Return to form for Blue and Gold

It was the loudest Princess Auto Stadium has been all season.

Moments after fumbling a fourth quarter punt that put the Toronto Argonauts in scoring range, Winnipeg Blue Bombers returner Trey Vaval bounced back in a big way.

Argos kicker Lirim Hajrullahu misfired on a 40-yard field goal with nine minutes remaining and Vaval made the visitors pay by racing 129 yards to the opposite end zone to boost the home side’s lead to 29-14.

Vaval, who had four return touchdowns in his sensational rookie campaign last year, entered the contest ranked first in the CFL in punt-return yards and second on kickoffs — the only thing he was missing was his first score.

He checked that box at a perfect time.

Vaval’s heroics — which set a new franchise record for longest missed field goal return, a record he set last year with a 128-yarder in Ottawa on Sept. 20 — lifted the Bombers to a 30-21 win to improve to 3-2. The Argos fall to 2-3.

“I muffed that punt and I was beating myself up. I came to the sideline, and I was really down on myself. And then my teammates came up to me,” said Vaval.

“Pat (Neufeld) was just like ‘You’re due for something big. Just keep your head in the game.’ My roommate, Major Williams, was like ‘Sit down and pray.’ I kept sitting there, I didn’t even say nothing, I kept getting angry. Major Williams had to grab me and say ‘Just pray to God, everything’s gonna be OK.’

“So, shoutout to my teammates.”

The victory allowed the Bombers to avoid losing a third straight game at home, which was hasn’t happened since 2016.

While Vaval made the biggest splash, it was perhaps quarterback Dru Brown who made the biggest statement. The 29-year-old looked as if he had never left Winnipeg.

No, he wasn’t perfect, but for someone who returned to the Blue Bombers just over two weeks ago, he looked right at home.

“It feels good. I’m happy to be somewhere that I really enjoy and that my family loves, with guys that believe in me,” said Brown.

“It’s hard to put into words. But I’m glad I could do my part tonight and execute the plan.

Brown, who was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Redblacks and got the start for an injured Zach Collaros, moved the ball effectively and, with the help of kicker Sergio Castillo, managed to outduel red-hot Argos quarterback Chad Kelly.

“I think he made it look easier than it really is. I think it would be unjust to say, ‘well, he just steps in because he knows this, he knows that,’” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“He works his ass off. This isn’t luck. This isn’t, ‘Oh, he’s been in the system.’ This is a guy who puts in a tremendous amount of time.”

Brown completed 25-of-31 passes for 339 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but ultimately it was Castillo who finished most drives with five field goals (56, 53, 40, 17, 32).

Castillo only missed once — a 48-yarder with just over a minute remaining — but the mishap scored a pivotal rouge to put the Bombers ahead 30-21, ruining Kelly and Co.’s dreams of marching down the field for a game-tying drive.

Brown earned a win in his first start, meanwhile his former club — with Jake Maier under centre — remain winless.

“It’s over and done with now. Obviously got a lot of relationships over there with some of the players and love those guys. But we each have different issues, different situations,” said Brown.

“I wish them the best. But I’m focused on what we’ve got going on over here and excited to roll forward with it.”

For the first time this season, the Bombers played three-phase football.

The defence arguably deserves the most praise for keeping Kelly in check for large chunks of the contest.

In Toronto’s first four outings, Kelly was averaging 371 passing yards and three touchdown passes per game. The Argos were also situated second in scoring with a 37.5-point average.

While Kelly still produced 320 yards and two touchdowns with a 66.7 completion percentage, nothing came easy. He was sacked on three occasions — twice by defensive end Willie Jefferson and once by safety Redha Kramdi — and fumbled on the Kramdi sack which led to a recovery by linebacker Tony Jones.

“Oh, it felt good. We consider ourselves one of the, if not the best defence in the CFL,” said rookie corner Major Williams.

“There’s a lot that we work on and it’s starting to show on game days which is great.”

The Bombers led the entire way and had a 19-7 edge into half.

Brown hit the ground running on the opening drive with three consecutive completions to Ontaria Wilson to get down to Toronto’s four-yard line before the receiver coughed up the football.

The Bombers made up for the blunder two drives later when Brown connected with Tim White for a 35-yard score to grab a 7-0 advantage with just over three minutes left in the first.

Wilson was Brown’s go-to option, with 10 catches for 133 yards on 14 targets. Nic Demski added six grabs for 82 yards.

“Winnipeg football, we’re taught to overcome adversity,” said Wilson.

“We’re going to have ups and downs, but you’ve got to know how to play through the play.”

Toronto struggled out of the gates, with their first four possessions resulting in three punts and a turnover before punching back with a four-play, 66-yard touchdown drive capped off with running back Sam Hicks scoring from three yards out.

Toronto has surrendered the most air yards in the entire three-down loop and the Bombers took advantage.

Bombers running back Brady Oliveira contributed 69 rushing yards on 16 carries. The Argos produced just 47 ground yards with 30 of those coming from Hicks on six touches.

Damonte Coxie led the Boatmen with six catches but was ejected in the fourth quarter after slapping Williams on the side of the helmet after a catch.

Williams was busy with seven tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass knockdown.

“It was just two competitors, two great players going at it… I feel like in that situation, he just lost his cool,” said Williams.

“He put his hands on me a couple times after the play, and they were losing the game. It wasn’t his night. When things happen like that, those are the kind of actions that you get from ballplayers.”

After selling out 16 consecutive games at Princess Auto Stadium, Friday fell just short of a sell-out with 32,144 fans in attendance.

The Bombers head to the nation’s capital to play the Ottawa Redblacks (0-5) next Sunday.

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