Demski scores two TDs to help Bombers trample Argos 40-14

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This article was published 27/07/2018 (2654 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There were plenty of bright spots worthy of recognition Friday night for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. But it was an innocent, relatively underwhelming eight-yard pass from quarterback Matt Nichols to Drew Wolitarsky that officially put the game out of reach.

Wolitarsky’s catch was the final stamp on an eight-play, 63-yard drive midway through the fourth quarter that not only had the Bombers up a commanding 33-8 but was a play that completely took the wind out of the sails of the Toronto Argonauts, who were forced to slug their way through the rest of the game with their fate all but sealed.

Ian Wild then added another touchdown for Winnipeg on Toronto’s next drive, returning a Mike Miller blocked punt to the house to put the homeside up by 32 points. Even after a James Franklin one-yard rushing touchdown with fewer than three minutes left on the clock there was reason for applause, as Franklin was sacked on the two-point convert attempt.

In the end, the dominating display by the Bombers had them walking away from Investors Group Field with a 40-14 victory – the perfect ending to the night and an equally satisfying beginning to their first of three bye weeks.

“Going into this back-to-back we knew it was going to be tough and you want to go into the bye week feeling good about where you’re at as a team,” Nichols said after the game, “and I feel like we’re hitting our stride a little bit and seeing what kind of team we can be.”

The win — the second against the Argonauts in as many weeks — improved the Bombers record to 4-3, making it the first time all season that Winnipeg has strung together consecutive victories and are above the .500 mark.

As for the Argonauts, the defending Grey Cup champions dug themselves deeper into a hole that may prove difficult to get out of. With the loss, Toronto is 1-5 and tied with the Montreal Alouettes for last place in the East Division.

It was fitting that Toronto’s final possession of the game resulted in a turnover on downs — the last of six turnovers forced by a Bombers defence in what was far-and-away their best game of 2018. Winnipeg had three interceptions — with Kevin Fogg, Chris Randle and Brandon Alexander each recording one apiece — a forced fumble by Alexander — which was recovered by Fogg — and two turnovers on downs, including one that stalled an Argonauts drive on the Bombers’ 11-yard line in the third quarter.

The Argonauts were limited to 172 total yards in last week’s 38-20 Bombers win. On Friday, they more than doubled that, with 393 yards, but just like a week ago hardly threatened through four quarters.

Franklin finished the game 20-for-31 for 236 yards and three interceptions. Bombers linebacker Javon Santos-Knox, who finished with three sacks and 10 tackles, was particularly haunting for the Argonauts’ pivot.

“I’m seeing my reads a lot faster, seeing things develop a lot faster, and then I got to say shout out to the D-line, man, because everything I do is a compliment to them,” said Santos-Knox. “They open things up and let me run free out there. Those guys are savages and dogs out there.”

James Wilder, who had three carries for minus-2 yards the first go-around, was much better this night, wrapping up with 15 carries for 81 yards, including a three-yard touchdown run that broke an early 13-0 Bombers lead in the second quarter.

Nichols went 19-for-28 for 253 yards and two touchdowns, along with one interception. Andrew Harris had 10 carries — 17 fewer touches than a week ago — for 28 yards – 133 fewer than last week — but added five catches for 50 yards.

Nic Demski paced all receivers with five receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown and the Winnipegger added another rushing TD on a 28-yard run that answered back to Wilder’s earlier score.

“That touchdown I threw (Demski) was not totally how that route’s designed…he just kind of saw the same thing I was seeing and did a great job running it down,” Nichols said. “Later with the touchdown run, I saw him cutback on the first guy I thought…my mind instantly goes to what are we going to call first-and-10 from the 15 and all of a sudden he just tight-roped all the way in. The guy made some unbelievable plays tonight and I really think he’s having a breakout season.”

Justin Medlock went four-for-four on field goals, including a 45-yarder with 1:20 left in the second quarter to give the Bombers a 23-8 lead at halftime. His first was from 47 yards that had Winnipeg up 3-0 just 1:33 into the game.

On the Bombers next series, Nichols orchestrated a six-play, 90-yard touchdown drive capped off by a 42-yard pass to Demski. The Argonauts aided the drive by taking two of nine costly penalties on the night, including a Marcus Ball roughing flag on Darvin Adams that would have forced third down.

After Toronto moved the ball to midfield on their next possession, Franklin launched a pass to a wide-open Rodney Smith for a 46-yard gain. But just as Smith was falling to the ground, the ball was ripped out of his hands by Alexander.

A 51-yard reception by Kenbrell Thompkins — who made his start after Adarius Bowman was traded this week, finishing with three catches for 81 yards — on the third play of the ensuing drive would have the Bombers once again knocking on the doorstep. But Medlock was called on again, chipping in a 21-yarder to extend the Bombers’ lead to 13-0. And the rout was on.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca