Written by: Andrew Parker
The time has come: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers play in BC tomorrow for the Grey Cup. With a wild season of sellouts, the outbreak of Swaggerville, and an outstanding, award-winning defensive record, the Bombers have wiped out distant memories of last year and risen to the top of the CFL. They will be facing the West’s hot-streaking BC Lions, who have won 12 of their last 14 games.
It should be noted that Winnipeg won both games against BC early in the season, but that was before the Lions hit their stride and turned their season around. It’s a different team now, but Winnipeg has done great things this year and isn’t going to let the Lions stop them without a fight.
“We’re in the Grey Cup. We’ve accomplished everything we’ve set out to do this year and now we have one final step to take. It’s special to be playing here, against my former team and to have the chance to raise the Cup for everyone back home in Winnipeg is a special opportunity that we don’t want to pass up,” said quarterback Buck Pierce.
Pierce, who began his CFL career with five seasons in BC, will be facing off against the league’s Most Outstanding Player, BC quarterback Travis Lulay. Lulay’s teammate Paul McCallum was named the top special teams player. Defending one and returning kicks from the other will be Winnipeg’s Jovon Johnson, who was awarded the Outstanding Defensive Player award. Johnson steered the league-leading Winnipeg defense all season, and plans on finishing this effort by continuing to be a huge defensive component.
“It was very special and meaningful to take home the award last night but it was a true testament to the rest of my teammates on defense. Any one of them could’ve been standing up there accepting it so I’m humbled to be representing them. All that aside, there’s still one trophy that we want to raise as a team which would mean more than any individual award and that’s what we’re working towards on Sunday,” said Johnson.
This game will cap off a season of incredible play for the Bombers, but for BC native and defensive tackle Doug Brown, it caps off an entire career of incredible play in Winnipeg.
“It’s a very special opportunity to be able to finish my career by winning a Grey Cup. My very first year in this league, we went to the Grey Cup and lost and now my last year we have the chance to right all those wrongs and go out on top,” said Brown.
Brown and the rest of the Winnipeg defense will play a huge factor in the outcome of this game. With Lulay the rising star, the Lions have proven a strong and consistent ability on offence. Fortunately, the league’s best defense has shown that Winnipeg can force turnovers, put the pressure on, and even sack Lulay in past games. The Bombers have the keys to victory, and it’s within their grasp as a year of work comes to a head tomorrow.
“We’re here, we’re in Vancouver and we’re representing the East in the Grey Cup. All of that is great but it won’t be worth it unless we take care of business on Sunday. We have every belief in these guys and have had a very good week of practice. This is why we play the game, to get this chance. Now we have to capitalize,” said Head Coach Paul LaPolice.
The 99th Grey Cup Finals kick off tomorrow at 5 PM, Winnipeg time.
