Bombers rally late for win

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This article was published 01/07/2011 (5247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers overcame a poor start and a 10-0 deficit to mount a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback and defeat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 24-16 here at Ivor Wynne Stadium Friday evening.

A 65-yard interception return for a touchdown by Bombers defensive back Alex Suber 1:33 into the fourth quarter gave the Bombers their first lead in a game that saw Winnipeg make a myriad of miscues, take way too many penalties and struggle on special teams yet always keep the Ticats within reach on the scoreboard.

The gritty victory was the first road victory for Winnipeg since Oct. 12, 2009. The Bombers went 0-9 on the road during the 2010 season.

Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce, the biggest question mark for the Bombers heading into their first game of the 2011 regular season, answered perhaps the biggest question of all — his durability — 10 minutes into the third quarter when Hamilton linebacker Jamal Johnson had a clean shot at Pierce in the pocket and took fullest advantage, steam-rolling the Bombers quarterback to the turf with such force it knocked Pierce’s helmet off.

Amazingly, Pierce not only hung on to the ball but also somehow got up from what might be one of the hardest hits on a quarterback we’ll see anywhere in the CFL this season. The play led to a 39-yard field goal by Bombers kicker Justin Palardy that narrowed the Bombers deficit at that point to 16-12 and set the stage for Suber’s later heroics.

Pierce finished the night 12-26 for 151 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Pierce also ran for 24 yards on a fourth quarter scramble.

The Ticats got an interception of their own in the fourth quarter on a video review of what was initally called a catch at midfield by Bombers receiver Cory Watson.

But one play later, Bombers safety Ian Logan got the ball right back, picking off an errant throw by Kevin Glenn to give the Bombers the ball back.

Bombers kicker Justin Palardy booted a 34-yard field goal with under five minutes to play to give Winnipeg a 23-16 lead. Palardy also had a four-point play in the third quarter, booting a wind-assisted 76-yard single on the kickoff that immediately followed that 39-yard field at 4:40.

Bombers punter Mike Renaud rounded out the scoring at 12:58 of the fourth quarter on a 58-yard single.

The Bombers defense rose to the occassion late in the game. First, middle linebacker Joe Loebendahn stuffed Hamilton running back Avon Coboure on a 3rd and 1 in Hamilton territory with under three minutes to go. And then Logan recorded his second interception of the fourth quarter at 13:31, picking off Quinton Porter in Bombers territory to seal the deal.

The second-half heroics by the Bombers made it easier to forgive what was a comedy of errors in the first half for the visitors.

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It was hard to pick what hurt the Bombers more in the first half. There were four dropped passes — two by rookie Kito Poblah, before he left the game with a knee injury midway through the second quarter. There were undisciplined penalties — the Bombers were flagged seven times for 91 yards in the first half alone.

And then there were the Bombers special teams — the source of much anguish last season — who picked up right where they left off with a series of miscues in the first half that included a blocked punt in the first quarter that gave Hamilton the ball on Winnipeg’s 19-yard line and led to Hamilton’s only touchdown of the game just one play later.

Trailing 10-0 at that point, it took the Bombers just 32 seconds to get back in the game, however. A 56-yard return by diminutive Perry Floyd on the ensuing kickoff was followed two players later by a 49-yard touchdown strike from Pierce to slotback Terrence Edwards.

Hamilton kicker Justin Medlock added two more field goals before the half was over, while the Bombers picked up a safety four minutes into the second quarter when they pinned Hamilton on their own five-yard line.

The Bombers play their home-opener next Friday against the Toronto Argonauts.