Bombers stay perfect on season with 29-14 win over Redblacks

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This article was published 05/07/2019 (2255 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — In a season that’s already had its fair share of ups and downs, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers showed Friday night just how resilient this bunch really is. 

The Bombers were dealt a healthy dose of adversity in the nation’s capital, but found a way to rise to the occasion each time. Challenged by injuries to key players and battling sizeable momentum swings that might have cracked weaker groups, the Bombers pushed through each obstacle they faced to defeat the Ottawa Redblacks 29-14 at TD Place.

“We got a lot of depth and I’m proud of our guys. We came into a tough place against a tough team, a team that was 2-0 and clawed and scratched and found a way to win,” quarterback Matt Nichols said after the game. “It was a tough battle all the way through. That was a good football team and for us, I felt we played better this week than we did last week.” 

Already without the CFL’s reigning most outstanding defensive player, linebacker Adam Bighill, who was ruled out with a lower-body injury, the Bombers also lost veteran receiver Chris Matthews (hand) in the second quarter and No. 1 QB Nichols (upper body).

Nichols suffered what looked to be an awkward hit to the head when he attempted to slide following a run up the middle. He was noticeably dazed after contact, requiring a few minutes to gain his composure before heading to the dressing room. It was certainly a good sign that despite not playing the final quarter, Nichols spoke to the media.

“I think we had someone blocking to my right and so I thought I might be able to get away from the defender and maybe pick up a few more yards. Last second I felt that there was people closing in from the other side also and then I tried to slide late and was caught in an awkward position,” said Nichols, who finished 16-for-20 passing for 262 yards and one touchdown. “Definitely should have slid earlier and it’s important for me to be out there and I got to make sure I don’t take unnecessary hits like that.”

The victory improved Winnipeg’s record to 3-0, maintaining its position atop the West Division. It’s just the third time since 1988 the Bombers have opened a season with three straight victories. 

The Redblacks, who were unbeaten after wins against the Calgary Stampeders and B.C. Lions, dropped to 2-1 with the loss. With the Hamilton Tiger-Cats falling to the Montreal Alouettes Thursday, the Bombers are the only unbeaten team in the CFL.

Winnipeg finished with a season-high 441 yards of net offence, showing a level of consistency that wasn’t there through the first two games. Running back Andrew Harris tallied 80 yards on 18 carries, leading a ground attack that had a total of 149 yards.

“We’ve been trying to send a message all year. We’ve only played three games but that’s what we want to do, that’s our goal to win every game, every week,” said receiver Nic Demski. “I know the rest of the league thinks we’re a good team but we’ve got to go out and prove it.”

The Bombers wasted little time making their mark. Nichols connected with Demski on an 82-yard touchdown just two plays into Winnipeg’s first drive. Demski, who led all receivers with four catches for 105 yards, was one of eight Bombers to record a catch on the night.

Their lead swelled to 15-4 by halftime, after backup quarterback Chris Streveler, in with the short-yardage team, capped off a nine-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard pass to Drew Wolitarsky. The Bombers could have been leading by more had Justin Medlock not missed a pair of field goals, clanging a 51-yarder off the upright and missing another from 43 yards wide right.

But just as it looked like it was going to be smooth sailing the rest of the way, the injuries to Matthews and Nichols started to turn the tide the other way. Up 22-4 with the first of two rushing touchdowns by Streveler, Ottawa’s defence started to chip away at Winnipeg’s momentum.

With Streveler now in, the second-year pivot had some early success moving the chains but that was scuttled by an interception from Redblacks defensive back Anthony Coiffi. Ottawa turned that into a 42-yard field goal by Lewis Ward, who connected on a 43-yarder earlier in the game to push his consecutive streak to 59 — a CFL record.

On the first play of the ensuing drive for the Bombers, Charles Nelson fumbled after making a catch and it was returned for a touchdown by Ottawa’s Jonathan Rose to cut the Bombers’ lead to 22-14. Suddenly, the Bombers were in a one-score game, with all the momentum favouring the Redblacks. 

The game turned back in Winnipeg’s favour after Medlock recovered his own punt early into the fourth frame. After kicking the ball inside Ottawa’s five-yard line, Medlock raced down the field and was able to get a piece of the ball, pushing it out of bounds to regain possession for the Bombers. 

“That was a big one right there. He busts his ass down the field and makes a great play,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “You guys ask me about turning points a lot and I don’t usually have one because there’s a lot of plays in a game, but that one was massive and our team responded.”

The play led to a one-yard touchdown run by Streveler to put the Bombers up 29-14. The defence forced two turnovers after the score — a fumble recovery by Winston Rose and an interception by Chandler Fenner — to prevent any comeback by Ottawa.

Led on offence by former Bombers quarterback Dom Davis, the Redblacks were limited to just 236 yards of net offence. Davis, who went 26-for-31 passing for 234 yards and two interceptions, was sacked just twice in the game but was under siege all night by a suffocating Bombers defence.

For a second straight game Winnipeg’s defence didn’t allow a touchdown.

“Big ups to those guys. They did a good job executing their plays and were just the better team tonight,” Davis said. “They were just the better team tonight, there’s really nothing else I can say.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton