SATURDAY SPORTS PAGE: BOMBER COMEBACK
VANCOUVER – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers stormed back to beat the B.C. Lions 34-26 in overtime on Friday, despite trailing for nearly the entire game.
Zach Collaros went 31 of 41, throwing 389 yards and two touchdowns for Winnipeg (12-4) in the close win.
Running back Brady Oliveira punched in the winning touchdown for the Blue Bombers in overtime, with receiver Kenny Lawler adding the two-point conversion.
Winnipeg pulled it within three with just over two minutes left in the game, followed by the Lions turning over the ball on downs less than a minute later to set the Bombers up for a 37-yard drive from their own 53-yard line to set up overtime.
The Lions (11-5) controlled the opening quarter, with backup quarterback Dom Davis scoring a touchdown from one yard out to seal an 11-play, 86-yard drive as B.C. scored on its first three possessions of the game.
Vernon Adams went 19 of 33, throwing 352 yards and one touchdown for B.C. in the loss.
TORONTO – Wynton McManis returned an interception 83 yards for a touchdown as Toronto defeated the Edmonton Elks 35-12 on Friday night in the Argonauts’ 150th anniversary game.
Toronto celebrated the occasion by bringing back many notable former Argos. Among them were quarterbacks Ricky Ray, Condredge Holloway, Damon Allen, receivers Raghib (Rocket) Ismail, Chad Owens, Terry Greer and Derrell (Mookie) Mitchell, running back Bill Symons and Grey Cup-winning head coach Bob O’Billovich.
The Argos also wore commemorative anniversary logos on their helmets.
McManis stepped in front of a Tre Ford pass and scored at 9:25 of the third, putting Toronto (13-2) ahead 28-11. It marked the second straight home game that McManis has registered a pick-six, delighting the BMO Field gathering of 14,246.
Jake Julien’s 65-yard punt single to end the third cut Toronto’s lead to 28-12. But Cameron Dukes cemented the win with a one-yard TD run _ his second of the game _ at 5:51 of the fourth to make it 35-12.
Toronto has an 8-0 home record although one win came in Halifax.
NHL
Phil Di Giuseppe scored and added an assist as the Vancouver Canucks topped the Calgary Flames 3-1 in NHL pre-season action. Tyler Myers and Teddy Blueger had the other goals for Vancouver. Nazem Kadri replied for Calgary.
Evander Kane had a goal and an assist as the Edmonton Oilers closed out pre-season play with a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken. Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman also scored and Evan Bouchard had a pair of assists for the Oilers, who have won three straight exhibition contests. Jared McCann replied for the Kraken.
WHL ROUND-UP
SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. – Gavin McKenna completed his hat trick in overtime as the Medicine Hat Tigers edged the Swift Current Broncos 8-7 on Friday in Western Hockey League action.
Andrew Basha struck twice for Medicine Hat (4-1-1), and Josh Van Mulligen, Tyler MacKenzie and Shane Smith also scored.
Evan May made 12 saves on 18 shots and Zach Zahara stopped one of the two shots he faced in the Tigers’ net.
Connor Hvidston and Rylan Gould scored twice while Josh Filmon, Brady Birnie and Jace McFaul scored once for Swift Current (2-3-1).
Broncos netminder Joey Rocha kicked out 39 of 47 shots.
—
HURRICANES 4 WARRIORS 0
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Harrison Meneghin stopped all 26 shots he faced as the Hurricanes shut out Moose Jaw.
Logan McCutcheon, Chase Pauls, Brayden Edwards and Tyson Zimmer supplied the offence for Lethbridge (4-1-0).
Jackson Unger made 38 saves for the Warriors (3-3-0).
—
COUGARS 6 WILD 4
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Zac Funk and Terik Parascak both scored twice as the Cougars downed Wenatchee.
Viliam Kmec and Ondrej Becher rounded out the attack as Prince George (6-1-0) won its fifth straight.
Kenta Isogai had a pair of goals for Wenatchee (1-4-1), while Briley Wood and Conor Geekie also scored.
—
WINTERHAWKS 4 SILVERTIPS 1
PORTLAND, Ore. – James Stefan scored twice as the Winterhawks defeated Everett.
Jack O’Brien and Luke Schelter had the other goals for Portland (3-1-0).
Cade Zaplitny was the lone scorer for the Silvertips (3-2-0).
—
THUNDERBIRDS 4 CHIEFS 2
SPOKANE, Wash. – Sam Popowich had a goal and two assists as Seattle bested the Chiefs.
Antonio Martorana, Eric Alarie and Nico Myatovic also scored for the Thunderbirds (2-1-0).
Owen Martin and Ben Bonni all scored once for Spokane (2-2-0).
—
ROYALS 4 BLAZERS 1
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Tanner Scott scored and added an assist as Victoria skated past Kamloops.
Matthew Hodson, Casper Evensen Haugen and Robin Sapousek chipped in as well for the Royals (1-4-0).
Bryce Minten replied for the Blazers (1-2-1).
—
RAIDERS 6 REBELS 2
RED DEER, Alta. – Krzysztof Macias had a hat trick as Prince Albert sailed past the Rebels.
Ryder Ritchie scored twice and Aiden Oiring had a goal for the Raiders (3-3-0).
Carson Latimer struck twice for Red Deer (1-3-0).
(Canadian Press)