Steady QBs key to win

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This article was published 01/11/2014 (3993 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — Drew Willy started more games — 17 — for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2014 than any quarterback since Kevin Glenn, who started all 18 in 2007.

But Willy couldn’t finish the last one.

The Bombers’ No. 1 QB all season long hurt his throwing hand — again — on a fumble late in the first half, making way for backup Robert Marve to play the second half and author a come-from-behind 18-13 victory over the Calgary Stampeders here at McMahon Stadium.

Neither Bombers QB had much in the way of numbers in a game that was played in a snowstorm. Willy left the game just 4-10 for 22 yards, while Marve was a bit better in the second half at 6-12 for 72 yards and a touchdown.

But to their credit, both Bombers QBs kept their mistakes to a minimum on a day Calgary was shooting off their own feet with six turnovers to just two for the Bombers. And the Winnipeg QBs also made judicious use of the running game in a contest in which six different Bombers players carried for a total of 149 yards, representing almost three-quarters of Winnipeg’s paltry 204 yards of net offence.

Put it all together and it was neither pretty nor particularly meaningful, coming as it did in Winnipeg’s final game of 2014 after having been eliminated from playoff contention a week earlier.

But the victory did improve Winnipeg’s final regular-season record to 7-11, four wins better than the 3-15 debacle of 2013 and representing the Bombers’ best regular-season record since 2011, when they went 10-8 en route to an appearance in the Grey Cup.

“The guys fought hard,” said Willy. “Obviously, the situation wasn’t ideal out there with the weather and stuff. But I thought our team was very mentally tough and did a really good job.”

Willy gave full marks to Marve, who saw his most action all season on Saturday and once again showed mobility to be his strongest single asset. A fourth-quarter scramble, in particular, saw Marve escape the Calgary rush and then improvise a 42-yard pass downfield to slotback Clarence Denmark, setting up a field goal by Lirim Hajrullahu a couple of plays later that put the Bombers ahead for good at 12-11.

“He hung in there tough and took some shots,” Willy said of Marve.

Marve, who grew up in Florida, said he had never played in weather conditions like Saturday’s — and it took some getting used to.

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“There was a couple of cold days when I played in Purdue, but nothing like that,” said Marve. “It was hard gripping the ball, to be honest. And as the game went on, it got more and more slushy and there were times you’d put your foot out in front of you and it would just come out from under you.

“I had to adapt and I wish I’d adapted faster. But I’m excited about the win and getting an opportunity.”

With Saturday’s performance, Willy finishes his first year as a CFL starter with the following line: 305-478, 3,769 yards, 14 TDs, 16 interceptions.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek