The Winnipeg Blue Bombers four-game losing skid is over thanks to both sides of the ball.

The offense and defense both contributed touchdowns as the Blue & Gold beat Saskatchewan 22-7 in the Banjo Bowl Saturday in front of 35,156 Bombers and Riders fans at Investors Group Field.

Quarterback Matt Nichols, who was acquired from the Edmonton Eskimos 11 days ago, got the start for the Bombers.

Nichols completed 21-of-30 pass attempts for 283 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

His first half stats line was decent with nine completions in 13 attempts for 106 yards.

Nothing wrong with that except for his three turnovers – Nichols fumbled the ball twice and had that one pick.

“Obviously we had to iron some things out,” Nichols said. “Just to be on the same page as these receivers and only getting to work with them for I think four total days. We were able to continue to build off things. Tonight I definitely had the most fun I've had since probably college for me so getting back to that is just awesome. Sometimes this business you can start having it feel like a job and right now it feels like its just out playing with the boys.”

The touchdown pass - that was a 37-yarder to Julian Feoli-Gudino with just one second left in the third quarter which gave Winnipeg a 14-7 lead.

Feoli-Gudino was more than a little impressed with Nichols' performance.

“He played a great game and he was under control,” said the Bombers receiver. “He's a starter. You could see he's a great quarterback. He knows what he's doing out there. He's calm, he made great decisions and we're pretty pumped about it.”

The Winnipeg defense stepped up big time on Saturday night.

The Blue Bombers sacked Riders quarterback Brett Smith five times and limited the Saskatchewan offense to 212 total yards.

The game-breaker took place with 9:20 left in the fourth quarter.

Defensive end Jamaal Westerman got a hand on Smith who was trying to elude the Bombers pass rush, the ball popped out right into the arms of linebacker Khalil Bass who went untouched 59 yards for a touchdown and increased Winnipeg's lead to 21-7.

“It was just good to put a complete game together,” said Bass. “We've had games,we came out good in the second half and didn't do so good in the first, and vice versa, so it was just good to have a good complete game.”

The Bombers (4-7) next game is Sunday, September 20th against the Alouettes in Montreal.

 

photos by Merle Peters