There was progress made by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2024, but not enough to relish in championship glory, as the green and white’s season ended on Saturday with a 38-22 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris was 25/44 with 283 passing yards with a touchdown. Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker had 12 catches for 162 receiving yards.
But the story on Saturday was the Blue Bombers offensive weapons, quarterback Zach Collaros had 301 passing yards with four touchdowns. Three of the touchdowns were hauled in by Kenny Lawler, who ended up with 177 receiving yards. Running back Brady Oliveria had a strong game on the ground with 119 rushing yards.
Winnipeg sprinted out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, with Lawler scoring two of his touchdowns, first with a 31-yard touchdown grab. Then immediately after making a 65-yard reception, Lawler finished off another scoring drive with a 21-yard touchdown catch.
Saskatchewan had an opportunity to change the momentum of the game early in the second quarter with a blocked punt by Caleb Sanders, giving the Roughriders the ball at the Blue Bombers 26. The green and white couldn’t move the ball any further and had to settle with a 33-yard field goal from Brett Lauther.
Trailing at 24-9 at halftime, Saskatchewan were able to close the gap to within eight points after opening the third quarter with a 77-yard touchdown drive with A.J. Ouellette capping it off with a one-yard touchdown run.
But Lawler struck again for the Blue Bombers, this time with a 57-yard touchdown catch that restored Winnipeg’s lead to 31-15.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the final quarter to end the scoring.
Winnipeg now advances to the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, where they will meet the Toronto Argonauts. The Argos are going to be without their starting quarterback Chad Kelly who suffered a broken tibia in the Eastern Final against Montreal. Nick Arbuckle will get the call as the starting quarterback for Toronto.