A record setting crowd took in the 60th Labour Day Classic in Regina on Sunday, as 34,234 fans packed into new Mosaic Stadium to watch the Saskatchewan Roughriders earn a thrilling 34-30 win over the rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers and kick off Labour Day Weekend in the CFL.
A feel-it-out first quarter kept the teams tied 0-0, the two sides trading possessions all quarter long until the Bombers used two big plays to setup a redzone opportunity and five-yard touchdown scamper from Winnipeg star running back Brady Oliviera to open the second with a 7-0 lead.
Upon getting the ball back, the Roughriders immediately fumbled to set the Bombers up inside the 20, but Saskatchewan's defense held strong to only let up a field goal and take a 10-0 deficit into the ensuing possession where after a few plays Trevor Harris and company were stifled again and forced to punt.
Pinning Winnipeg inside their own 20-yard-line, the Roughriders defense stepped up for a turnover of their own and created great field position for a one play drive, a seven-yard touchdown run from AJ Oullette to cut the Bombers lead to 10-7.
After another defensive stand the Roughriders got the ball back with under five minutes to play and carried out a four-play drive capped off by a 69-yard touchdown connection between Harris and Tommy Nield to put the Riders up 14-10 at the half.
After trading possessions again to start the third quarter, Saskatchewan ran a seven-play drive ending in a field goal to go up 17-10, only for Winnipeg to answer with a touchdown drive and tie the game up.
The Roughriders got the ball back and responded with a six-play drive ending in running back Mario Anderson's first career touchdown, but Brett Lauther missed the extra point to give the Riders only a six-point lead headed into the final quarter.
Stepping up, the Roughriders defense forced another turnover to set up Anderson's second rushing touchdown of the game, and a two-point conversion from returning fan favourite receiver Ajou Ajou as the offense picked up their kicker following the missed PAT.
After the back-to-back scores the Roughriders had all the momentum, but the game turned again after a Bombers punt was fumbled by Roughriders returner Mario Alford, setting up a second chance touchdown drive capped off by a 33-yard passing touchdown to get Winnipeg back within one score 31-24.
The Roughriders took the ball back with 3:33 on the clock and managed to drive it to the Winnipeg 44 before being forced into a punting situation, and that's when the game took another turn as the Roughriders offense lined up for third down, only for Harris to uncork a quick punt that after much deliberation resulted in a dead-ball single to put the Riders up 32-24.
That single point proved pivotal as the Bombers got the ball back at their 40-yard-line with just over a minute to play.
A sack pushed the Blue Bombers offense back four yards before another incompletion pushed them to the brink, and then with Winnipeg pressed to their final down, a 3rd and 14 with the game on the line, the Roughriders bailed their rivals out with a Jaxon Ford pass interference penalty that moved Winnipeg into the red zone at Saskatchewan's 17-yard line.
From there the Bombers worked the ball to the six, where Collaros threw his third touchdown of the game to move Winnipeg down two with a chance to win the game.
With 34,000+ on the edge of their seat watching the ensuing two-point conversion, Collaros threw a pass that was intercepted by Roughriders defensive back Tevaughn Campbell and taken back for two to give the Roughriders a four-point cushion as Harris and the offense emerged to kneel out the 34-30 win.
The win improved the Roughriders record to 9-2 on the season, good for first place in the entire CFL, but only two points ahead of the only team to beat them Calgary, who just moved to 8-3 with a 28-7 win against Edmonton. The third and final game of the week saw Toronto beat Hamilton 35-33.
Sunday might have been a bad day to wear blue, but the Riders-Bombers rivalry won't have long to wait for round two, with the annual "Banjo Bowl" rematch set for Saturday afternoon across the Manitoba border in Winnipeg.