Bombers win wild one in Toronto as missed convert kills Argos
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Publishing date:
Jul 04, 2022 • 12 minutes ago • 5 minute read • Join the conversation 
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Drew Wolitarsky celebrates his touchdown with teammates Geoff Gray (right) and Brendan O’Leary-Orange during the first half against the Toronto Argonauts on Monday at BMO Field. Photo by Mark Blinch /THE CANADIAN PRESS Article content
TORONTO — Everything seemed to be going according to plan for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, as they forced three turnovers and built up a 17-0 lead in the first half Monday night against the Toronto Argonauts.
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It certainly didn’t look that way by the end of the night at BMO Field, but unconventional wins still look the same in the standings.
The two-time defending champion Bombers won 23-22 in a weird and wild game to improve their record to 4-0 on the CFL season, but it was far from a runaway against a resilient Toronto team.
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On a night of bizarre plays and momentum swings, the Bombers came out on top eventually, as they have done all season.
“What the CFL is known for is the game is never over,” Bombers middle linebacker Adam Bighill said. “It was just one of those games. A lot of crazy things can happen in the CFL and it was exciting.”
It took a missed extra point by kicker Boris Bede with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter to seal the win for Winnipeg.
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“It just shows you have to play every play and every play is important,” Bighill said. “You can’t take anything for granted. We were fortunate for the miss at the end, obviously, but it was a dog-fight out there.”
Bede missed after the Argos seemingly tied the game on a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson to receiver Markeith Ambles.
It was an example of how the change in distance on extra points in pro football from 12 yards to 32 in 2015 can have a real impact on a game.
“It’s a good rule today,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said.
Buoyed by a strange touchdown early in the second half by receiver Brandon Banks, the Argos had all kinds of momentum and were the better team offensively, but they weren’t able to force overtime because of the missed 32-yard kick.
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Former Bombers running back Andrew Harris, who played against his old team for the first time since signing with the Argos in the off-season, had a strong game in his only appearance of the season against the Bombers, rushing for 111 yards and catching one passes for another 13 yards.
“It was fun,” Bighill said. “We know Andrew is a competitor. We had some good collisions tonight. Neither of us would have wanted it any other way, a physical, smash-mouth game where we’re both putting it all on the line.”
Harris did exactly the kinds of things he did in his six years in Winnipeg, initiating contact, shaking off tackles and grinding out big yards.
Winnipeg’s running game — and offence in general — looked anemic on this night and you can’t help wonder how much better the Bombers would be had they kept the veteran Harris in the field.
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The Bombers had only 60 rushing yards on the night.
Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros threw for 215 yards on 25 completions, with a touchdown pass to Drew Wolitarsky and an interception.
Bethel-Thompson threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. Bombers cornerback Winston Rose scored on a 46-yard pick-six in the first quarter and a Nick Taylor interception a few minutes later set up the Wolitarsky touchdown.
The most impressive turnover of the night came in the third quarter, when Bethel-Thompson had the Argos inside the Winnipeg five. His pass was completed to Banks, but Rose forced a fumble and Bighill flew threw the air to guide the ball into the hands of safety Malcolm Thompson, who lateralled to Taylor for a 41-yard return that led to a Marc Liegghio field goal.
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“That’s just as good as scoring a touchdown,” O’Shea said. “They were right there on the doorstep and that’s an unbelievable play by Bighill. I haven’t seen really much like that.
“I’m pretty sure he dove, caught it, pitched it immediately before he hit the ground.”
It was a night of injuries for the Bombers, as offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick, receiver Greg Ellingson and linebacker Kyrie Wilson all had to be helped off the field.
Though Hardrick and Ellingson both returned after receiving treatment, Wilson’s injury looked more severe and he did not return to the game. He was replaced by American Malik Clements at weak-side linebacker.
The first half was all Bombers as they forced three turnovers and turned two of them into major scores.
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Rose got things started just 3:48 into the first quarter with his touchdown, Wolitarsky made it 14-0 not long after and Liegghio added a 15-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
A fourth turnover by the Winnipeg defence came when it stopped the Argos on downs at the Bombers’ 24 yard-line.
“When your defence creates that many turnovers and scores a touchdown, the game shouldn’t be as close as it was,” Collaros said. “We have to do better on offence.
“For us, offensively, it’s the same story this week. We have to stay on the football field. We have to convert second downs.”
Bede kicked a 52-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half to get the Argos on the board and they built off that by putting together a touchdown drive on their first possession of the second half.
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It was a bizarre way for a player to get into the end zone for a TD. A pass from Bethel-Thompson looked like it was intercepted by Bombers’ DB Demerio Houston at the goal-line. However, the officials and the command centre ruled that he did not have possession of the ball when he hit the ground and the ball wound up in the hands of Banks in the end zone.
“They looked at that and they said the ball was still loose,” O’Shea said.
Liegghio went 3-for-3 on field goals and kicked two converts, an important night of work in such a close game. Bede also went 3-for-3, hitting from much longer distances, but had the crucial miss at the end.
The Bombers drove down field for a 32-yard field goal with 1:38 left in the fourth quarter to lead 23-16.
Bethel-Thompson led a 53-yard drive for what should have been the tying score, starting with just 1:38 left in the fourth, but the missed convert sealed the fate of the Argos, who are now 1-2 but still tied for first place in the East Division.
“It’s the CFL,” Collaros said. “Crazy things happen.”
The Bombers travel to Vancouver this week for a meeting with the 3-0 B.C. Lions on Saturday.
Twyman@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/Ted_Wyman
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