BOMBERS 24 ALOUETTES 16
WINNIPEG (CP) – Drew Willy likes to shine in the fourth quarter.
And for the fourth time this season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback guided his team to a late-game victory, the latest a 24-16 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Friday.
Nic Grigsby ran 26 yards for a touchdown with just over two minutes left to lift Winnipeg’s record to 6-3, while Montreal (1-7) has now lost six straight games.
“I definitely enjoy playing in the fourth quarters,” Willy said. “I just try to stay calm, cool and collected.
“I wish we would have played better in the first half.”
Willy completed 14-of-23 pass attempts for 200 yards, no TDs and one interception as Winnipeg ended a two-game losing streak.
The teams didn’t give the 29,881 fans at Investors Group Field much to cheer about in the first half, with Montreal taking a 6-1 lead into the break. But the second half was a see-saw battle with several lead changes.
Alex Brink started at quarterback for Montreal, but Crompton replaced him in the second quarter.
Alouettes head coach Tom Higgins told reporters the day before the game that all three of his QBs would get some playing time. Tanner Marsh went in the game in his usual short-yardage situation.
“It’s tough tonight,” said Crompton, who was 18-of-29 for 266 yards, with no TDs and three interceptions. “No one in this locker-room really wants to lose this game. We didn’t think we were going to lose this game.
“That’s the good thing about this team, we always feel we can win every week. We’ve just got to come back and correct it and go from there.”
Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said there was no doubt on the sidelines that the team could come out ahead on the lead changes.
“They came out and they decided they wanted to get after it in the second half,” O’Shea said of his players. “Special teams sparked it, they got it going.”
The Bombers will be tested in their next two games, back-to-back tilts against Saskatchewan in the Labour Day Classic and at home the next week in the Banjo Bowl. Montreal hosts Ottawa and then Hamilton in the East Division’s tight race.
Wow! Higgins looks lost. How long will he last after last night and last week's questionable decision?Also, the Bombers' jerseys look like they were walking along Portage and Main and a bunch of pigeons flew over them and………..
How long can Tom Higgins keep his job?
Coming soon – Jim Popp back on the sidelines.
Special teams and Defence won Winnipeg game. I wonder if Winnipeg fans are complaining that it was an "ugly" win ?
When a ball is in the air at least one ref must be following the trail of it thus able to spot pass interference quite easily. A blatant pass interference should never go unnoticed. Calling it is the right thing to do. Then if the team on defense wants to challenge they could and a review would confirm or change the call. It shouldn't be the coaches job to spot pass interference and use their challenges to confirm it, that is the job of the refs.
How does Higgins even get a coaching job. The man is hopeless.
The mess in Montreal has everything to do with their quarterback situation, and their mess at OC.
No coach is going to step into that situation and fix it over night. Firing Higgens will only make a bad situation worse.
Besides, Montreal already has two former coaches on the current payroll. They can't afford to fire another big salary, just 9 games into the season.
Looks like Higgins coaching to get fired… get paid for the next 2 1/2 seasons and ride off into the sunset. Has anyone noticed the way the Panel (former players) and Suitor continually question Higgin's ability and his decisions ??? They certainly have no use for the man, and don't hide their feelings very well.
Well, the Montreal owner made his bed by picking the coach and now he has to sleep in it.
That must have been a big flock of pigeons that flew over the Bombers.
Hashtag#uglyuniforms
To; Hashtag#uglyuniforms
I heard that the Blue and Gold were gathered for a team picture wearing their Blue minus Gold unis when the pigeons flew over.
Glad Winnipeg has the ugliest unis so far. BC s are also quite the eyesore. Any chance that this remarketing is going to backfire and drive sales down?
Tom Higgins was in charge of reffing ? The on field calls no calls over the past few years made as much sense as his game management.
Does the word irony describe throwing the pi challenge one play too late?
Higgins thought the challenge flag was a crying towel and he was keeping it for later!
Idiot!
The TSN crew is sure not very 'Higgins friendly.' He's in way over his head.
2 games and 2 major mistakes by Higgins. If Popp is not back on the sidelines by Labour Day, then something is truly wrong in that organization.
Imagirl
Tom Higgins as the EE coach had 2 years at 13-5, 1 @ 11-7, 1 @ 10-8 and 2 @ 9-9. Never under .500 The man can coach.If his spotter dosent tell him to challenge the call, he dosent. He dosent have the same view you did sitting on your ass watching the TV.The better question is why the hell did Dinwiddie not run the ball more. That is the Bombers weakness!Tom Higgins was given a depleated team with no QB. I dont care if your Scott Millanovich or Corey Chamblin or Jon Huffnagel. You are not going to win… Read more »
The Riders now have the 2nd ugliest alternate next to the Bombers ugliest uni.
Always challenge for a PI call after a key interception. Never know … worth a shot especially given its a judgement thing.