Big Blue trounce Lions

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This article was published 03/08/2023 (824 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s been a growing narrative this season that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have become too old and too slow to continue dominating the CFL.

With two losses in their first seven games — an admirable record for most teams in the league, but not for a club that’s been the class of the three-down loop for years such as the Blue and Gold — the Bombers had started to lose some of their shine. A 30-6 blowout loss to the B.C. Lions in Week 3, followed an epic meltdown against the Ottawa Redblacks three weeks later had the critics coming out from all corners.

Tired of hearing all the negative chatter, the Bombers delivered one of their most dominating performances in recent memory, handing the Lions a 50-14 beatdown in front of a season-high 30,874 at IG Field Thursday night. In doing so, they delivered a reminder to the rest of the CFL that the Grey Cup runs through Winnipeg and that there’s still plenty of gas left in their collective tank.

“Definitely a statement game,” said Bombers receiver Kenny Lawler, who finished with a game-high 200 yards on seven catches. “I’m a threat, man. They know they got the best receiver in the league, and paired with arguably the best group of receivers in the league. The competition is not the opposition, the competition is in the locker room. We are all competitive souls in this room.”

The victory improved the Bombers record to 6-2, moving them into a tie for first place in the West Division with the Lions, who dropped to the same record with the loss. With the season series now tied a game apiece, that sets up what should be a critical rubber match between the two clubs on Oct. 6 at BC Place.

The Bombers offence put up just six points and 235 yards in the loss to B.C. earlier in the year, going long stretches during which they struggled to move the chains. It was a much different story on this night.

Winnipeg more than doubled B.C. in offensive yards, 576 to 232, including an eye-popping 447 through the air. Zach Collaros completed 19 of his 27 passes for 369 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while No. 2 Dru Brown, coming in late in the fourth quarter, connected on both of his passes for 78 yards and a score.

Collaros, who was sacked by the Lions seven times in Week 3, wasn’t sacked once on Thursday, as the O-line gave him plenty of time and space to pick apart the Lions D.

“We knew it was a big game against a great defence and we just stepped up to the challenge,” Bombers left tackle Stanley Bryant said. “Their defence brought the best out of everybody and we were able to take advantage of what they were giving us. The offence played a hell of a game. We’ve had some good games the last couple but today was probably our best performance of the season.”

The Lions defence was averaging just 11.6 points per game against opposing offences through seven games, and had surrendered only five touchdowns on the season. The Bombers put up six TDs on the night, with Dalton Schoen and Brady Oliveira scoring a pair and Lawler and Nic Demski each adding one apiece.

The Bombers defence severely limited both QBs they faced. Dane Evans, who was named top performer of July by Pro Football Focus just a day earlier, was 12-for-21 passing for 113 yards and two interceptions. Dominique Davis was eight-for-18 for 76 yards, as the Bombers forced six turnovers and registered two sacks.

“During our week of practice and preparation, we had guys flying around and making plays,” said Bombers safety Brandon Alexander. “We saw it and everybody was ready to go from the start. We were confident in our abilities and our game plan and we went out there and executed.”

The Bombers offence racked up 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter to take a 14-1 lead through 15 minutes of play. Collaros was four-for-six passing for 178 yards in the first, while connecting with Schoen and Lawler for scores on throws that travelled 71 and 57 yards, respectively.

The Bombers kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter, outscoring the Lions 13-3 to take a 27-4 edge at halftime.

Sergio Castillo hit the first of two field goals in the second quarter near the midway mark of the frame, booting a 37-yarder to make it 17-1. The Lions would add three points of their own with four minutes remaining before the break, as Shaun Whyte split the uprights on a 16-yard chip shot to cut Winnipeg’s lead to 17-4.

The Bombers would find the end zone on the ensuing series, with Oliveira capping off a five-play, 70-yard drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown. Lawler helped set up the score by drawing a defensive pass interference call on Lions DB Jalon Edwards-Cooper, a penalty that moved the ball from B.C.’s 34 to the three-yard line.

“I thought they played really well. I give them full credit. I thought they played with great energy and we just didn’t match it,” Lions head coach Rick Campbell said. “Part of our calling card this year is not giving up big plays. And those big plays, especially early in the game, we were just trying to recover from that and we never could.”

Meanwhile, the Bombers defence quietly went about its business, suffocating the Lions offence right from the opening kickoff. The group finished with three turnovers in the first half, including an interception by Alexander that led to a 16-yard field goal by Castillo and a 27-4 lead.

Winnipeg also stuffed B.C. on a third-and-short on its second drive, leading to Lawler’s touchdown on the next play. Demerio Houston also registered his league-leading sixth interception late in the first quarter, but the Bombers offence was unable to capitalize.

Things would go from bad to worse for the Lions as Evans exited the game late in the second quarter. He could be seen running into the locker room holding his right arm, making room for Davis, a former Bomber, to take over behind centre.

“He was actually available to come back into the game if needed, but he was a hurting guy,” added Campbell. “He took a shot, something to do with his ribs or something, but we don’t know yet. It could be something very minor or not.”

The Bombers showed no mercy to start the second half, promptly moving the ball downfield for their fourth TD of the game, extending their lead to 34-4. A 19-yard run by short-yardage QB Dakota Prukop, followed by a 10-yard pass to Lawler, would set up a 30-yard score from Collaros to Demski in the back-right corner of the end zone.

After the D forced a two-and-out on the Lions, giving up a point on a rouge as an 80-yard punt trickled into the end zone, the Bombers were once again knocking on the doorstep. It looked like they would find pay dirt for a fifth time, with Lawler reeling in a 14-yard catch, but it was negated by an offside flag called on both teams.

Winnipeg was forced to settle for a 23-yard field goal, making it a 37-5 game late in the third quarter.

Some sloppy play by the offence in the fourth quarter made it a closer game than it should have been. Whyte’s 47-yard field goal cut the score to 37-8 and then a fumble by Oliveira deep in Winnipeg’s end was recovered and returned for a TD by Bo Lokombo, making it a 37-14 game.

A failed onside kick on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by Konner Burtenshaw, who returned the ball 13 yards to B.C.’s 27. One play later, Oliveira made up for his mistake with a 27-yard rushing TD, putting the Bombers up 43-14.

“On the sidelines after that fricking fumble they told me we’re coming right back to you so get ready, flush it, don’t think about it and I think that’s the biggest thing,” said Oliveira. “If I was out there really hung up on that last play I don’t think the next play would have went like that… you’re never going to be perfect every play, there’s going to be ebbs and flows and ups and downs, but the biggest thing was having my teammates support.”

The Lions would push for more points, getting as close as Winnipeg’s 23- and 15-yard line. Needing touchdowns rather than field goals, the Bombers D cut both drives short, forcing a pair of turnovers on downs.

With the game in complete control, the Bombers opted to sit Collaros. Brown took over the last couple of series, where he made the most of the opportunity, beginning with a three-play, 82-yard TD drive to make the score 50-14.

After a four-yard run by Rasheed Bailey, Brown hit Lawler, who had a game-high 200 yards on seven catches, for a 64-yard gain, with another 15 yards tacked on for a horse-collar tackle. One play later, Brown found Schoen in the end zone for a 14-yard score.

The Bombers will have the next couple of days off before returning to practice next week for a Week 10 road game against the Edmonton Elks. The two Western clubs met in Week 7, with Winnipeg earning a 28-14 victory at IG Field.

 

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton