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John Woods \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebackers Kyrie Wilson (left) and Michael Griffin stop Saskatchewan Roughriders running back A.J. Ouellette (45) during last season\u2019s Banjo Bowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you had to show somebody what a regular season game could be like in the CFL that never have any idea, you would want to show them the Labour Day Classic out in Saskatchewan and the Banjo Bowl rematch back here,\u201d said Younger. \u201cIt would give (observers) a great idea of how impactful the CFL game can be. They\u2019re definitely fun games to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
A raucous crowd \u2014 which will include plenty of Bombers fans who make the nearly six-hour trek down the Trans Canada Highway to join in the festivities \u2014 is only part of the appeal of the Prairie rivalry.<\/p>\n
Noise will be made, the occasional insult will be hurled as part of the trash talking, but ultimately it serves as a good measuring stick for teams locked in a battle for second place in the CFL West.<\/p>\n
The Riders (7-4) are alone in second, two points behind the Edmonton Elks after a gutsy win over the Toronto Argonauts (5-6), while the Bombers (6-5) are coming off their most complete effort of the season, a convincing 44-28 victory over Montreal (9-2) that snapped the Alouettes\u2019 seven-game winning streak.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like the hype and I\u2019m ready for it,\u201d said Bombers offensive tackle Jarrell Broxton. \u201cIt\u2019s an exciting environment and that\u2019s what football is all about. Being in front of a good crowd and playing well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played in front of plenty of loud crowds. You\u2019ll get some trash talk, but we know how big this game is. All week, you know that this is the week where everybody is like \u2018Let\u2019s lock in.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Trying to build on the victory has been a storyline all week long for a Bombers team trying to turn the corner and be more consistent.<\/p>\n
Receiver Tommy Nield suited up with the Riders last season, helping them to a 34-30 victory in the Labour Day Classic and eventually capture the Grey Cup, so this will be the first time for him on the other sidelines in the 61st edition of the annual battle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s another great atmosphere to play in. It\u2019s going to be jumping. Those are the games you remember most in the regular season,\u201d said Nield, who like Younger also experienced the Labour Day battles between the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats during his CFL career. \u201cIt\u2019s bigger here for sure. You can feel the energy more. In the West, it just feels like the games mean a little more, in general. Especially Labour Day, this Sask-Winnipeg rivalry is the best one in the CFL.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked to expand on that idea, Nield had an answer at the ready that will have fans in both markets nodding in approval.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like those are the two best fan bases in the CFL,\u201d he said. \u201cThey have the best stadiums in the CFL and the combination of those two (things) and how much energy is in the stadiums, whether it\u2019s Banjo Bowls or Labour Day, is awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t artificial energy either.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Heywood Yu \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Nic Demski (left) celebrates his touchdown with running back Brady Oliveira during last season\u2019s Labour Day Classic in Regina. The Bombers hope to play well enough to keep the Saskatchewan crowd from getting fired up.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s loud. And the fans there get very rowdy,\u201d said Bombers defensive tackle Cam Lawson. \u201cI love it, I love the energy, I love the atmosphere and I love that they hate us so much while we\u2019re there. As fans should. It just feels different playing that game than just playing another regular season game.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros spoke about the importance of communication when going into a hostile environment like Mosaic Stadium.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a special place to play football,\u201d said Collaros. \u201cThe fans are awesome out there. They make it a very tough atmosphere to play in. The rivalry is great and what it does in both provinces during the week is pretty special.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t Although the Bombers have been pumping in loud noise during practice in an attempt to replicate what they will be facing on Sunday, several players spoke about coming through with the type of effort that prevents opposing fans from having much to cheer about.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always want to go in there and make the crowd silent,\u201d said linebacker Kyrie Wilson. \u2018When you\u2019re making plays and they don\u2019t have anything to say, it\u2019s the best feeling ever. It almost feels like a library.\u201d<\/p>\n ROSTER NOTES: Receiver Nic Demski (ankle) missed a second consecutive workout, with Dorian Singer taking first team reps. Singer could be involved on offence and provide an insurance policy in the return game if Trey Vaval makes his second CFL start at defensive back this week. Defensive back Jonathan Moxey (groin) missed a second consecutive day, while Deatrick Nichols (who was placed on the six-game injured list with an ankle issue) was a full participant. As he normally does, head coach Mike O\u2019Shea said he expects all of his banged up players on the active roster to be available by the time the game arrives. Since the Bombers are taking Thursday off and holding a closed practice on Friday, it will be difficult to get a handle on any potential changes to the group prior to the depth chart being released on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n The Blue Bombers completed a trade on Wednesday, sending American linebacker Kyahva Tezino to the Ottawa Redblacks for the negotiating rights to American quarterback Ty Pennington, who is going into his senior season in the NCAA for the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. Pennington completed 251 of 382 passes for 3,116 yards and 19 touchdowns with four interceptions in 12 games for the Lumberjacks in 2025.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/kenwiebe<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Ken Wiebe Ken Wiebe is a sports reporter for the Free Press, with an emphasis on the Winnipeg Jets. He has covered hockey and provided analysis in this market since 2000 for the Winnipeg Sun, The Athletic, Sportsnet.ca and TSN. Ken was a summer intern at the Free Press in 1999 and returned to the Free Press in a full-time capacity in September of 2023. Read more about Ken<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Ken produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
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