Truly a four-lorn season

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This article was published 31/10/2010 (5453 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — It’s exactly the kind of history the Winnipeg Blue Bombers wanted no part of, but will linger as part of the stain of the 2010 season.

The Bombers fell 16-13 to the Edmonton Eskimos in overtime Saturday night in front of 32,192 fans at Commonwealth Stadium and, in the process, found a place in the long history of the Canadian Football League.

The Bomber loss, the 13th of the season, was the eighth by four points or less. And that’s a new standard for frustration and futility, breaking the previous mark first set by the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1993 and matched by the 1996 B.C. Lions and the Bombers earlier this season.

“We can say all we want about close games, but we give games away,” said visibly frustrated Bomber head coach Paul LaPolice. “We gave that game away. They had two drives that were all based on penalties… we can’t do that and if guys want to do that and be selfish like that they can’t play for us.

“It’s Week 17. We can say how young we are as a team and all that stuff but if we continue to make the same mistakes we have to make changes, because if guys want to do that all the time… it’s not right.”

Yes, in a game in which they started their fourth-string QB, forced five Eskimo turnovers — including four Jared Zabransky interceptions — and tied the game on the final play of regulation, the Bomber penalties do jump off the page.

Winnipeg was flagged 15 times for 145 yards, five of the infractions — totalling 65 yards — by defensive end Odell Willis. But there were offensive mistakes, too, and special teams fell for another fake punt when CalvinMcCarty ran for 37 yards.

All that said, the Bombers had taken a 13-10 lead after their first possession of overtime and then were smashed in the mouth as Eskimo running back Daniel Porter reeled off two runs totalling 35 yards, including an 11-yard scamper for the game-winning TD.

“You play a great game defensively and then you give up two runs in extra time… that’s the hurdle we’ve got to overcome,” said defensive tackle Doug Brown. “In the most important, the most pivotal, the most critical point of a football game we fail. It’s not acceptable.

“That’s why it’s eight games by four points or less because when we need to make those two or three plays we fall on our faces.”

Joey Elliott started at QB for the Bombers and completed 15 of 29 passes for just 130 yards with no TDs and no interceptions, but did drive the team into field-goal range in the final minutes of regulation.

Placekicker Justin Palardy was good on all four of his field goals, from 38, 46, 26 and 37 yards.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Hefney had two interceptions for the Bombers with Jovon Johnson and Ian Logan also stealing Zabransky passes.

As ugly as it was, the Eskimos improve to 7-10 and with a win next week — or a loss by the B.C. Lions today — are playoff bound after an 0-4 start and 2-9 record just a few weeks ago.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca