{"id":104855,"date":"2025-08-29T07:03:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T07:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/104855\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T07:03:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T07:03:09","slug":"5-things-to-know-riders-bombers-ok-tire-labour-day-weekend-rivalry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/104855\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Things to Know: Riders, Bombers OK Tire Labour Day Weekend rivalry"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pat Neufeld toils the trenches as an offensive lineman for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. So pedalling tickets and generating hype \u2014 customary duties of those in the front office \u2014\u00a0are not his major priorities in life.<\/p>\n

But the 14-year CFL veteran charged right ahead \u2014\u00a0 like he was clearing a lane for tailback Brady Oliveira<\/a> \u2014 when asked to describe Sunday\u2019s Labour Day Classic between Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the best rivalry in the CFL,\u201d says Neufeld, who should know given his Regina roots and time playing for both teams. \u201cThe passion of the fans \u2014 they\u2019re both hard-working prairie folk \u2014\u00a0is second to none. And the atmosphere is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Incredible to the point that Neufeld expects to hear little-to-nothing over the deafening roar of 33,000 fans\u00a0when the Winnipeg offence takes the field Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Here are five things to know about the Saskatchewan-Winnipeg rivalry heading into OK Tire Labour Day Weekend.<\/p>\n

\"OK<\/p>\n

OK TIRE LABOUR DAY WEEKEND
\u00bb\u00a03 storylines to watch on OK Tire Labour Day Weekend<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a03 strengths for every team on OK Tire Labour Day Weekend<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a03 Canadians that need to step up on OK Tire Labour Day Weekend<\/a>
\u00bb Everything you need to know ahead of OK Tire Labour Day Weekend<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0Subscribe to the CFL\u2019s newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates<\/a><\/p>\n

THE ATMOSPHERE<\/p>\n

It\u2019s customary in Saskatchewan for people of all ages \u2014 and from all walks of life \u2014 to wear Green on Rider game days.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pop into a beauty salon full of women over 40 getting their nails done, and you\u2019ll see green. The same goes for those waiting in line for groceries, watering the lawn or enjoying a cold beverage on the deck.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But this year \u2014 in honour of the 60th anniversary of the Labour Day Classic against Winnipeg \u2014 the dutiful residents of Saskatchewan are wearing green all week on request of the team.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s even a Roughrider flag flapping in the wind outside Regina\u2019s City Hall.\u00a0And the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame is hosting a new exhibit called: Classic Rivals: 60 Labour Day Clashes, featuring artifacts and stories from the rivalry from the first game in 1949 to the present.<\/p>\n

The 2025 clash is already a sellout with fans from both provinces driving massive distances \u2014 past combines in fields of gold \u2014 to witness the action in person at Mosaic.<\/p>\n

THE BOMBER COUNTER ATTACK<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t discount the impact of the Winnipeg fans who dutifully make their annual pilgrimage west to support a dominant Bomber team that has played in the last five Grey Cups.<\/p>\n

The drive from Princess Auto Stadium to Mosaic Stadium takes five hours, 52 minutes (for those obeying the speed limit), so Neufeld knows from experience to expect plenty of blue in the otherwise Green crowd.<\/p>\n

The Bombers are boldly encouraging such dissent via billboards in high-traffic areas of the Queen City \u2014 including the intersection of Albert Street and Parliament Avenue \u2014 that read: Friends don\u2019t let friends wear green. A public service message from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.<\/p>\n

This @oktire<\/a> #LDWeekend<\/a>, rivals will rise. #KeepItUnreal<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HQIAEiEDft<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CFL (@CFL) August 28, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

THE STAKES<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be honest. Both of these teams have known hard times over the years \u2014 with lengthy playoff droughts and countless seasons the respective fanbases would rather forget.<\/p>\n

But this season, Saskatchewan (8-2)\u00a0and Winnipeg (6-4) are both legitimate post-season contenders with star players on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

Both teams have cerebral \u2014\u00a0 and respected \u2014 head coaches in Mike O\u2019Shea and Corey Mace. And both teams realize the three games against each other \u2014 with Sunday being the first of those three \u2014 could mean the difference between a bye to the Western Final or an early end to the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs far as we\u2019re concerned, we\u2019re 1-0,\u201d said Roughrider offensive lineman Logan Ferland<\/a>, echoing the weekly rally cry in football-mad Saskatchewan. \u201cWe\u2019ve done a great job of blocking out the outside noise, whether people think we\u2019re great or they think the opposite. It doesn\u2019t matter to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Bombers are riding a two-game winning streak. The Riders are coming off only their second loss of the year, a 32-15 defeat courtesy of the Calgary Stampeders.<\/p>\n

THE NUMBERS<\/p>\n

Over the course of six decades, the Roughriders sport an impressive 38-22 record against their prairie foes in the Labour Day Classic.
\nThe Riders have won 15 of the last 19 Labour Day Classics, but Winnipeg is on a roll with three wins in the last four.
\nRecent history would suggest Sunday\u2019s game will be a close one with the last three Labour Day Classics decided by just two points.<\/p>\n

THE DECIDING FACTOR<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Saskatchewan defence is a force this season with a league-low of 3,397 yards against through 10 outings. The Riders are the best in the land against the pass (2,634 yards against) and the run (just 763 yards against for an average of a paltry 76.3 yards per game).<\/p>\n

\u201cI give us a B-plus or a B, \u201c Saskatchewan defensive lineman Micah Johnson<\/a> said when asked to grade his team\u2019s performance. \u201cEven when you make plays, even when you make sacks, you\u2019re thinking about the ones you missed. You\u2019re thinking about the mistakes you made.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much we can get better at.\u201d<\/p>\n

The key to a Saskatchewan victory Sunday? From this vantage point, we think it\u2019s a matter of the defence shutting down Collaros and the vaunted Winnipeg ground attack. (The Bombers lead the league with an average of 119.1 rushing yards per game.)<\/p>\n

Stay tuned Sunday to see if the\u00a02025 Labour Day Classic lives up to the hype \u2014 and if Neufeld is correct in calling Winnipeg-Saskatchewan the best rivalry in the land.<\/p>\n