Willie Jefferson, August 15, 2019, IG Field
5 Quick Takes on the Bombers’ 32-16 win over B.C. Thursday night at IG Field:
1. The Bombers continue to take important steps in the summer toward securing a home playoff game in November. Winnipeg cranked out a 32-16 victory over the B.C. Lions in front of 24,914 fans on another perfect night on the University of Manitoba campus. In the process, the Bombers not only improved to 7-2 at the halfway mark of the 2019 Canadian Football League season, but ran their home win streak to eight games dating back to last year.
That’s the longest home win streak in these parts since the Bombers racked up 10 straight at old Winnipeg Stadium in 1993-94. The club record for consecutive home wins, FYI, is 16 and was set between October of 1983 and October of 1985. The Lions, meanwhile, fell to 1-8 with their fifth-straight loss.
2. The result did come with a significant and developing subplot, however, as Bombers QB Matt Nichols did not finish the game after taking a shot from Lions defensive end Shawn Lemon in the fourth quarter. Nichols left moving his right arm gingerly after being slammed to the turf and was replaced by Chris Streveler.
Nichols was 10-of-12 for 179 yards and a TD strike to Nic Demski, while also scoring once on a QB sneak before exiting. He also had one pass intercepted after it glanced off the hands of Drew Wolitarsky.
B.C.’s Mike Reilly, meanwhile, finished 16-of-28 for 177 yards with one interception, but was sacked seven times – twice by Jake Thomas, with the others coming from Willie Jefferson, Thiadric Hansen, Adam Bighill, Jeff Hecht and Craig Roh.
3. The game had a historic element to it, as Andrew Harris became the CFL’s all-time leader for a Canadian player in yards from scrimmage (rushing and receiving), moving past Ben Cahoon into first place with 13,377 yards. Harris also moved past Dave Thelen into 10th place on the CFL’s all-time rushing list and now has 8,477 yards along the ground Just FYI – all nine players ahead of Harris on that list are in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
4. Winnipeg got some solid work again from their special teams. Marcus Sayles scored a punt block TD, while Justin Medlock connected on field goals from 25, 37 and 53 yards while clanging one off the upright from 45 out.
5. Thursday’s game was the second leg of a five-game run against West Division rivals. The Bombers edged Calgary last week, took care of business against the Lions tonight, and will now head out on the road for two games away from IG Field with visits to Edmonton and then Regina for the Labour Day Classic before returning home for the Banjo Bowl. The club will then enjoy the second of its three bye weeks this season.
