
It was the largest crowd for a football game at the new Mosaic Stadium, with an announced attendance of 34,243 fans.
“I thought it was awesome. I think Rider Nation needs to know they made an impact tonight and that we are in this together,” Harris said.
Rookie running back Mario Anderson Jr. rushed for two touchdowns in the second half to power the Riders to the win on Sunday. Those rushing touchdowns were the first two of Anderson’s CFL career.
Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Mario Anderson Jr. rushes against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Labour Day Classic. (Saskatchewan Roughriders/Submitted)
“I saw Brammer and the guys on the right-hand side lead the way. It was a clear shot for me, honestly. Just follow those guys every single week, it was a real good feeling,” Anderson said.
The Riders were able to take advantage of a fumble by Brady Oliveira in the fourth quarter, which ended up with Saskatchewan getting the ball in Winnipeg territory.
Earlier in that drive, a challenge by head coach Corey Mace led to offensive pass interference being called on Nic Demski. The Bombers then took a time-count penalty before the play that ended in the fumble.
That ended with Anderson’s second touchdown of the game, which gave the Riders some breathing room.
Saskatchewan’s offence struggled early in the game, punting on four of the team’s first five drives — the other drive ending with Harris fumbling the ball on a strip-sack.
“I missed a couple passes. I’ve been pretty dialled in accuracy-wise lately and I missed a couple passes today uncharacteristically. I have to be able to keep us on the field. I extended the play a couple times and still could have made the play to keep us on the field,” Harris said.
Harris finished the game with 219 yards and just one touchdown — a 69-yard pass to Tommy Nield.
Saskatchewan’s defence forced two fumbles in the game, one of them on a sack by defensive end Malik Carney on Collaros.
“We preach complementary football. There will be ups and downs to the game and we were able to pick up the offence, and the offence was able to pick us up as well,” Carney said.
That led to the Riders’ first touchdown of the game on a seven-yard rush by AJ Ouellette.
Collaros finished the game with 326 yards and three touchdowns, with his only interception coming on that two-point try.
Saskatchewan’s defensive line was able to get to Collaros a lot in the game, recording five sacks. Carney had two sacks while linebacker Jameer Thurman, defensive tackles Micah Johnson and Ali Saad added their own quarterback tackles. It was Saad’s first career CFL sack.
“It feels great. These older guys are hyping me up and stuff like that. They got me right and told me before the game I have to get out there and do something,” Saad said.
Saskatchewan’s defence was able to hold Oliveira to just 24 yards on only five carries. He did have a touchdown in the game.
Anderson and Ouellette enjoyed success on the ground against the Bombers’ defence. Ouellette had 89 yards, while Anderson had 34 yards.
Riders kicker Brett Lauther missed on one of his three convert attempts but did hit his only field goal from 34 yards out.
Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo missed on one of his two field goal attempts but hit all his convert attempts.
Harris even added a point from the quarterback spot when he punted the football with under 1:30 to go in the game that ultimately became a rouge.
“I (punted) a couple times in college — it’s been about 16 years since I brought the old right leg out,” Harris said.
The Riders will take on the Bombers in the annual rematch in Winnipeg on Saturday.
“We’re on a mission as a team and the mission isn’t just to win the Labour Day Classic, it’s to win this one but get better from here and sustain that growth and trend upward toward the end of the year,” Harris said.
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