Bombers thunder over Ticats with 37-11 win

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This article was published 03/08/2016 (3358 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Perhaps the torrential downpour coerced the Winnipeg Blue Bombers into gripping the ball a little tighter; the lightning possibly providing the spark needed and the two-and-a-half hour rain delay allowing for some final adjustments.

Or perhaps it was Milt Stegall’s presence, with the legendary receiver inducted into the team’s Ring of Honour on the night after guaranteeing a Bomber triumph earlier this week.

Whatever the case, the visiting Hamilton Tiger-Cats had no chance, pawns in a game dictated start to finish by the Bombers, who secured their second straight victory—a first since Week 5 and 6 in 2014—thundering to a 37-11 win at Investors Group Field on Wednesday night (and into early Thursday morning).

Rookie defensive back C.J. Roberts set the early tone, picking off the first pass Ticats pivot Jeremiah Masoli threw two minutes into the first frame, taking it 19 yards to the house for a quick 7-0 lead.

Clarence Denmark, who was signed earlier in the week following a string of injuries to the team’s receiving core, doubled the team’s advantage just 36 seconds later, corralling a 12-yard touchdown pass from Matt Nichols after return specialist Kevin Fogg took a punt 36 yards deep into Ticats territory.

Not content leading by two scores, Nichols found receiver Thomas Mayo on a 13-yard route in the back of the end zone for a 21-0 lead with 4:25 left in the quarter.

Fogg, firing on all cylinders, had an 80-yard punt return touchdown reversed by a holding call early in the second quarter, the second such occurrence this season for the CFL rookie.

Winnipegger Andrew Harris still found the end zone later in the drive, cashing in from three yards out to give the Bombers a 28-0 lead.

Justin Medlock drilled two field goals before the halfs’ end, from 16 and 31 yards, giving the local football team a 34-0 lead after two quarters of play.

The lead was the largest in 13 years for the club and fourth largest in team history, according to a tweet sent out by the CFL. Winnipeg had 20 points off turnovers in the half.

Nichols was masterful in the first half, going 17-for-19 for 162 yards and two touchdowns, finishing 23-for-31 for 246 yards.

The Ticats broke the goose egg in the third quarter on a one-yard plunge by backup pivot Jeff Mathews. Hamilton then converted through receiver Andy Fantuz on the ensuing two-point convert attempt. Fantuz, clearly frustrated by the events prior, punted the ball into the concourse in the north end zone.

Hamilton tacked on a late field goal in the fourth quarter.

The Ticats turned the ball over five times in the game after committing six in their first meeting this season. Masoli was picked off three times and lost a fumble.

Mayo was tops in receiving with seven catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Denmark had seven grabs for 69 yards and a touchdown in his return to the Bombers fold. Andrew Harris rumbled 18 times for 49 yards on the ground, including this three-yard touchdown plunge—his second in as many games.

Meanwhile, already down Patrick Neufeld on the offensive line, fellow hog Jermarcus Hardrick picked up a knock in the second quarter and didn’t return to the game.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @scottbilleck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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