Riders lose in Winnipeg as a number of starters rest against Bombers

Despite the Saskatchewan Roughriders resting a number of starters — including some more in the second half — it was a close defeat to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Riders fell 17-16 to the Bombers at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday night as kicker Sergio Castillo hit a game-winning field goal.

“Just mad. We wanted to come in here and win a football game. You want to win every week,” said Riders head coach Corey Mace. “The guys battled their tails off … (The Bombers) executed through the full 60 and we didn’t.

“I don’t want to take anything away from how proud I am of that group to come in here against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, fighting for their playoff lives and we put that together. That was the silver lining in it.”

Saskatchewan had beaten the Bombers the previous two times these clubs met — 34-30 in the Labour Day Classic and 21-13 in the ensuing rematch.

With the Riders clinching the CFL West Division last week, many starters were given the night off, including starting quarterback Trevor Harris.

Jake Maier made his second start of the season, throwing for 123 yards. Jack Coan came into the game for the fourth quarter, only throwing for 38 yards.

“It was fun,” Maier said. “Fun to go out there and compete against a really good team in a really tough environment. We just came up a little short, obviously. I thought we started the game really well as a group. We had some lulls there in the middle. We put together a nice drive to end the half, and put together a couple more drives in the second half. It wasn’t enough but it was fun to compete.”

Linebacker A.J. Allen said that despite a number of starters rested, it didn’t affect them.

“We have the same standard no matter who is in the game,” said Allen, who had a game-high nine tackles.

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ DaMarcus Fields (22) intercepts the pass intended for Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Jerreth Sterns (89) during second half CFL action in Winnipeg Friday, October 17, 2025. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods)

Mace said the team struggled running the football throughout the game, which led them to throwing the ball more late. The Riders only mustered 29 yards on the ground — Coan and Maier led the way on the ground with 12 yards each. With a few key starters resting on the Riders’ offensive line, running back Mario Anderson Jr. only had five yards on seven carries.

Overall, the Riders only had 190 yards of offence in the game.

“We have faith in our quarterbacks, be it Jake or Jack; we see it every day. I thought we were a little more efficient moving the ball through the air so no issue with that. We have to make the plays,” Mace said.

The Riders’ defence made things tough for opposing quarterback Zach Collaros throughout much of the game, holding him to 182 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

“We lost so I’m not good. I’m proud with how we battled until the last second but that’s not our standard. More work to do,” Allen said.

Kicker Brett Lauther missed on a 49-yard field goal but hit on his other three attempts.

The Riders scored their only touchdown of the game on the first drive for the team after Winnipeg returner Trey Vaval fumbled the opening kickoff.

After a pass-interference call, Coan rushed it in from one yard out.

The Bombers also only mustered a single touchdown in the game when Collaros hit Ontaria Wilson for a 28-yard touchdown on the offence’s first drive.

After that, the defences took over on both sides as teams only mustered field goals from that point on.

Linebacker Antoine Brooks Jr. had quite the game for the Riders, recording five tackles, two sacks and two knockdowns as he was in Collaros’ face a lot of the game.

“I feel good that I played good today. I wish the outcome was different but I feel good I played good for my team,” Brooks Jr. said.

The Riders, who came into the game only surrendering a CFL-best 76.4 yards per game, once again held the reigning Most Outstanding Player Brady Oliveira in check. The running back only had 75 yards in the contest.

Castillo hit on all three of his field goal attempts, including the game-winner.

The Riders will host the West Final on Nov. 8, the first time they will do so since 2019.

Next week, the Riders will host the B.C. Lions in the regular season finale.