Bombers’ Bailey finds his groove

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This article was published 10/09/2022 (1101 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Rasheed Bailey had barely settled on the podium following the Bombers’ 54-20 rout over the rival Saskatchewan Roughriders before expressing himself: “finally.”

A short but sweet summation of how the third-year receiver felt coming off his long-awaited and best performance of the season.

“Spiritually, it’s been a battle,” he said. “Everything just came together tonight, finally. I’ve been doing some great things, blocking, being a leader, doing all the right things. And tonight it finally happened. That’s the story.”

“I always tell people when they’re going through things, it’s up and down. It’s a wave. Sometimes a battle is meant just only for you. And what I’ve been going through is just for me. It’s in order for me to tell a story, talk about the all the perseverance. It took me 13 weeks to come up here. I’ve been thinking about this moment for a while.”

Bailey had more than one moment in the 18th edition of the Banjo Bowl. The Philadelphia native put on a show in front of a raucous sold-out crowd at IG Field on Saturday, making five catches for 83 yards (16.6 average) and a touchdown, matching his season-high in grabs and setting a season-best in yards.

Bailey had been something of an afterthought to this point in the season, with newcomer Greg Ellingson leading the team in all receiving categories, rookie Dalton Schoen, who scored a late touchdown in the Banjo Bowl, being a front-runner for the rookie of the year award and Nic Demski heating up.

Of course, Bailey has helped in other ways on offence, but the 2022 campaign has been a quiet one on the stat sheet. What many had assumed would be a breakout season for him following the departure of Kenny Lawler in free agency, has actually been a slog on the surface. He entered Week 13 with 40 catches for 431 yards and four majors.

“There’s been days when I come out and only get one catch, two catches, whatever. Doing what’s best for the team. And guys see that. Guys know that. And guys feed off that. So when good things happen to me… it’s a big deal. Because they’ve seen the hard work that I’ve been putting in in practice, in the film room, in the meeting room, just being a leader,” he said.

“It just felt good for it finally go, and you get all the love and respect from your teammates – that’s what it’s all about.”

Bailey had just two catches for 21 yards in the Labour Day Classic a week ago. He surpassed that on his biggest catch of the game, which may have also been the highlight of the night.

With less than one minute remaining in the first half, the Bombers sat at the Riders’ 34-yard line and were threatening to take a commanding 17-point lead into the break.

Bailey screamed across the field on a shallow crossing route before quarterback Zach Collaros zipped the short pass to him. With some grass in front of the crafty receiver, Bailey wisely followed his blockers while navigating to the short side of the field. He turned the corner before making a heroic sprawl from the five-yard, reaching for the pylon while being tackled.

His efforts were eventually ruled a touchdown, drawing an eruption from the Winnipeg faithful, and Bailey in the end zone.

“His touchdown was amazing,” said Demski. “It took effort to get across the line like that. I’m pretty sure he just nicked the pylon but if you ask Rasheed, he’s going to be the first one to tell you that everyone was doing a good job blocking down the field and that’s kind of what I mean, we play together as an offence.”

“I don’t want to take anything away from ‘Sheed, but his effort, his YAC to get in the end zone, it’s impressive. I like to be the YAC king on this team, but ‘Sheed might have taken the crown from me today. I thought ‘Sheed did a great job today and I know he’s been waiting for a touchdown like that for a while.”

Bailey agreed that the weight of the prairie rivalry brought out a little more emotion from him this time around. It was a perfect storm that had brewed and he was ready to make some noise.

“You look at tonight, and you saw it unfold and you saw what probably could have been happening since Week 1. But that’s just the journey. It’s Week 13 and I’m finally standing up here. Shoot, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

INJURY REPORT:

Receiver Drew Wolitarsky suffered a lower-body injury early in the second quarter when the Bombers punched in their second touchdown of the game. The trusty veteran was immediately helped to the locker room and did not return to the game. The Bombers did not provide an update on his status.

Halfback Nick Taylor suffered a lower-body injury midway through the second frame after being rolled up on by a Riders’ receiver. The seventh-year pro exited the game and did not return. The Bombers did not provide an update on his status.

jfreysam@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jfreysam