Bowman’s bust-out game lifts him to another level

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/10/2009 (5838 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON — MANY cultures have ceremonies to celebrate a boy’s graduation to manhood, and in that tradition, Blue Bombers wide receiver Adarius Bowman had the football equivalant of a bar mitzvah on Monday afternoon.

Bowman’s coming of age was bold and and big-time as the 6-4, 224-pound second-year pro mixed his many physical gifts with some well earned seasoning to explode for 10 catches, two touchdowns and 213 receiving yards.

“We’re gonna have to do this fast. I really don’t feel like talking,” smiled Bowman as reporters swarmed to his locker after the game.

“That’s a great afternoon. The biggest thing about that game is we got the win. That makes my performance feel a lot better. What can I say, all our receivers, our running backs, our whole offence, guys are stepping up and making plays. That’s the difference in our team right now. As a whole we played great.”

Bowman reeled in a 52-yard reception on Winnipeg’s first play from scrimmage and then a 43-yard TD bomb on the third. The 25-year-old native of Chattanooga, Tenn., was far from done, however and kept producing all day.

“I’ve been ready and I think I took advantage of the plays that came my way,” said Bowman. “I’m Adarius Bowman and I’m trying to make a name for myself, but I’m doing it with this team and these guys that I love and it’s great. We’ve got four to go, we’re on a roll and I think we might make something special happen.”

The 200-yard-plus outing was the first of its kind since Derick Armstrong was good for 205 yards against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in September of the 2007 season.

“I turned to coach Kelly in the second half and told him he better stop throwing the ball to Bowman or he’d be gone to the NFL before the game was over,” said Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown.

Bowman has 47 catches for 679 yards and six touchdowns on the season.

“We made that trade for him and I’ve been saying all along that this kid has everything you want in a player,” said Kelly. “Look at his timeline and how he’s grown this year. The confidence that he’s built. I don’t know where his ceiling is right now. He’s a good football player right now that has some growing to do, but there’s lots of upside with this kid.”

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca