And the saga continues…

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/09/2010 (5531 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — We now return you to your regularly scheduled Winnipeg Blue Bombers season, already in progress.

Dropped passes, ill-timed penalties and an anemic offensive showing were the highlights Sunday afternoon, as the Bombers squandered a glorious opportunity to climb back into the East Division race by stumbling and bumbling their way to a 17-13 defeat to the Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Centre.

Looking up from the basement, Winnipeg (3-8) is now three full games behind both the Argos (6-5) and the Hamilton Tigers-Cats in the East — four games if you factor in that both southern Ontario clubs hold the tie-breaker over the Bomb Squad should the need for a playoff seeding come into play in November.

There is still the potential for a crossover with the West Division, but right now, the Bombers haven’t shown anything to suggest they are better than the 3-8 B.C. Lions for that to happen. That reality was alluded to after the game, with Paul LaPolice understanding exactly what the lay of the land entails for his club.

“There are seven games left; 14 points left on the board,” LaPolice said after the game. “You can still get into the Eastern playoffs, you can still get into the Western playoffs. You have to keep playing football. Six out of the eight teams (in the CFL) make it. So we’ll come back and get ready to play.”

The Bombers started Sunday’s contest with a bang, when quarterback Steven Jyles connected with Terrence Edwards for an 81-yard pass to put Winnipeg into immediate field goal range. Kicker Justin Palardy hit a 34-yarder and things looked like they were going to fall Winnipeg’s way.

Instead, the wheels fell off.

The Bombers only constructed a 6-0 lead at the break, but their own sputtering offence managed to keep the equally pop-gun Toronto attack in the game, too. Despite penalties and three crucial drops (two by wideout Adarius Bowman, one by Edwards; both that would have been for first downs), the Bombers held a slight offensive advantage over the Boatmen in the first half (171 yards — 118 yards), but had little to show for it.

And when Argos kick-return man Chad Owens broke an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the third quarter, the Argos’ rope-a-dope worked to perfection.

“We just don’t have any killer instinct,” defensive tackle Doug Brown said. “They gave us ample opportunity in the first half and 6-0 isn’t enough. That’s the M.O. of the Toronto Argonauts right there — lull you to sleep. People aren’t used to playing in this environment, where there’s no energy in the building, and you let your guard down. Next thing you know, they break a big play on special teams and build off of that.”

The Owens return sparked the home side. After recently signed kicker Justin Medlock booted a 50-yard field goal to extend the lead to four points, quarterback Cleo Lemon found slotback Jeremaine Copeland in the back of the end zone to push the Argos’ advantage to 11 points.

The Bombers managed to get a TD score of their own (thanks to a 39-yard TD catch by Edwards), but when the game was on the line they tried to convert a third-and-two gamble inside the Toronto 30-yard line. With 2:04 left, fullback Andre Sadeghian — not running back Fred Reid — was stuffed at the line and the game was over.

Argos coach Jim Barker thought the game was a battle of attrition, with neither side really interested in taking control of the game.

“I’m speechless,” he said. “We weren’t great on offence, they weren’t great on offence and special teams ultimately was a key factor. Obviously, both defences played well. We’re fortunate to get the win, which gets us back on track.”

The Argos snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory.

Jyles finished 15-of-28 for 219 yards passing with one touchdown, an interception and a fumble. Take away the big strike to Edwards, though, and he only had 138 yards through the air. Lemon’s numbers were equally uninspiring. He was 14-of-23 for just 90 yards, with one TD and one pick.

On the positive side for the Bombers, the defence was outstanding and Reid rushed for back-to-back 100-yard games for the first time in his career.

The Bombers, winless on the road (0-6), return to action Friday, when they host the Montreal Alouettes at Canad Inns Stadium.

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca

Key Play

Argos KR Chad Owens, a threat to break a big return all day, scampers 80 yards on a punt return that gave the home side a 7-6 lead early in the third quarter. Toronto never trailed again.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Key Player

Bombers DT Doug Brown had two sacks and four tackles, leading a unit that only allowed 10 points and 231 yards of offence. The Winnipeg defence deserved a better fate.

Key Stat

It’s not every day a team hold the opposition quarterback to 90 yards passing and loses. To put QB Cleo Lemon’s passing yardage into perspective: Bombers RB Fred Reid rushed for 100 yards — ten more than what Lemon could muster with his arm.