WINNIPEG - Brett Lauther should have been pumped after connecting on five field goals in the Saskatchewan Roughriders鈥 21-13 Banjo Bowl victory over the Blue Bombers on Saturday, but it was his one mistake he focused on.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 perfect tonight by any means, missed a crucial extra point still, but a win鈥檚 a win and it鈥檚 about the team win and nothing about me,鈥 Lauther said.
The eight-year CFL veteran went into the game only connecting on 65.7 per cent of his field-goal attempts (23 of 35) and was good on kicks from 20, 33, 35 (twice) and 41 yards.
He missed a convert on A.J. Ouellette鈥檚 third-quarter touchdown run, his third miss out of 28 extra-point tries this season.
Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris was quick to praise the 34-year-old placekicker, who鈥檚 been doubted and criticized by fans.
鈥淰ery,鈥 Harris said when asked how happy he was for Lauther. 鈥淏ut we鈥檝e always known who he is, and that guy鈥檚 awesome.
鈥淪o it鈥檚 more or less I鈥檓 just happy for him because I know sometimes belief in yourself can kind of be volatile. I think after a five-for-five performance, he can kind of sit back and say like, 鈥極K, let鈥檚 go.鈥欌
The win gave the Roughriders the season series against the Blue Bombers, with a third match scheduled in Winnipeg on Oct. 17. It was also the first time Saskatchewan won the Banjo Bowl since 2018.
Saskatchewan鈥檚 CFL-leading record moved to 10-2. The last time the team hit the 10-win mark was 2019, when it finished 13-5 and lost the West Division final to Winnipeg.
The Blue Bombers (6-6) had a 13-3 lead late in the second quarter, but their fortunes turned with an injury to starting quarterback Zach Collaros.
Collaros left the game with 5:28 left in the third quarter after being sacked by Saskatchewan defensive back C.J. Reavis and fumbling the ball.
Collaros didn鈥檛 get up for a few minutes, but did jog to the dressing room to cheers from the 11th consecutive sellout crowd of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium.
鈥淗e doesn't stay down, usually. It's not comforting, by any means. I hate to see that,鈥 Bombers head coach Mike O鈥橲hea said of Collaros.
He had no update, but was staying positive.
鈥淚'm sure he'll be OK. When, I don't know,鈥 O鈥橲hea said.
Collaros had missed a game earlier this season with a neck injury. The hit to Collaros included his head and was successfully challenged by Winnipeg for roughing the passer and the turnover was wiped out.
Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo then missed a 51-yard field-goal attempt to end the series 鈥 one of two he missed during the game.
Collaros had completed nine of 15 pass attempts for 165 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown. He was replaced by Chris Streveler, who was 5-of-9 passing for 39 yards and two picks.
Harris, who was 18-of-31 for 239 yards with one interception, said it was 鈥渉eartbreaking鈥 to see Collaros go down.
鈥淚 think everybody will probably join up in prayer for Zach,鈥 Harris said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a close friend of mine. I came in the league with him (with the Toronto Argonauts in 2012).
鈥淏ut I know he鈥檚 a tough dude and he loves football. I know he鈥檒l find a way to bounce back, but I pray that he鈥檚 OK and hopefully it鈥檚 not what everybody thought it would be, a concussion. You don鈥檛 want that for anybody.鈥
Ouellette had 11 carries for 50 yards and the five-yard touchdown run.
Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira, who was held to 24 yards on five carries in Saskatchewan鈥檚 34-30 Labour Day Classic win last weekend, rushed 20 times for 83 yards and had two catches for 19 yards.
Castillo connected on field goals from 39 and 34 yards and made one convert.
Ontaria Wilson, the Blue Bombers鈥 most outstanding rookie last season, led all receivers with five receptions for 89 yards and a 24-yard catch-and-run touchdown in his season debut.
鈥淚t felt good to get in the end zone, but the weight of the loss outweighs how good it felt to score,鈥 Wilson said.
The slotback signed a contract through 2026 on Monday after being waived by the NFL's New York Jets last month.
Winnipeg led 3-0 after the first quarter, 13-6 at halftime and 13-12 heading into the fourth quarter.
Bombers defensive back Redha Kramdi helped set up the game鈥檚 first points when he intercepted Harris, leading to Castillo鈥檚 39-yarder at 12:07.
After Lauther booted a 20-yarder at 1:25 of the second, Wilson recorded his TD after beating defenders into the end zone at 5:06 to give Winnipeg a 10-3 lead.
Castillo was good on a 34-yarder with 3:09 left in the half, but Collaros was intercepted by Riders defensive back Marcus Sayles with 21 seconds left. The turnover led to a 35-yard Lauther field goal as time expired.
After DaMarcus Fields鈥 intercepted Collaros in the third quarter, Ouellette scored his TD at 8:11.
Lauther was good on three field goals in the fourth quarter and Castillo missed a 48-yard attempt.聽
UP NEXT
Roughriders: Host the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Blue Bombers: Visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday, Sept. 12.
This report by 春色直播was first published Sept. 6, 2025.
