The Canadian Press
Roughriders quarterback Michael Bishop debuted for Saskatchewan with 107 passed yards and a rushed touchdown, powering his new club to 19-6 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Sunday in the Labour Day Classic.
Under overcast conditions at Mosaic Stadium, the Riders (7-2) broke their two-game losing streak, while Winnipeg continues their search for a road win, dropping to 2-7.
Bishop's first series as a Roughrider was dismal -- his first pass was incomplete and his second picked off by Winnipeg defensive back Anthony Malbrough. But on the Riders' second possession, Bishop relaxed and marched the offence down field to set up a 27-yard field goal by Luca Congi to go ahead 3-0. Bishop, who was traded by the Toronto Argonauts on Aug. 23 for a conditional pick in the 2011 draft, then went on to complete 10-of-24 passes for 107 yards with one interception.
Meanwhile, Congi had a busy day, going 4-for-5, with the longest from 47 yards. His one miss was from 52 yards out.
The Bombers came back and tied the game at the end of the first with a 22-yard field goal by Alexis Serna, who finished the game 2-for-2. But the Riders regained the lead on their next possession, with Bishop steering the offence 75 yards before showing his ability to run the ball, getting a major to move ahead 9-3.
Congi would add two more field goals to go into half-time ahead 16-3.
The Bombers struggled early in the third quarter with a pair of turnovers. Quarterback Kevin Glenn was picked off by the Riders' James Patrick, and on Winnipeg's next possession Maurice Lloyd forced Glenn to fumble the ball which was picked up by Kitwana Jones and scampered 22 yards to set up a 19-yard field goal by Congi.
Glenn, who completed 28-of-42 passes for 269 yards, had a pass in the end zone picked off by Saskatchewan's Lance Frazier with 37 seconds left in the game.
Wes Cates -- the league's top rusher -- was held to 72 rushing yards by the Saskatchewan's defence.
