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Cup beckons Brown, Buck

A homecoming, of sorts, for both Blue Bombers

By: Paul Wiecek

Posted: 11/21/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce celebrates 19-3 Eastern Final win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday, Nov. 20.

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce celebrates 19-3 Eastern Final win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday, Nov. 20. (JOE BRYKSA/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

Coach Paul LaPolice holds up trophy on Sunday, Nov. 20 as Doug Brown looks on.

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Coach Paul LaPolice holds up trophy on Sunday, Nov. 20 as Doug Brown looks on. (BORIS MINKEVICH/ WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

99th Grey Cup

Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. B.C. Lions, Sunday Nov. 27, 5:30 p.m., BC Place, TSN

Head-to-head in 2011

Week 5

July 28, Canad Inns Stadium

Winnipeg 25

B.C. 20

Week 7

Aug. 13, Empire Field

Winnipeg 33

B.C. 17

Fast facts: Since losing the second of two games to Winnipeg on Aug. 13, B.C. has won 11 of their last 12... Winnipeg hasn't won two games in a row since August.

League rankings in regular season

B.C. 11-7 (1st in West Division)

Winnipeg 10-8 (1st in East Division)

Offence

Points scored

B.C. 511 (2nd)

Winnipeg 432 (5th)

Yards in net offence

B.C. 6,646 (3rd)

Winnipeg 6,148 (5th)

Yards in net passing

B.C. 5,090 (2nd)

Winnipeg 4,494 (7th)

Starting QB efficiency ratings

B.C.'s Travis Lulay (342-583, 4,815 yds, 32 TDs, 11 INTs) 95.8 (2nd)

Winnipeg's Buck Pierce (261-411, 3,348 yds, 14 TDs, 18 INTs) 82.1 (7th)

 

Defence

Points against

B.C. 385 (1st)

Winnipeg 432 (3rd)

Yards against net offence

Winnipeg 5,420 (1st)

B.C. 5,725 (2nd)

Fewest first downs

Winnipeg 322 (1st)

B.C. 325 (2nd)

Takeaway/giveways

Winnipeg Plus-12 (2nd)

B.C. Plus-10 (3rd)

 

For defensive lineman Doug Brown, it will be a return to the home he left.

But for quarterback Buck Pierce, Sunday's 99th Grey Cup at BC Place will be a return to the home that left him.

In a game filled with compelling storylines, you're going to be hearing about those two constantly this week.

The first one, of course, will be the story of Brown, a native of New Westminster and graduate of Simon Fraser who has a chance this Sunday, in what will be the final game of a sure to be Hall of Fame career, to win the only thing that has eluded him in an 11-year career -- and do it basically in his own hometown.

"This is just a tremendous day for everybody," said Brown, who lost in two previous trips to the Grey Cup in 2001 and 2007. "And in my case, in terms of Grey Cups, hopefully it's third time lucky, right?"

The other storyline is also, perhaps predictably, about redemption. In this tale, Pierce plays five seasons in B.C. and even wins a Grey Cup, but is cast aside following the 2009 season when Lions boss Wally Buono basically gives up on Pierce, only to now find himself facing the very same QB in the biggest game of the year.

But if you're looking for a story of a scorned player seeking blind vengeance on his former team, you're talking to the wrong player. Pierce's feelings toward the Lions sound much more nuanced than that.

"Just to be going back to that city means a lot. That's where I got my opportunities, that's where I got my chance. I have a lot of memories there," Pierce said Sunday following the Bombers' 19-3 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division Final at Canad Inns Stadium. "That coaching staff, all those guys there, I care for them like family.

"They felt like they had to go a different way. And Travis (Lulay) is doing a good job for them. But as an athlete, anytime you get released by an organization you want to go back and give it your best shot. And maybe I will have a chance to do that in the biggest game of the year."

Pierce and the Bombers will be the underdogs this Sunday -- despite the fact Winnipeg won the two early-season meetings between the two clubs -- because the Lions have won 11 of their last 12 games since they last played Winnipeg.

On top of that, Pierce's counterpart on Sunday -- Lulay, the man who replaced him in B.C. -- comes into this week off a career season for which he will almost certainly be rewarded Thursday night in Vancouver by being named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player.

Put it all together and there will be more than a few folks counting Pierce out in B.C. But hey, it's not exactly like it will be the first time. And if it comes down to a battle of wills on Sunday, well then all bets are off.

"It's the Grey Cup. It's the crown jewel of this league," said Pierce. "And believe me, everyone wants it."

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 21, 2011 C2

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