Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Zach Collaros runs with the ball in a game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in pre-season CFL action on June 6, 2019, at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Sask. (Liam Richards/Electric Umbrella)

By Britton Gray

Slow start

Collaros throws two touchdowns in 35-29 pre-season loss to Bombers

Jun 7, 2019 | 5:43 AM

The play of quarterback Zach Collaros might have eased the concerns of some fans but it wasn’t enough for the Saskatchewan Roughriders to earn a win Thursday night, falling 35-29 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium in pre-season action.

Collaros finished the game 10 of 15 with two touchdowns and 163 yards but did throw an interception on the opening drive.

Despite the early mistake, Collaros feels he’s where he needs to be heading into the 2019 regular season.

“It’s a short training camp, (and a) short preseason but that’s what the CFL is,” said Collaros in the locker room after the game. “It was nice to play in a little bit of a windy condition (Thursday) because we’re going to Hamilton and it’s always windy there so it was nice to be able to throw into that and throw with it at your back too.”

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It was the first time Collaros threw multiple touchdowns since a Sept. 22 game against the Toronto Argonauts.

This was the first game action for the 30-year-old CFL veteran in 2019 and his first time starting since being knocked out of an October game against B.C. last season due to a concussion.

“Going back out there for the first time in however many months, there will be rust but I thought we did a pretty good job executing the plays,” said Collaros.

Collaros only played in the first half with Isaac Harker and Ty Gangi taking over in the second.

Head coach Craig Dickenson felt good about what he saw from his starting quarterback.

“He had an efficient night. I thought he threw the ball well,” said Dickenson. “He extended the play and found guys downfield. He did have one turnover (and) we’d like to clean that up but that was a good performance by Zach and that’s the kind of stuff we expect to see.”

Coming into the game, Dickenson said he didn’t care how many touchdowns Collaros threw as long as he was in command of the offence throughout it.

“I didn’t see time counts, I didn’t see guys on the wrong side and (Zach) had to bring them back so I thought that was the game we wanted to see from Zach,” said Dickenson. “Was it perfect? Absolutely not but we saw improved performance by him and an improved performance all the way around with that offensive group.”

Much like the weather in Regina, it felt like a dark cloud might be hang over the Roughriders offence after the Collaros interception.

But William Powell would be the bright spot that would shine through and ignite the offence in the first half.

The running back had a drive where he saw the ball four straight times for 48 yards.

“It felt great to get back out there going and get my legs back under me,” said Powell.

Powell joined the Roughriders this off-season as one of the marquee free agent signings in all of the CFL. He finished the pre-season game with 7 carries for 55 yards and caught two balls for 20 more.

The 31-year-old rusher ran for 1,362 yards last season with the Ottawa Redblacks, caught the ball for an additional 319 yards and found pay dirt eight times.

“I feel like I picked up right where I left off and ready to do even bigger and better things,” said Powell.

With coach Dickenson wanting to run the ball a lot this season, Powell is ready for a heavy workload.

“I don’t have a problem getting the ball as much as possible,” said Powell. “We have great guys all around the ball, we have a great quarterback and great receivers so they (have) to get their too but I don’t care, if you want to feed me then feed me.”

Another bright spot in the offence was Shaq Evans, who caught 2 balls for 44 yards and a very special touchdown – his first in the CFL after having zero last year.

“It feels good because it’s a long time coming and to get that off my back, especially to get that done now, so now in the regular season it’s just going to come in bunches, I know it,” said Evans.

But despite there being some positives from the starters, it wouldn’t be enough to earn the win. The team is now winless in their last 11 pre-season games, dating all the way back to 2014.

The Green and White will be looking to begin the regular season on the right foot in Hamilton next Thursday. The Roughriders won both meetings between the two clubs last season.