Bombers knock off Eskimos 30-23

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This article was published 28/07/2016 (3362 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The drought at Commonwealth Stadium is officially over.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who arrived in Edmonton having not won there since July 20, 2006 – a full decade – knocked off the Eskimos, 30-23, Thursday night.

Matt Nichols, who started at quarterback in favour of Drew Willy after Willy had underwhelmed in the first five weeks of the season, provided a much-needed spark for the offence. Nichols finished the night 26-for-33, for 304 yards and a touchdown.

The Bombers also found their run-game, with running back Andrew Harris rushing for 127 yards on 22 carries, with one touchdown.

With the win, the Bombers snap a two-game losing streak to improve to 2-4 on the year. Edmonton falls to 2-3 with the loss.

FOURTH QUARTER

Sean Whyte hit his third field goal of the night – from 37 yards – and Derel Walker caught a touchdown with just seconds left on the clock, but it would be too little, too late for the Eskimos and their bid for a comeback.

Perhaps the biggest play of the quarter came with just three minutes left. With the Eskimos marching, Mike Reilly tossed a ball to right sideline to Walker but it was intercepted by CFL rookie Terrence Frederick. Six plays later Justin Medlock kicked his fifth field goal, making it a two-touchdown game, 30-16.

After Walker’s touchdown made it 30-23, the Eskimos attempted an on-side kick but it was recovered by the Bombers’ Jace Davis, ultimately ending the game.

THIRD QUARTER

The Bombers are one quarter away from breaking a 10-year drought at Commonwealth Stadium. The last time the Bombers won in Edmonton was July, 20, 2006, with a last-second, 100-yard touchdown from Milt Stegall.

At the three-quarter mark, the Bombers hold a 27-13 edge on the Edmonton Eskimos.

After Medlock hit his fourth field goal of the night, the Eskimos marched back with a touchdown from fullback Calvin McCarty, who bulldozed his way two yards for the score – his first rushing touchdown in four seasons.

The Bombers had an answer for that, however, with Nichols finding Darvin Adams for a 20-yard touchdown grab that restored Winnipeg’s 17-point lead.

Weston Dressler, who was injured late in the second quarter when he went to knee-to-knee with Eskimos DB Marcell Young, was ruled out of the game with a lower-body injury.

SECOND QUARTER

At halftime, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lead the Edmonton Eskimos 17-3 at Commonwealth Stadium.

Justin Medlock added two more field goals in the second quarter — hitting from 34 and 28 yards, respectively — and is now a perfect three-for-three in the game.

Weston Dressler, who finished the first quarter with three catches for 66 yards, added three more catches for a combined 111 yards. But his return to the game is questionable after he sat out of the Bombers’ last two series with what looks to be an injured right knee he sustained on a hit midway through the second quarter.

The Bombers defence had limited the Eskimos to 65 yards net offence, including just one yard on the ground, and zero points until the final drive of the half. Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly, who entered the game throwing for 350-plus yards in his first four games, managed to get Edmonton into kicking distance, with kicker Sean Whyte hitting from 47 yards to get Edmonton on the board.

FIRST QUARTER

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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are leading the Edmonton Eskimos 11-0 after one quarter of play at Commonwealth Stadium.

Matt Nichols, making his first start at quarterback for the Bombers this season, marched 85 yards on the game’s opening drive. After a series of completed passes, including a 39-yarder to Weston Dressler, Andrew Harris capped off the series with a one-yard touchdown run – his first with the Blue and Gold.

The Bombers added a field goal on their second drive, with Justin Medlock making good from 30 yards out to put the Bombers up 11-zip.

Nichols finishes the first quarter completing nine of his 10 passes for 141 yards. Harris has nine carries for 53 yards and a score.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.catwitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.