ARTICLE FROM THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

By: Judy Owen, THE CANADIAN PRESS
13/09/2009 9:10 PM Comments: 0


WINNIPEG - Running back Wes Cates could have chosen any number of words to describe the 55-10 beating his Saskatchewan Roughriders laid on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday.
He kept it simple. "That was just a good old-fashion whipping, I guess you could say," said Cates, who scored three touchdowns off a 10-yard catch and runs of one and four yards.
"They really didn't help themselves out. They had way too many turnovers."
You can say that again.

The Bombers turned the ball over eight times - four consecutive times in the second quarter - and Saskatchewan scored 31 points off of seven turnovers in front of a sold-out crowd of 29,533 at Canad Inns Stadium.

Riders kicker Luca Congi was good on all six of his field-goal attempts from 33, eight, 32 and 29 yards and two from 40.

Jamie Boreham had two singles on a punt and kickoff. Quarterback Darian Durant also ran untouched for a 10-yard TD and receiver Andy Fantuz hauled in a 34-yard TD pass.
Winnipeg had one turnover on downs, three fumbles and four interceptions.

Saskatchewan (6-4), which is tied for first in the CFL West Division with Calgary (6-4), only had one turnover, when Durant was intercepted by linebacker Derrick Doggett.

The early fourth-quarter pick led to a 48-yard field goal by Alexis Serna. Winnipeg's only other scoring was a 35-yard TD run by Fred Reid with 40 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Bombers drop to 3-7, keeping them tied for last place in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts (3-7).

In last week's 29-14 Riders' win in Regina, Winnipeg committed six turnovers that led to 13 points.

Durant completed 18-of-36 pass attempts for 225 yards, the one interception and one TD.
Bombers quarterback Michael Bishop was 9-of-21 for 98 yards and two interceptions. Bryan Randall was 2-of-9 for 26 yards and two interceptions.

"Our defence played so well and we got pressure on the quarterbacks, whomever they happened to be," Saskatchewan head coach Ken Miller said.

"And we got the Blue Bomber offence out of rhythm. Except for the Fred Reid touchdown, we were able to manage the run."

Reid was the league's leading rusher going into the game. He was held to 72 yards on 11 carries. Cates rushed 12 times for 83 yards.

Bombers defensive end Gavin Walls probably summed up what most of his teammates were feeling: "It was very, very embarrassing.

"I almost want to walk out of here with a bag on my head."

Walls said every player has to be re-evaluated to try to figure out what's wrong and make it better.

Winnipeg linebacker Ike Charlton said players can't become unglued because of the "ugly" loss.
"As a leader on this team, I'm not going to point the finger at nobody," Charlton said. "I'm going to point the finger at me.

"I gotta be better. We've got to put ourselves in position to make plays."

But it was Saskatchewan that was making all the plays, including a trick one.

In the third quarter, it was Riders' receiver Jason Armstead who threw the 34-yard TD pass to Fantuz just inside the goal-line. It widened the score 38-7.

It was Fantuz's first game since late July, when a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him.
Winnipeg's first four possessions in the second quarter ended with a turnover on downs, one interception and two fumbles.

The turnover on downs came early on an unsuccessful fake punt on third down and six. The direct snap went to Reid, but the Riders' defence stuffed him a yard short.

Saskatchewan linebacker Sean Lucas then intercepted Bishop, his eighth pick of the season.
Winnipeg's third possession was a fumble by receiver Adarius Bowman, who caught a pass and then dropped it. Rider defensive back Donovan Alexander recovered the ball.

Running back Yvenson Bernard also pulled in a Bishop pass and then fumbled when a Rider defender got an arm on him. Defensive lineman Luc Mullinder jumped on the bouncing ball.
Winnipeg fans even booed their players, particularly on offence.

"I feel bad for the players," Bombers head coach Mike Kelly said. "That may seem like a weird statement, but I know how hard they work every day."

One fan also held up a big sign saying Kelly should be fired.

"They pay for their tickets and they have every right to have their opinion and I understand their frustration," Kelly said.

"I have a very visible job, you know, and everybody thinks that they can do it. It is what it is and you just move along and you keep doing the things you believe in."

Notes: The last time the Bombers gave up more than 50 points was on July 24, 2003, at home when Montreal beat them 50-19.