Bombers 26, Ticats 3 after three quarters

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/10/2011 (5170 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 26-3 after the third quarter here at Ivor Wynne Stadium Friday night.

A short screen pass from Bombers QB Buck Pierce to wide receiver Greg Carr at 4:23 of the 3rd quarter turned into a 59-yard touchdown as the lanky Carr split a seam and then simply outran the Hamilton secondary to the endzone to put Winnipeg up 19-3.

And then an 83-yard interception return for a touchdown by Bombers defensive back Brandon Stewart with under a minute left in the third quarter put Winnipeg up 26-3.

The two touchdowns extended what had been a 12-3 Winnipeg lead heading into half-time.

Bombers backup quarterback Alex Brink — who failed in two attempts against the Montreal Alouettes last week to score the game-winning touchdown on a goal-line plunge — made no mistake this week, plunging one-yard on the final play of the opening quarter to give Winnipeg a 10-0 lead at that point.

The Bombers added a pair of singles in the second quarter, while Hamilton finally got on the board on the last play of the half courtesy of a 27-yard field goal by Ticats kicker Justin Medlock.

Brink’s touchdown was set up one play earlier when the Ticats took two penalties on the same play — one for pass interference and a second for roughing the passer — moving the ball from Hamilton’s 21-yard-line to their 1-yard-line.

Bombers starting quarterback Buck Pierce received a blow to the head on the play from Hamilton DB Bo Smith, but appeared to be uninjured and returned the next series.

Winnipeg place kicker Justin Palardy opened the scoring at 4:03 of the first quarter, booting a 49-yard field goal on what was the Bombers opening drive.

The kick was Palardy’s longest of the season — his previous long was 46 yards. It was also Palardy’s 10th successful field goal and the 16th in his last 17 attempts.

That string ended on Palardy’s next kick, however, as Palardy missed a 39-yard attempt midway through the second quarter and had to settle for a single.

Winnipeg also got a 57-yard single from punter Mike Renaud earlier in the second quarter. That one followed a botched fake field goal attempt by Winnipeg one play earlier that was whistled down on an illegal procedure call.

It was the second time in the game that Winnipeg had botched a fake kick. The Bombers were also called for illegal procedure in the first quarter on a fake punt attempt.

Bombers running back Chris Garrett had a big first-half in just his second regular season game since replacing the injured Fred Reid, running for 70 yards on 9 carries.

Pierce, meantime, was 10-16 for 96 yards in the first-half.