Bombers fall 22-14 to Alouettes in season opener

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This article was published 24/06/2016 (3392 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was exactly the kind of atmosphere the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were hoping for when they opened the 2016 CFL season Friday night at Investors Group Field. Thousands of fans had gathered early, arriving hours before kickoff to watch the Jumbo Tron as the Winnipeg Jets chose Patrik Laine, a dynamic Finnish-born forward, with the second overall pick in the NHL Draft. 

The double-up of events created the perfect storm for local sports fans, who were charged with optimism as the Bombers took the field in their new royal blue jerseys for a game they hoped to be a continuation of what had been a special night in the city. 

But as the Jets wrote a new chapter in their history, it was the same old story for the Bombers, who puttered to a 22-14 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in a display that matched nothing close to the excitement spurred in the off-season. 

Indeed, after a 5-13 mark last season – 12-24 in the past two years – it was supposed to be different this time around. The Bombers had made big moves in free agency, spending big dollars to improve their roster in almost every way possible. 

But the most hype came with a new-look offence, one that despite doing little in two pre-season games – a combined 10 points and zero touchdowns was dismissed by the fact Bombers were running a limited scheme – were supposed to come alive under new offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice and full access to his fast-paced playbook. 

Yeah, about that. 

Quarterback Drew Willy was unable to utilize his new weapons in receivers Ryan Smith and Weston Dressler, who had to leave the game midway through the first quarter after taking a hit to the head from Ethan Davis. 

Dressler lost control of the ball and his helmet upon contact, falling to the ground where he laid for a few minutes before being taken to the locker room. Dressler looked to hit his head, suggesting a concussion, but the Bombers wouldn’t confirm the injury and provided no update on his status. 

By halftime, Willy had completed just nine of his 13 passes for just 68 yards and one interception as the Bombers trailed 12-0. A missed 47-yard field goal was as close as the Bombers would get to scoring in the half, an effort that resulted in fans booing Willy as he left the field on the Bombers last play before exiting to the locker room. 

“It starts with me, that’s the job of a quarterback,” said Willy after the game. “Obviously we need to do more in the first half.” 

Winnipeg finally found the end zone late in the fourth quarter after Willy connected with Darvin Adams for a 62-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 22-14. It would be too little too late, however, as a last ditch effort stalled at mid-field. 

Andrew Harris fared well in his debut in blue and gold. The Winnipegger provided the only real spark in the offence, running for 88 yards on 13 carries in his homecoming. But most of that came in the second half, when Harris was leaned on for five straight plays to begin the third quarter. He had just four carries in the first half for a total of 20 yards. 

It was also a tough night for the Bombers defence. Not that you could blame them as the offense kept them on the field for most of the game. 

But if there was one bright spot it was the play of cornerback Chris Randle, who single-handedly prevented a blowout in the first half with an interception in the end zone and a fumble recovery within the Bombers 5-yard line. 

“I’m just playing my role within the defence,” said Randle. “We want to make those plays when we’re backed up. But we missed out on a few other plays.” 

Montreall quarterback Kevin Glenn looked poised all night as the defensive line was unable to create enough pressure. When they did force him out of the pocket, he found a way to get the ball down the field. Glenn finished the game 30-for-42 for 332 yards and a touchdown – an eight-yard strike to S.J. Green late in the third quarter. 

“We didn’t do our job out there today,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “ 

The Bombers may not have shown up on this night but Mother Nature sure made her presence felt. With the game late in the first quarter, dark clouds moved in and the threat of lightning forced the game to be delayed and the fans to find shelter. It would take 65 minutes before the game would resume. Give credit to the fans as almost all stuck around.

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Not everyone from the Winnipeg left a loser on this night. Medlock showed why he’s the surest foot in the CFL, hitting from 58 yards out in the third quarter to put the Bombers on the board. The kick, which tied a franchise record set by Bernie Ruoff, earned Variety Manitoba a cheque for $2,600 as part of Medlock’s charity which donates $100 – matched by an anonymous donor – for every yard beyond the 45 yard line. 

Bad news is things only get tougher for the Bombers as Winnipeg will play Calgary, Hamilton, and Edmonton – three teams who are once again expected be atop the CFL standings again this year- twice each in the next six weeks, beginning with the Stampeders in Week 2.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.