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John Woods / The Canadian Press Bombers receivers Chris Matthews and Terrence Edwards celebrate Matthews� fourth-quarter touchdown. Both were a big part of Joey Elliott�s big night. (CP)

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Joey Elliott sure knows how to make an impression, doesn't he?

Making his first start since 2010, the Blue Bombers quarterback was outstanding in the 32-25 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Canad Inns Stadium Thursday night, going 33-of-43 for 406 yards and one touchdown in his third career CFL start.

According to the club, it was the first time a Blue and Gold quarterback threw for 400-plus yards since Michael Bishop passed for 409 yards against Montreal Oct. 24, 2009.

"That means I threw for about 200 of them and then Terrence (Edwards), Clarence (Denmark), Chris (Matthews), Cory (Watson) and Chad (Simpson) had the rest of the 200 yards," Elliott said in a celebratory locker-room after the game.

"Offence was clicking. It's always good to have the fans behind us and we were able to get into a groove. They (Hamilton) were playing a lot of zone (defence) and we were able to check the ball down when we needed to and we were putting ourselves in manageable second downs."

Elliott, the third starter the Bombers have used in seven games, worked the Hamilton defence like an experienced veteran, taking what the zone coverage gave him. His longest pass was only a 40-yarder to Matthews in the third quarter, but it helped set up a tying touchdown that made the score 17-17.

"Coming out of the second half, I got pretty comfortable there," Elliott said, who led the Bombers to a 92-yard winning touchdown drive with 1:25 left the fourth quarter.

Elliott's night comes with a nod to the offensive line (which allowed just two sacks), a solid running game (Winnipeg rushed for 99 yards), and good play from the receivers.

News flash: The entire offence turned in its best performance of the season.

"He played a hell of a game, but if we play like we can play, we'll succeed as an offence," Watson said, adding the receiving unit didn't drop a pass. "Any quarterback, whether it's Joey or the other guys, needs to take control and show confidence in what we're doing. Joey was able to do that."

Matthews was succinct in his praise for Elliott:

"He's smart and he knows what he's doing," he said.

Head coach Paul LaPolice said the third-year pivot earned another start for the Bombers. He noted the lack of turnovers by the offence, and complimented Elliott's ability to go to second reads.

It wasn't all sunshine and lollipops for the Purdue-product, though. Three of his incompletions should have registered as interceptions by the Ticats defence. In what was indicative of Hamilton's night, they all fell to the turf, bobbled by defenders who found themselves in the right spot but unable to make a difference.

Elliott dismissed his fortune as luck, but did reference the Football Gods in the post-game.

Did they shine on him Thursday?

"Hopefully, one time," he said.

Guessing the Bombers hope the light shines more than that.

HALL IMPACT: Three of Hamilton's four fumbles were by quarterback Henry Burris, turnovers that killed the Ticats attack. One of those fumbles came on the Winnipeg one-yard line in the first quarter and had Burris got in, it would have put the Bombers in a deep hole.

"He was hanging the ball out there so I just stripped it," said the man who forced the change of possession, defensive end Alex Hall. "I don't know if it was the biggest one all night, but it was up there."

Hall forced another Burris fumble later in the game.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @wazoowazny

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 17, 2012 C2