Making a name for themselves
Unheralded defenders stand out in victory over Ticats
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/06/2023 (845 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Celestin Haba didn’t know the CFL played with three downs when he signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 30.
Less than two weeks later, the 23-year-old defensive end from Columbia, S.C., was taking down Bo Levi Mitchell in front of 29,057 fans at IG Field to clinch a Week 1 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Life sure comes at you fast.

Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press
Celestin Haba made a key play when he sacked Hamilton QB Bo Levi Mitchell late in the Bombers’ season opening victory over the Ticats.
“I couldn’t have even imagined that,” said Haba after Tuesday’s practice at IG Field.
“I had the mindset of coming in, doing my job, and helping the team the best way I can to try to get a victory. The way it played out, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Just three days after joining Winnipeg, the Texas A&M-Commerce product was thrown into the fire and played the team’s second and final preseason game. Despite the limited time, Haba made a strong enough impression to be the only American rookie to make the team on defence.
He was supposed to be a rotational piece in Week 1, but with Jackson Jeffcoat leaving early with an injury, Haba was the next man up.
His sack came on a third and 10 with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter with Hamilton marching the field and trailing 42-31. It also came against one of the top left tackles in the CFL — Joel Figueroa.
Jeffcoat missed Tuesday’s practice with a calf injury. His status for Friday’s road tilt against the Saskatchewan Roughriders is in question.
“He’s got some quickness and is able to rush the passer around the edge,” said defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall.
“As a matter of fact, (the sack) happened real quick. He beat him pretty cleanly, so it was a big time for us, a big play for us, and I’m just real happy for him for being able to contribute.”
Haba wasn’t the only unheralded name on defence to step up on Friday. Cornerback Demerio Houston had the best game of his young pro career as he had two interceptions — one in the first quarter and another later in the game on a two-point convert attempt — and a fumble recovery.
The last time Houston had more than one pick in a game was in high school when he snagged three in the state championship game.
Houston, a Shelby, N.C., native, was a starter last year but lost his job down the stretch after missing some time with an injury.
“It definitely helped my confidence big time. I felt like I was playing at a high level last year and then to end up going down with the injury and missing the rest of the season, I kind of got into a dark place because I wasn’t playing and out here with my teammates,” said Houston.
“This preseason I played alright, but I felt like it just wasn’t my game, so to just come out Week 1 and have that type of game it definitely felt great and just gave me a boost and gave me confidence to finish the season out strong.”
With Winston Rose and Jamal Parker out with injuries, the secondary was also helped with strong performances by Evan Holm and Desmond Lawrence both of whom had a pair of pass knockdowns.
“When you look at our football team, you have Biggie (Adam Bighill), Zach (Collaros), all these guys. But it’s everyone that contributes and everyone is going to have an opportunity to step up and make a play,” said Hall.
“At one point in time, nobody knew Willie Jefferson’s name, but that’s how you get known, is by producing when you’re out on the field and have the opportunity and that’s what our guys did.”
Jefferson came out of the gates strong and picked up two sacks, three knockdowns, and a forced fumble against the Ticats.
“Get used to hearing their names, man. Those guys put in the time, put in the work, and it’s finally showing off, especially for Evan and Demerio,” said Jefferson.
“Don’t sleep on any of the guys on the defence. If you think there’s going to be a mismatch or you think you can just pick on this player and that it’s going to be an easy day, it’s not that type of party when you come to Winnipeg.”
taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
Every piece of reporting Taylor 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.
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