Not only did they snap their two game losing streak, they did it in style. Swaggerville went mobile tonight and Buck Pierce led the offence to a 33-17 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. With the win, the Bombers move to 9-5 and hold on to their first-placed rank.
Clarence Denmark was a huge contributor to the victory. The rookie put up 110 yards on six catches, making huge gains all throughout the game. Running back Chris Garrett also added big numbers, making a name for himself and showing what a solid option he’s become in Fred Reid’s absence. He finished the game with 131 yards on 18 carries. Rounding out the over-100 yards club was Greg Carr, who also scored a touchdown and made a clutch sideline catch under pressure to maintain a Winnipeg drive.
It was an excellent first half for Winnipeg, shutting down Hamilton on defence and showing the most consistent offence we’ve seen in a while. Justin Palardy opened the scoring with his longest field goal of the season, a 49-yarder to give Winnipeg the lead. Winnipeg’s defensive effort was highlighted early by a slamming sack by Clint Kent that forced Hamilton to punt. Nearing the end of the quarter, Pierce converted on second down by running it up the middle himself, and a Hamilton penalty kept Winnipeg’s drive going into the second quarter.
The flags kept flying in the next quarter, with a high hit on Pierce and illegal contact on a receiver putting Winnipeg on the one yard line. Alex Brink was brought in for the push, and travelled the yard for the major score. After Palardy added the convert, Winnipeg was up by 10 points.
More consistency on offence brought Winnipeg just close enough for two singles, and although Odell Willis wrapped up Kevin Glenn with help from Kenny Mainor for a sack, the Ticats were able to hit a field goal to get on the board as the half ended.
It’s been a while since the Bombers had one of their famous breakout third quarters, but tonight just felt like the old Winnipeg of midsummer glory. In the third, Greg Carr scored his touchdown after grabbing a short pass and outrunning everyone 59-yards for the score. Then, late in the quarter, Brandon Stewart leapt up to receive Glenn`s overthrow, zigzagged 83 yards, and put the Bombers up 26-3 for their largest lead of the game. The interception resulted in Hamilton switching out Glenn for Quinton Porter, who was able to give Hamilton their first momentum of the game to end the third quarter.
Porter completed his drive in the fourth; making his first touchdown pass of the season by finding Chris Williams open for a bomb in the end zone. The Bombers were able to answer back however, on a drive pushed forward by big catches from Denmark and Carr. On the scoring play, Pierce pump faked, kept the ball, and ran his favourite lane: right up the middle, hurdling over Jamall Johnson for another score and an effective removal of any hopes for a Hamilton comeback.
Late in the game, Winnipeg took their turn in pushing the opposition forward with penalties. Unnecessary roughness put Hamilton on the one yard line, and although the Bombers stopped them cold on two tries, Porter jumped high enough to clear the pile and land in the end zone to make the game 33-17.
Winnipeg ran out the clock with several runs by Garrett, who showed that he has plenty left in the tank for next game, which happens next Saturday in Edmonton.
