WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers showcased their dominance once again as they defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22 in the CFL West Division final, earning a trip to the Grey Cup for the fifth straight year. Quarterback Zach Collaros, brimming with confidence, credited wide receiver Kenny Lawler for fitting seamlessly into their offensive strategy.

"I always make it a point to include 'get Kenny going' on the play sheet," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes during the game, three of which went to Lawler. The veteran signal-caller's performance saw him finish 19-of-26 for 301 yards without a single interception, further solidifying his status as a CFL elite.

The highly anticipated matchup took place before a raucous crowd of 32,343 fans at Princess Auto Stadium. The Bombers will now face the Toronto Argonauts in the Grey Cup, set for November 17 in Vancouver, after the Argonauts narrowly edged out the Montreal Alouettes 30-28 in the East Division final.

Lawler, who returned from injury this season, recorded an incredible night with four catches for 177 yards. "This season has been a rollercoaster ride for me," Lawler shared. "I had to shake off the rust after missing nearly half the season with a broken arm."

Despite a rocky start to the season at 0-4 and later 2-6, the Bombers showed resilience, claiming eight straight victories before taking the top spot in their division. "People counted us out, but we believed in each other," said running back Brady Oliveira, who also made a significant impact with 119 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Roughriders linebacker Jameer Thurman acknowledged the Bombers' momentum, saying, "They had our number tonight. When you get that momentum, it just carries through the rest of the game." Meanwhile, Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris struggled against a staunch Winnipeg defense, completing 25-of-44 for 283 yards, and noted, “They contested every play. We had small things in execution. Yeah, it hurts.”

As the Bombers built a solid lead—14-3 after the first quarter, 24-9 at halftime, and 31-16 heading into the fourth—Collaros found Lawler for a 31-yard touchdown strike, showcasing their potent passing game. The victory had added significance, as it echoed the Bombers' previous successes; they went on to win the Grey Cup in both 2019 and 2021 after defeating the Roughriders in the West final.

With this win, Winnipeg joins an elite group of only four teams in CFL history to reach five consecutive Grey Cups, including the former Regina Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and the record-holding Edmonton Eskimos.

As the Bombers gear up for this monumental showdown against the Argonauts, fans are left wondering if history will repeat itself and lead to yet another championship for this resilient team. Don’t miss the excitement where legends are made on November 17!