Game balls

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/09/2011 (5374 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Offence

You have to give the nod to Bombers quarterback Buck Pierce. Playing in pain and pressured by a Montreal defence that made no secret prior that they were going to be targeting Pierce and his sore ribs, the Bombers QB completed 20 of 29 passes for 312 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception.

Defence

Middle linebacker Marcellus Bowman — pressed into a new position this week after Joe Lobendahn went down with a season-ending knee injury in last week’s Banjo Bowl — had a huge game, registering six tackles and a sack and forcing a fumble.

Special Teams

Justin Palardy attempted just one field goal, but it was a 46-yarder to restore the Bombers’ lead at the end of the first half. It ultimately proved to be the margin of victory in a two-point win. Palardy has now made 13 of his last 14 attempts — and the last six in a row.

Fan-o-meter

A capacity crowd of 24,642 turned out at Percival Molson Stadium on a gorgeous fall afternoon to party and cheer on what they were expecting would be a Montreal Alouettes victory that would propel their team into first place in the East Division. And so you could literally hear the air leave the place at 12:44 of the first quarter when Bombers running back Fred Reid busted a 47-yard touchdown run to give Winnipeg a 14-0 lead.

Numbers Game

92 — Length in yards of Bombers slotback Cory Watson’s catch and run in the first quarter that set up Winnipeg’s first touchdown.

2 — Number of tackles Watson broke during his long scamper.

2 — Number of times Bombers offensive lineman Brendan LaBatte had his helmet ripped off by a Montreal pass rusher.

410 — Total yards of net offence for Winnipeg in the game

196 — Total yards of net offence for Winnipeg in the first quarter