Game balls

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/07/2013 (4443 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ñº OFFENCE

Bombers tailback Chad Simpson had a breakout game. After rushing for just 90 yards in his team’s first two games of 2013, Simpson busted off 116 yards and two TDs on Saturday night, including a 75-yard romp in the second quarter that was the longest of his Bombers career.

ñº DEFENCE

Bombers middle linebacker Henoc Muamba had seven defensive tackles, a special teams tackle and a quarterback sack. But this night belonged to defensive end Alex Hall, who had a hat trick of sacks all on his own and added three defensive tackles.

ñº SPECIAL TEAMS

Dan West had a pair of special-teams tackles and the Bombers did a good job of containing explosive Hamilton returner Lindsey Lamar. But this night was otherwise an abomination for Bombers special teams — see missed convert; botched fake punt; goal post clang; two kickoffs out of bounds etc.

FAN-O-METER:

A crowd of 13,085 — just shy of a sellout at tiny Alumni Stadium — got into the game very early as Hamilton QB Henry Burris led his team on a four-play, 73-yard opening drive that was punctuated by a 61-yard TD catch by receiver Sam Giguere just two minutes into the game.

CRITICAL

NUMBERS

391

Net offence in yards by Hamilton

261

Net offence in yards by Winnipeg

362

Yards passing by Hamilton QB Henry Burris

186

Yards passing by Winnipeg QB Buck Pierce

10

Number of turnovers by Winnipeg through the first two weeks

1

Number of turnovers by Winnipeg Saturday night

2

The last time the Blue Bombers won two straight games was August, 2011.

EXTRAPOINT

A compelling question coming into Saturday night was whether Winnipeg’s stifling defensive performance against Montreal last week was strictly the work of a dominating Bombers defence or whether a struggling Montreal offence helped Winnipeg look good.

So, what about it? What does it say about a Bombers defence that they followed up that masterpiece against Montreal with a game that saw them sack Hamilton QB Henry Burris seven times, yet give up 391 yards of net offence and lose the game 25-20?

“Yeah, we did some good things at times but we wore out late in the game,” said defensive co-ordinator Casey Creehan. “We did some really good things. There were times in that game when they weren’t doing much on us. But you know, the more the possessions go on a hot night like this, covering kicks and chasing Henry (Burris) around, we just wore down.”

— Wiecek