Bombers shrug off meaningless loss

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This article was published 03/11/2018 (2502 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — It ended exactly the way many predicted it would, with the team needing it more winning the battle.

But it’s the war that was on every player’s mind in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ locker room following a 33-24 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos in Saturday’s regular-season finale.

“I’m not worried about it at all. We’re happy this week is over, that’s for sure,” Bombers running back Andrew Harris said after the game. “We want to get after the games that mean something, so we’re just looking forward to getting after that.”

Having clinched a playoff berth a week ago with a win over Calgary, Winnipeg arrived at Commonwealth Stadium having scratched a number of key players from its lineup. By the time the Bombers left, the Eskimos, who were eliminated from the post-season thanks to that same Bombers’ win over the Stampeders, used what was a roster full of regulars to deliver Winnipeg one final, if meaningless, blow.

More importantly, the Eskimos were able to end a disappointing season — they were viewed early as a Grey Cup contender — on a high note by sending the announced crowd of 27,749 home with one final hurrah.

With no way of moving up or down from third place in the West Division, the Bombers used Saturday as an opportunity to give players who haven’t had much playing time this year some meaningful reps. Winnipeg sat four starters on offence and two more on defence and of the usual starters that did play, many were replaced throughout the game.

They even gave Justin Medlock the night off, a surprising move that paved the way for Ryan Lankford to make his CFL debut as a place kicker. Starting quarterback Matt Nichols dressed but didn’t play, while backups Chris Streveler and Bryan Bennett took turns behind centre, combining for just 19 total pass attempts for 191 yards and a touchdown.

“I still think we could have won this game. I’m not pleased with certain portions of the game, and we’ll watch the film and make corrections and the guys will be hard on themselves,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “But as always, very quickly we’ll be moving on to whoever we play next.”

With the loss, the Bombers finish the regular season 10-8 and will travel to play either Calgary or the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West semifinal Nov. 11.

A Calgary win or tie against the B.C. Lions late Saturday night in Vancouver would have clinched first place for the Stampeders, sending Winnipeg to Regina for the first round. A loss, however, and the Bombers would head to Calgary to start the playoffs.

As for the Eskimos, the win prevented the club from posting a losing record as they finish 9-9.

While the result won’t matter much, there were plenty of takeaways for the Bombers. Perhaps the biggest moment came on the Bombers’ third play of the game, when Harris busted up the middle for a big gain to eclipse Ottawa’s William Powell as the CFL’s leading rusher.

Needing just eight yards to surpass Powell (1,362 yards), the running back rushed twice, with his second run — a 31-yard jaunt — enough to move into top spot. Harris then ran straight to the sidelines, but only after saluting the offensive line for their efforts.

Harris finished the year with 1,390 rushing yards and has now won the rushing title in back-to-back years. In 2017, Harris finished with 1,035 yards on the ground — nine yards more than second-place Powell.

“It’s a testament to the (O-line), the workhorses up front and (offensive co-ordinator Paul) LaPolice for having the faith and trust in the run game and having that part of our game plan. This is a passing league and we really commit to running the football. It’s great that our OC has that faith in those five guys and myself to get it done,” Harris said.

“At this point in my career, it’s a great achievement. It’s something that I definitely take a lot of pride in and I’m just enjoying it right now.”

There were other notable moments, too, including the stellar play of Streveler. The 23-year-old rookie quarterback was able to show off his arm, despite attempting just 15 passes, and his quick feet.

Streveler connected with another rookie in receiver Corey Washington for an 80-yard touchdown that helped build a 10-7 Winnipeg lead after the first quarter. On what was just his sixth reception of the season, Washington leaped over an Eskimos defender before scampering 45 yards to pay dirt.

Streveler also led the Bombers in rushing with 76 yards on 10 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter that almost sparked a comeback, cutting Edmonton’s lead to 30-24.

“I’ve grown a lot as a player, and being able to see things on the field has gotten better. Obviously it’s nowhere near where I want to be,” Streveler said. “But I’ve tried to improve every single week and make the most of any reps I get in the game or practice. I felt I made the most of my reps today, and made some mistakes as well that I’m going to learn from.”

Then there was Lankford, who was sprung into kicking duties earlier in the week after the Bombers decided to rest Medlock. Lankford did have some kicking experience, with most of that coming in high school, but definitely surprised his teammates with how well he played. He was perfect on his only field goal attempt, connecting from 28 yards to open the scoring, and was three-for-three on one-point attempts.

His most impressive kick, though, was a 69-yard punt that required the Eskimos’ returner to retreat backwards to receive the ball, only to eventually be stuffed.

“I felt it,” he said of the booming punt. “I was really just having fun out there. I knew that my role was changed drastically this week and I just embraced it and played like a kid out there.”

Mike Reilly, Edmonton’s starting quarterback and the league’s reigning MOP, played the entire game for the home side — a somewhat surprising move given the pivot is without a contract next season and amid rumours he might be headed to B.C.

Reilly completed 83 per cent of his passes (29-for-35) for 320 yards, one touchdown — a 17-yard strike to Duke Williams late in the first quarter — and one interception. For a second straight year, Reilly has thrown for the most passing yards in the CFL, with his 5,562 yards in 2018 short of the 5,830 he put up last season.

Kicker Sean Whyte rounded out the Eskimos’ scoring with four field goals, including a 35-yard kick with 42 seconds left that sealed the win.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton