Bombers boast trio of homegrown heroes

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This article was published 25/06/2018 (2636 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 56-10 drubbing of the Montreal Alouettes last Friday may have taken place on the road, but the city of Winnipeg had a major influence on the victory.

The Bombers had three native Winnipeggers — Andrew Harris, Nic Demski and Kienan LaFrance — score touchdowns in an impressive blowout win over the Als.

Oak Park High School product Harris scored the first touchdown of the game on a 26-yard trick play touchdown toss from receiver Darvin Adams. Then it was another former Oak Park standout, Demski, hauling in a 10-yard touchdown reception from rookie quarterback Chris Streveler in the second quarter. To complete the Winnipeg hat trick, it was LaFrance, a Sturgeon Heights Collegiate grad, punching in a score from two yards out in the final minutes of the game.

The Bombers believe it’s the first time three local players scored touchdowns in a game for the Blue and Gold since Oct. 24, 1955, when Gerry James, Elton Taylor and Lorne Benson scored rushing touchdowns against the B.C. Lions.

“Did you just make that up?” said LaFrance, hearing for the first time about being the first Winnipeg trio to score for the Bombers in the same game in more than 60 years.

“That’s cool. I’m really just glad to be a part of it. Everybody on the field worked really hard to be there, coaches as well. It just shows we’re really coming together as a team — it’s positive.”

It was LaFrance’s debut with the Bombers, as he was on the one-game injured list for the Week 1 matchup with the Edmonton Eskimos. LaFrance, a former Ottawa Redblacks and Saskatchewan Roughriders player who signed with the Bombers in the off-season, finished the game with 50 yards on 10 carries, as he replaced Harris in the second half after Harris injured his right knee.

Harris rushed the ball 15 times for 58 yards to go along with six receptions for 68 yards. Demski chipped in with three receptions for 22 yards.

Demski, who along with LaFrance is a former University of Manitoba Bison, said he hopes it becomes a common occurence to have all three homegrown players helping the team win ball games.

“Whenever the boys get together and just talk football, that’s obviously something that we all want to do,” said Demski, who signed with the club in the off-season after three seasons with the Roughriders. “We all want to keep scoring touchdowns and making plays, so to see it all come into reality, it’s a good feeling. It’s a good sign, you know, we just want to keep this thing going and get everybody in the end zone.”

Demski said Friday’s performance shows how strong the local football community is. He hopes the homegrown trio can not only continue to make big plays but also inspire young football players in the city.

“Football is big here in Winnipeg, probably a lot bigger than a lot of people around Canada think,” said the 25-year old Demski.

“To see three of us do it on one team and go out there and (score), and hopefully keep doing it consecutively and making plays consecutively week in and week out, it’s going to say a lot, especially for kids in high school who want to get a scholarship and kids that don’t think they can make it to this level and score touchdowns at this level. It just gives everbody a little bit of hope and lets the community see the players we have and the talent we have on this team.”

The contributions from Canadian talent didn’t end there, as receiver Drew Wolitarsky also caught two touchdowns and had 46 yards receiving on four receptions. Wolitarsky grew up in Santa Clarita, Calif., but has some family ties to Montreal, making him a non-import player.

Head coach Mike O’Shea said the wealth of Canadian talent the team has this year is a nice luxury to have.

“The roster has been set up quite well this year,” said O’Shea after practice on Monday. “It’s nice to have that flexibility and that kind of depth. We’re always striving to get and talking about depth and flexibility. We are certainly better with that this year.”

Harris was dressed and on the field at practice Monday, but wasn’t a participant. O’Shea said Harris “seems fine,” downplaying the idea the star running back will miss Friday night’s game versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @TaylorAllen31