Brown blasé, but Bombers win

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This article was published 18/08/2023 (756 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — The sequel is rarely ever as good as the first go-around, and that was the case for the Dru Brown Show.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers backup quarterback sprang into action last week after starter Zach Collaros suffered a neck injury early into a game against the lowly Edmonton Elks. Brown would lead Winnipeg back from a 22-0 deficit, throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns to earn 38-29 win.

The performance created a lot of buzz around the CFL, and that noise was only heightened when it was announced Brown would make his first start of the 2023 season against the Calgary Stampeders Friday night as Collaros continued to heal. But while there’s still plenty to write on Brown’s story, his latest chapter wasn’t nearly as enthralling as the last.

It wouldn’t end up mattering, at least not on the scoreboard, as Brown and the Bombers still got the job done, squeaking out a 19-18 victory in front of 20,106 at a windy McMahon Stadium.

“Those games can be frustrating at times, but those games are inevitable,” Brown said just outside the visitor’s locker room. “Winning looks different every week. Sometimes it’s running the ball a bunch. Sometimes it’s throwing the ball a bunch, for a bunch of yards. It’s kind of cool, you see the contrast between two weeks. I think it’s important for everyone, including myself, to understand some games are going to be like that.”

With the win, the Bombers stay atop the West Division, improving to 8-2, and have now clinched the season series against the Stampeders. Calgary dropped to a dismal 3-7 with the loss to remain outside the playoff picture.

Brown finished his night 17-for-27 passing for 171 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions, as the Bombers put up a modest 262 yards of offence compared to Calgary’s 245. Indeed, it was a sleepy effort for both offences, with the only touchdown in the game coming from Bombers defensive back Demerio Houston, who returned his league-leading seventh interception 40 yards to score on the final play of the third quarter.

“I shouldn’t say it’s (all) ugly. Our field-goal kicking team – that’s not ugly, that’s a good effort – and our defence played really well,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “A division opponent who we think very highly of; they’ve been the class of the league for a long time and they still have that aura about them. You’ve got to come play, you can’t just show up here.”

The Bombers defence stood tall all night, limiting Calgary to six Rene Parades field goals. Parades also missed two, including one late in the game with the wind at his back. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 11 of his 24 passes for 190 yards and the critical pick-6.

Brown looked to find his groove on Winnipeg’s first series, marching the ball down to Calgary’s 10-yard line. But after a failed pass attempt to Kenny Lawler in the back of the end zone, the Bombers settled for a 17-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

The Stampeders would steal momentum the rest of the opening quarter, taking a 6-3 edge through 15 minutes on a pair of field goals from Parades. Parades connected from 44 and 43 yards, respectively, with the second field goal aided by a Shaq Richardson blocked punt.

It was a quiet second quarter, with the only points coming from a 24-yard field goal by Castillo, who was a perfect four-for-four, early into the frame. The two sides combined for a modest 268 offensive yards, with Bombers running back Brady Oliveira the star through two quarters, racking up 73 rushing yards on 10 carries, though he had just seven more in the second half for 80 on the night.

“You look back at that first half and how good they were, but the offensive line played fantastic all night,” said Oliveira. “They were moving guys all game and I think we got to lean on us, this unit and just go to work – they couldn’t stop us. If that happens, that game’s not at close.”

The Bombers were fortunate not to be trailing at the break.

The Stampeders were unable to execute on a couple of critical plays, including receiver Tommylee Lewis dropping a deep pass down the right sidelines that would have put them in field-goal range, as well as defensive back Tre Roberson unable to reel in what should have been an interception following an off-the-mark pass from Brown. Parades also plunked a 45-yard field goal attempt off the right upright.

Brown finished the first half 9-for-14 passing for 71 yards. He looked comfortable on both scoring drives but was off on a few throws in other series, the most notable being an underthrown pass to Lawler in the second quarter that seemed destined to reach paydirt.

“It’s awesome to get a win, but this was a frustrating game, just not being able to sustain drives very frequently,” Brown said. “I’m not making my decision of how it went off my emotion right now. We’ll watch the tape when we get home, but you’ve got to feel good coming on the road and getting an ugly win.”

The Bombers went from sleepy to sloppy to start the second half.

After opening the third quarter with a quick two-and-out, Winnipeg’s second series of the half generated negative yardage and was riddled with penalties. The drive started with backup QB Dakota Prukop fumbling the snap for a five-yard loss, followed by a time clock violation that moved the ball back 10 more yards.

Winnipeg would be forced to punt and Calgary responded with a solid return from Lewis, who scampered 45 yards to the Bombers’ 37-yard line. The Stampeders travelled just four yards from there — they challenged a dropped pass by Reggie Begelton but the play stood – and once again called on Parades, who put the home side up 9-6 with a 40-yard field goal.

The Bombers’ offence continued to struggle to stay on the field, giving the ball back to the Stampeders after another three-play drive. The ensuing series would be a bit of a wild one, only to end with another field goal from Parades, who knocked through an 18-yard field goal to put Calgary up 12-6.

It was a disappointing end for a drive that began on Calgary’s 12 and a few nice plays, including a 23-yard pass to Markeith Ambles followed by a 45-yard completion to Marken Michel. Bombers DB Evan Holm was also called for unnecessary roughness after his shoulder pad grazed the head of Begelton.

But as impressive as those moments were, what highlighted and untimely stalled the drive was a dropped pass from receiver Luther Hakunavanhu. Hakunavanhu dropped a pass near the Bombers’ five-yard line that would have been a sure touchdown.

“They made a few plays, but we were stingy and not allowing them to drive the whole field and against Calgary, that’s what you’ve got to do, you’ve got to keep them out of the end zone and protect against those explosion plays,” Bombers middle linebacker Adam Bighill said. “We made them try to earn in all game long and tonight was a good result for us.”

Adding insult to injury, the Bombers finally woke from their slumber immediately after, scoring a quick 10 points to take a 16-12 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Brown led another quality drive but once again couldn’t find the end zone, settling for a 26-yard field goal from Castillo. One play later, with the Stampeders starting a drive from their own 40, Houston stepped in front of a Jake Maier pass and sprinted to the end zone for the pick-6.

“I just saw the back flare out and it’s just film study, knowing if it’s a flat, then it’s always a curl coming behind and I just trusted my instincts and jumped it and made a good play,” said Houston, who was holding the prized ball during his media scrum. “Just redeeming myself because I gave up a big play earlier in the game and I’m hard on myself, so I’m still upset that I gave up that big play (a 46-yard reception by Lewis). But I came up big when the team needed me to.”

The fourth quarter continued the trend of kicking field goals. Parades added two more — from 33 and 36 yards — sandwiched between a 42-yarder from Castillo. That set up a 19-18 Winnipeg lead with fewer than three minutes remaining.

The Stampeders put themselves in a good position to take the lead on another field goal from Parades, but his attempt from 50 yards with 1:45 left on the clock fell short. The Bombers took over from there and milked what was left of the game – a drive that included gambling on third-and-one from their own 17 with a minute remaining.

“That one’s easy. We’ve talked about that for six-plus years, making sure that our guys know that we’re going to call them out,” O’Shea said about the decision to gamble on third down. “This was the right time. You get that, you take knees (to win); you don’t get that…if you were to punt there, you’re punting them into field-goal range, anyway.”

The Bombers return home and will begin preparations for a Week 12 matchup against the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday night. It will be the second and final game between the two clubs.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton