It came down to one game for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers this season, win and you’re in, or lose and you’re done. Unfortunately the Bombers weren’t able to do it on Sunday as they were defeated by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 32-17 at Canad Inns Stadium.

The emotion was evident right off the start as Kevin Glenn, looking visibly fired up, came out and engineered a drive all the way down to the Winnipeg red zone. From ther 16-yard line Glenn kept the ball and went untouched into the end zone to make the score 7-0 Hamilton.

The Bombers didn’t take long to answer back though as Michael Bishop showed off some of his quick strike ability, hooking up with his new favourite toy, Titus Ryan. On the third play of the drive, Bishop hit Ryan on a slant and after breaking three tackles, Ryan took the ball 67-yards for the score to tie the game at 7-7.

After both offences started to slow down, the Bomber defense decided to make a play. On a 2nd and 13 for Hamilton, Kevin Glenn scrambled and let a pass go towards the sideline. Bomber halfback Lenny Walls jumped in front of the pass, picked it off and went 58-yards for the touchdown. The score made it 14-7 Bombers with one minute to go in the first quarter.

Kevin Glenn and the Hamilton offence answered right back though with a touchdown drive to start the second quarter. Glenn hit Marquay McDaniel on a 41-yard pass and then Arland Bruce III on a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.

The offence that looked so good at the start of the game for both teams tapered off in the second quarter as neither team could engineer a drive past mid field. The Bombers however, were able to capitalize with two singles to make the score 16-14 with 2-minutes to go in the half.

Hamilton, though, was able to put together a bit of a drive after forcing a Bomber two-and-out. Kevin Glenn passed his way down inside the Bomber 20-yard line and while they didn’t get the touchdown, Hamilton converted on a field goal to make the score 17-16 going into halftime.

The second half started out in much the same way as the first half had ended as both teams defence’s continued to play tough.

Halfway through the third quarter Kevin Glenn and the Hamilton offence started to move the ball. Glenn utilized mostly the passing game and took the Ti-Cats down to the Winnipeg 26-yard line, but was unable to punch it in for the toughdown. Jeremy Ito was able to come out and make his second field goal of the game to make the score 20-16 Hamilton with 3:35 to go in the third quarter.

With 42 seconds to go in the third quarter Michael Bishop completed his first pass of the second half. It didn’t amount to any momentum though as the Bombers were forced to punt just a few plays later.

The Bomber defence, however, continued to play well through the second half. On a 1st and 15 for Hamilton, defensive tackle Doug Brown got into the backfield to drag down Kevin Glenn for the sack, leading to a Hamilton punt two plays later.

It wouldn’t matter though as the Bomber offence was again unable to move the ball and opted to give up a safety with 9:40 to go in the game making the score 22-16 Hamilton.

Just when Hamilton looked to be driving down for what would have been a decisive score, the Bomber defence stepped up to make another big play. Near the Bomber 40-yard line Kevin Glenn stepped up and sent a pass towards the sideline, But Lenny Walls was there for his second interception of the day to set the Bombers up at the Winnipeg 32-yard line.

Michael Bishop would only take one play to return the favour though as his first down pass was intercepted by Markeith Knowlton and returned for a touchdown to put Hamilton up 29-16 with 6:32 to go in the game.

After adding a field goal, the Hamilton defense made another play as Jykine Bradley picked off a Michael Bishop pass and took it for a touchdown to make the score 39-17

The score would be all the Tiger-Cats would need as they were able to cruise from there to a 32-17 win and second place in the East. The Bombers finished with a record of 7-11 on the season and came up just one game short of a playoff stop. Hamilton will now go on to face the B.C. Lions at home next week in the East Semi Final.