Enlarge Image

Bombers tacklers Siddeeq Shabazz (23) and Jonathan Hefney lay down the law on Calgary Stampeders receiver Ken-Yon Rambo during the Bombers’ 42-30 win Friday. (JOE.BRYKSA@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

It's one of the Canadian Football League's basic truisms and it was spit out all week by Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike Kelly: a team cannot win a Grey Cup in July.

That said, what a club can do -- and Kelly & Co. will hold up Friday night's 42-30 decision over the Calgary Stampeders as concrete evidence -- is blacken the champs' eyes and open a few more across the league at the same time. Yes, the Bombers' stunning victory over the Grey Cup champions in front of a sold-out Canad Inns Stadium crowd of 29,533 on Milt Stegall Tribute Night accomplishes a few things for a club that entered Week 2 swimming around in a petri dish under a microscope:

"ö First and foremost, it evens the Bombers' record at 1-1 with three key East Division contests coming up in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats and a home-and-home series with the Toronto Argonauts;

"ö It answers questions about the squad's collective resiliency after being dragged through the emotional wringer with L'Affaire Armstrong and the exit of a key receiver;

"ö It is a big-time confidence vote for quarterback Stefan LeFors -- who earned his first win as a CFL starter after six tries -- as well as Kelly and his controversial "plan-of-action" blueprint as he picks up his first victory as a head coach;

"ö And for one week at least -- such is life in this town with this football team -- it keeps at bay the angry mob ready to storm the club's offices with torches and pointy sticks.

"It's a statement for darn sure," said centre Obby Khan. "You don't win the Grey Cup in July, but this tells the rest of the league we're not the jokes or misfits they say we are. We knew we could do it. We believe in ourselves. We know the talent in this room. Now it's up to us to show the rest of the country. But let's keep it in perspective, it's just one game."

The Bombers deserve full credit for one of those across-the-board efforts that will have every unit eager to hit the film room this week to see the video evidence. The offence came to life as LeFors twice connected with Terrence Edwards for touchdowns, Fred Reid scooted for 81 yards on 13 carries and Lavarus Giles scored his first two CFL TDs; the special teams erased their iffy performance in the season-opening loss in Edmonton with an inspired showing led by the solid punting of Mike Renaud and the hustle of Jonathan Hefney while the defence was absolutely, positively brilliant in generating 28 points off five turnovers -- including a 36-yard interception return for a TD by linebacker Siddeeq Shabazz that was critical in sealing the deal.

"It's a huge game for our defence," Shabazz said. "We were all over the place. It's a hard-fought win and we're a good defence with a lot of room for improvement. This win was a testament to all the hard work we've put in and now we have to get ready and do it again."

As is fitting after every big win -- or a first one -- Kelly was given the celebratory Gatorade shower by his troops as the clock ticked down to zeroes.

"I really didn't want the Gatorade bath (he was doused in the final minute) because this is one win in July... in November they can drown me with it," said Kelly afterward. "We made some progress and it looked more like Bomber football the way I remember it.

"The guys asked me for a day off tomorrow and I said, 'No.' We're going to come out (Saturday) and we're going to run. It's just one win in July and we have to continue to work and keep our focus and not get too full of ourselves."

Interestingly, Kelly's 72-year-old mom Hilda flew in from Florida to take in the game, telling her son: "If your dad was alive, he'd be here, so I'm coming."

"She actually pulled out a Blue Bomber sweatshirt that was 15 years old," said Kelly with a chuckle. "I might buy her a new one now."

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

The Fifth quarter D3

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 11, 2009 D1