Bombers blitz Riders in pre-season tilt

REGINA — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers closed out their pre-season schedule Tuesday night with a 25-16 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

The Bombers lost their pre-season opener on May 27, a 30-20 decision to the B.C. Lions in Winnipeg. Tuesday’s game, the pre-season opener for the Riders, was originally scheduled for May 23 but was postponed because of stalled negotiations between the CFLPA and the CFL on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Both teams elected not to dress a number of the starters. Regulars who did not dress for the Blue Bombers included quarterback Zach Collaros, defensive linemen Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat, linebacker Adam Bighill, offensive linemen Stanley Bryant and Pat Neufeld, defensive back Winston Rose, and receivers Nic Demski and Drew Wolitarsky.

Riders starters who did not dress included quarterback Cody Fajardo, receivers Shaq Evans and Duke Williams, defensive linemen Charleston Hughes and A.C. Leonard, offensive linemen Dan Clark and Logan Ferland, linebackers Darnell Sankey and Derrick Moncrief, defensive backs Nick Marshall and Mike Edem, and placekicker Brett Lauther.

Winnipeg broke the game open 2:11 into the fourth quarter when quarterback Dakota Prokup hit receiver Whop Philyor down the right sideline for a 78-yard touchdown to give the Bombers an 18-3 lead.

Quarterback Dru Brown scored on a one-yard run five minutes into the third quarter to put the Bombers up 11-0. Winnipeg opened the scoring 1:45 into the second quarter on an 18-yard field goal by Marc Liegghio, who also added a single on a kickoff in the third quarter to make the score 4-0.

The story of the first half was the Bombers turning the ball over on downs three times inside