Blue and Gold break the (losing) mould

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This article was published 29/08/2016 (3329 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s high time the Winnipeg Blue Bombers had some high times.

The suddenly mighty Blue extended their winning streak to four games with a 32-18 win over the Montreal Alouettes Friday night, the latest triumph in what’s been an incredible run after a dismal 1-4 start.

The Bombers are now 5-4 heading into the second half of the season, but before we look ahead to what are sure to be spirited back-to-back games against the struggling Saskatchewan Roughriders, here are five takeaways from the win in Montreal.

 

PLENTY IN THE TANK

When the Bombers signed Andrew Harris in the off-season, inking the Winnipeg native to a three-year deal after six seasons with the B.C. Lions, there was plenty of buzz in the city.

Harris had grown into one of the elite running backs in the CFL and in 2015 fell just 20 yards short of the league rushing title with 1,039.

But at 29, many wondered how much he had left. Like all running backs, his body had taken a beating over the years, and when Lions GM Wally Buono — considered one of the great minds in the CFL — let Harris walk, it inevitably raised questions about his ability to maintain a high level of play.

Yeah, well, about that.

Against the Alouettes, Harris rushed 16 times for 70 yards — he also had 61 yards on five catches — including an impressive 19-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes to go that clinched the victory. It was his fourth rushing touchdown in as many games and he leads the CFL in rushing yards with a nine-game total of 575 yards (Calgary’s Jerome Messam had 496 yards in eight games heading into Sunday’s match against Hamilton).

“He’s finding a way to grab the guys and put them on his back,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.

HIS FOOT IS A (MED)LOCK

On the whole it was an off night for quarterback Matt Nichols and the Bombers offence, which registered just 313 total yards.

What helped overshadow that performance was the leg of Bombers kicker Justin Medlock, who was a perfect six-for-six on field goals. He also kicked two converts to account for almost two-thirds (20) of the Bombers’ 32 points on the night.

It wasn’t just a series of chip shots either, with four of his six field goals coming from at least 36 yards out and his longest being from 47 yards.

Medlock has made good on his last 20 field-goal attempts dating back to the July 21 game against Calgary.

‘Just keep on telling them they can’t do it and maybe they’ll keep doing it’– Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea 

It’s thought to be a club record, though an unofficial one.

It’s the kind of efficiency the Bombers expected when they signed the surest foot in Canada — Medlock entered the year with a CFL record efficiency rate of 87.5 per cent — to a three-year deal that reportedly pays him close to $185,000 per season.

What once appeared to be a high price tag now looks to be a bargain.

WHERE IS IT COMING FROM?

Of all the great storylines to surface over the last month — the emergence of Nichols at quarterback, the play of receiver Clarence Denmark, who was released in March and re-signed six games into the season, to name a couple — it’s the play of the Bombers’ defence that’s most impressive.

Winnipeg recorded six turnovers Friday night, including four interceptions and a turnover on downs. The Bombers now have 18 turnovers in their last three games and lead the league with a plus-16 takeaway/giveaway ratio.

It’s unrealistic to expect the defence to keep up this level of production each week, with many believing it’s only a matter of time before a fall-off. That doubt has become motivation for a group still feeling it has more to prove.

“Just keep on telling them they can’t do it and maybe they’ll keep doing it,” said O’Shea.

MOE MONEY, NO PROBLEMS

When Alouettes quarterback Kevin Glenn was intercepted for a touchdown in the second quarter, it wasn’t all that surprising to see who came up with the ball.

Maurice Leggett scampered 60 yards for the score in a major turning point, with the pick-6 giving Winnipeg the lead for good.

It was the second touchdown for Leggett in as many games — he returned an interception 98 yards in a 34-17 win over the Toronto Argonauts in Week 8 — and third of the season. Leggett, who has a league-best five picks, is now tied with “Tricky Dick” Thornton for the franchise record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a season, a mark Thornton set in 1963.

“I don’t pay attention to leading the league or anything like that,” said Leggett after the game. “If the timing’s right and my feet are on the ground, I’m going to score.”

NOT SATISFIED

With four consecutive victories for the first time since 2011, four straight road wins since the 2002-03 seasons, and a record above .500 at the halfway mark of the season for just the second time since 2008, O’Shea was asked if he felt satisfied.

“Nope. Can never be satisfied,” said O’Shea, interrupting the reporter mid-question. “We’ll never say that.”

It’s been a common refrain for the Bombers this season: the one-game-at-a-time approach, never looking behind or ahead of each week.

O’Shea did say what he’s seen from the Bombers this year is a decision to play as a team, an ability to stick together through the growing pains, and a commitment to playing aggressively.

“The best part is they realize there’s room for improvement,” he said. “I’m asking the players not to feel satisfied, so I can never do that either.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.catwitter: @jeffkhamilton