Big plays go Argonauts way

In theory, Bryce Perkins has a simple job.

When it’s third and short, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers trot out the short-yardage quarterback, and all he has to do is plunge forward for a yard or two to make everyone on his sideline happy.

But on Friday night against the visiting Toronto Argonauts, he went above and beyond his job description.

The Bombers, down 24-21 with six minutes left, faced a third-and-one from their own end when Perkins found a hole and burst through it for a 76-yard touchdown to put the home team in front 28-24 late.

It could’ve, and likely should’ve, been the game-winning play, but the Blue and Gold crumbled in the final five minutes to allow the Argos to steal a 30-28 win in front of a sold-out crowd.

“I think you could imagine everyone’s pretty upset,” said Bombers quarterback Dru Brown postgame.

“We just didn’t come out in the second half and execute well, in moments that we needed to stay on the field.”

Toronto responded to the touchdown scamper with a field goal, giving the Bombers possession with two and a half minutes left and a 28-27 lead.

Instead of closing out the game, Brown was sacked for an eight-yard loss which opened the door back up for the visitors.

Argos returner Janarion Grant pulled off some trickery on the ensuing punt return by throwing a lateral across the field to set up a 32-yard gain.

“It’s not as easy as you’d think, to execute at a high level, in that very moment,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“But I would know that our guys would be disappointed in that play, for sure.”

Four plays later, Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu booted a 36-yard field goal with 27 seconds left. That gave the Bombers enough time to potentially make something happen, but Brown threw an interception to defensive back James Ceasar.

The loss dropped the Bombers to 7-7. The Argos, who lost 30-21 in Winnipeg in Week 6, improved to 9-6.

“We let it slip from us,” said Bombers halfback Evan Holm.

“I don’t want to get too down, because there is a lot of positives. But we’ve got to stick together. Be prepared to answer tough questions and take accountability. That’s really it. We’re close. But close doesn’t win games.”

Brown, filling in for starter Zach Collaros who is on the six-game injured list with a head injury, completed 16 of 28 attempts for 193 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Bombers running back Brady Oliveira had 14 carries for 102 yards in the first half alone and finished the night with 18 for 139. Rookie receiver Dorian Singer exploded for six catches for 113 yards in the opening two quarters before being shutout in the second half.

The Bombers led 21-7 in the second frame even though they got off on the wrong foot with kicker Sergio Castillo showing that he is human after all.

The Bombers kicker had connected on 26 straight field goals before misfiring on a 45-yard attempt early in Friday’s contest.

Grant, who established himself as a star with the Bombers from 2019 to 2023, made Castillo pay for the mistake by returning it 128 yards — tied for the fourth longest in league history — to the house to open the scoring.

Grant now has 16 career return touchdowns which is second to Henry (Gizmo) Williams (31).

Castillo also came up short on a 54-yard attempt into the wind with just over two minutes remaining in the first half.

“For him to keep doing it at this age, at 32, he’s an amazing guy back there,” said Castillo.

“At the end of the day, it should have just gone in. But onto the next one, you know?”

His first miss was quickly forgotten, however, thanks to a hot start by Brown. The 29-year-old led the Bombers to back-to-back touchdown drives to put the home side ahead 14-7 at the end of the first.

Brown and the offence would extend the lead to 21-7 five minutes into the third thanks to a 17-yard touchdown catch by Singer.

Singer was biding his time on the practice roster for majority of the season and was playing in his third game on Friday.

Bombers halfback Deatrick Nichols also got in on the action by intercepting a bobbled Chad Kelly pass in the second quarter.

It was the first interception for Nichols since Week 18 of the 2024 season, but Kelly would get his revenge in the third.

Backed up in their own end and staring at second and 12, Kelly bounced around the pocket before launching a perfect toss to receiver Damonte Coxie for an 84-yard touchdown catch and run with Nichols in coverage to tie the score at 21-21.

Kelly also hit receiver Tyler Kahmann for a 56-yard touchdown strike in the second.

The momentum continued to shift in Toronto’s favour with Brown forcing an interception on Winnipeg’s next drive.

Kelly was also far from perfect. He threw a pick of his own soon after in the red zone after a hit by rookie defensive tackle Michael Fletcher caused an errant throw that landed in the lap of halfback Evan Holm.

The Argos marched back down into the red zone early in the fourth before settling for a 32-yard field goal to go up 24-21 — only for the Bombers to be penalized 10 yards for too many men on the field.

Despite the massive blunder, the defence stood tall, with corner Major Williams coming up clutch with a pass knockdown on second and seven to once again force the Argos to attempt a kick to take a 24-21 lead.

The Argos had minus-one yard rushing last week in a 24-19 victory over the Edmonton Elks. Against the Bombers, they managed 62 yards on the ground.

Kelly completed 22 of 31 passes for 290 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Coxie was his go-to target with seven catches for 149 yards.

Kelly was sacked once, while the Bombers allowed Brown to get taken down in the backfield four times.

The West Division standings weren’t up to date by press deadline as the Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-5) and B.C. Lions (7-6) game in Vancouver was still ongoing.

Bombers defensive tackle Jake Ceresna hobbled off the field with a minute left in the first half after a missed Argos field goal and did not return.

The Bombers head to Montreal to take on the mighty Alouettes (11-3) next Saturday.

“We’ve got to look at ourselves and see how we can get better, man,” said Oliveira.

“Again, we still have an opportunity in front of us but we’re losing time.”

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