Willy is a walking wonder

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This article was published 30/07/2015 (3753 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Drew Willy already had his teammates at hello, from the very moment he walked into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ huddle over a year ago as the club’s new QB1.

But for all those Doubting Thomases out there chirping in Bomberland — and there still are many — a performance like the one he served up Thursday night in a 23-13 win over the B.C. Lions can go a long way to zipping the critics.

It wasn’t just that the Bomber pivot operated an efficient attack in improving the club’s record to 3-3, because he certainly did that and then some, it’s that he was even in uniform that can quickly become the stuff of legend inside and outside of the dressing room.

Six days ago Willy’s right knee was wrapped in ice and his availability was in considerable doubt, especially in a short week. But the Bombers saw enough in short practice session Tuesday — just before he apparently headed to the doctor to have his hinge examined again — to declare him the starter a day later.

Willy threw for two scores, to Justin Veltung and Darvin Adams, and led the team in rushing with 72 yards on just five carries.

“Gritty” doesn’t begin to describe Willy’s effort, one that stopped the bleeding from a two-game losing streak and allowed them to pull even with Edmonton (3-1) and Calgary (3-2) in what is already an enthralling West Division race.

IT’S NOT HOW YOU START…

The Lions, who opened up a 21-zip lead over Toronto last week before the Argos came back in the third-largest rally by a road team in CFL history, jumped out of the blocks again against the Bombers by cranking out a 14-play, 95-yard drive on their first possession that not only ended in a 17-yard TD by Courtney Taylor, but chewed up eight minutes and 32 seconds. And when the Bombers didn’t counter immediately, a sense of impending doom settled in at Investors Group Field.

But it’s here where things got interesting, instead. With Willy using his feet to gobble up yards and offensive co-ordinator Marcel Bellefeuille calling a good game and showcasing a number of offensive looks, the Bombers outscored the Lions 23-6 the rest of the way. Adams, the fleet-footed wideout added in free agency to provide a deep threat, led all receivers with four catches for 127 yards and a critical 56-yard touchdown on the first offensive play of the second half, a score that put the Bombers ahead for the first time at 14-10.

The offence wasn’t without its warts — the Lions finished with four sacks, each one of them causing the 27,214 in attendance to hold their breath — but there was a commitment to the run and a balance that was missing a week ago in the 32-3 loss in Edmonton.

A DEFENCE STANDS UP

After getting pushed down the field on the game’s opening drive, the Bomber defence got up off the mat to start throwing some serious haymakers, many of them connecting. Lions tailback Andrew Harris, the Winnipeg product, would rumble for 117 yards on 24 carries and pull in another four passes for 50 yards, but the Bomber defence also chased Lions QB Travis Lulay all night and forced him to make some horrible decisions with the ball in his hand.

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Lulay was picked three times — by Johnny Adams, Sam Hurl and Demond Washington — and the level of physicality brought by the Bomber defence was at a season high.

THE FOOT SOLDIERS STEP UP, TOO

Winnipeg’s much-maligned special-teams unit provided some critical plays in the win, as well. While he struggled early in the punting department, Lirim Hajrullahu connected on all three of his field-goal attempts — the longest was just 26 yards — but didn’t whiff on any of his converts. And it was a 41-yard Troy Stoudermire kickoff return to open the second half that set up the Bombers in prime real estate just moments before Willy connected with Adams for the 56-yarder.

So while last week’s loss was an across-the-board nightmare, Thursday’s victory was an everybody-chips-in W. But the biggest and most important contribution came from Willy — a man most figured would be in civvies at kickoff, not leading the team to victory.

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPEdTait

Game breakdown