It is a time for celebration in Winnipeg and then a time for concern. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers played the role of Grey Cup Party Poopers on Sunday afternoon as they eliminated the hometown Toronto Argonauts from further competition for this year’s Grey Cup.
The Bombers led for most of the game by Quarterback Kevin Glenn provided just enough offence and some stellar defensive play to claim the Eastern Division’s spot at the Grey Cup game next week right back at the Rogers Skydome.
The win sets up a banjo pickin’ reunion for prairie folk, as the Blue will meet the other surprising winner on Sunday (though true Rider fans will tell you that ain’t no surprise thank you very much) in the first head to head contest for the Grey cup between the two rivals of the flatlands.
The only dark cloud on an otherwise clear sky day for the Bombers was the loss of Glenn who suffered what appeared to be a broken shoulder or arm in the third quarter. A hit that took place while Glenn was scrambling for a lost ball in the backfield, his arm crushed into the Skydome field resulted in Glenn struggling to the sidelines in visible pain.
The injury quickly made Ryan Dinwiddie the household name from Winnipeg to Kenora Ontario, along the Trans Canada from Portage to Brandon and north to Churchill and even to the US and Saskatchewan borders.
For the Bomber faithful his reps this week will be among the most closely watched set of practice downs in the history of the Blue and Gold. While he looked tentative at times in his relief appearance, he managed to get the job done and did so while a charged up Toronto Defence tried to make the best use of the sudden change of momentum.
Dinwiddie handled the ball with enough calm to navigate the Bombers to the 19-9 victory, a game that was highlighted by Keith Stokes 81 yard punt return for a touchdown and the reappearance of Milt Stegall as an offensive threat and a reintroduction of Charles Roberts to lead the running game.
As it has all season long, the Bombers defence came up large for their coaches, taking away any kind of deep game from the Argos, who found their starting quarterback Michael Bishop struggling with any passes over thirty yards or so, while they had some success with a short pass game any long home run balls were largely incomplete, leading to far too many two and outs for a team to win a football game.
Inconsistent for most of the first three quarters, the Argonauts never seemed to get untracked and were unable to live up to the much ballyhooed hype about this game. Toronto’s fans (and maybe a player of two), as hosts of the Grey Cup had been almost counting their touchdowns before they were played this week, bold predictions of a dominating rout, a definitive declaration that fewer than ten points would cross an Argonaut goal line all made for a heavy case of hubris by the end of sixty minutes, complete with an almost maple leaf like crowd rendition of booing for the double boo at times.
In the end, the Bombers executed perfectly, their starting quarterback and now head cheerleader was on a pace for a pretty remarkable game, their strong point all year the Defense showed why they have been the steady constant in Blue and gold all year.
The Argos reverted to the team that struggled during the dog days of summer only able to turn it on after Labour day, in Sunday’s case their inability to put the nose to the grindstone made the Bombers job much easier.
Instead of a giddy celebration at the end of the game, with cheers for the toast of the town, instead the plaintive cry of tickets who wants tickets probably could be heard. Fortunately for Argo fans holding tickets to a game they may no longer wish to attend, there will be no shortage of folks from the flatlands arriving in town this week, anxious for a chance to sample the night life and pick up a few spare tickets.
Toronto’s dreams may be dashed, but the party will still go on. All be it with a decidedly western flavour to the week long festival.
The Bombers led for most of the game by Quarterback Kevin Glenn provided just enough offence and some stellar defensive play to claim the Eastern Division’s spot at the Grey Cup game next week right back at the Rogers Skydome.
The win sets up a banjo pickin’ reunion for prairie folk, as the Blue will meet the other surprising winner on Sunday (though true Rider fans will tell you that ain’t no surprise thank you very much) in the first head to head contest for the Grey cup between the two rivals of the flatlands.
The only dark cloud on an otherwise clear sky day for the Bombers was the loss of Glenn who suffered what appeared to be a broken shoulder or arm in the third quarter. A hit that took place while Glenn was scrambling for a lost ball in the backfield, his arm crushed into the Skydome field resulted in Glenn struggling to the sidelines in visible pain.
The injury quickly made Ryan Dinwiddie the household name from Winnipeg to Kenora Ontario, along the Trans Canada from Portage to Brandon and north to Churchill and even to the US and Saskatchewan borders.
For the Bomber faithful his reps this week will be among the most closely watched set of practice downs in the history of the Blue and Gold. While he looked tentative at times in his relief appearance, he managed to get the job done and did so while a charged up Toronto Defence tried to make the best use of the sudden change of momentum.
Dinwiddie handled the ball with enough calm to navigate the Bombers to the 19-9 victory, a game that was highlighted by Keith Stokes 81 yard punt return for a touchdown and the reappearance of Milt Stegall as an offensive threat and a reintroduction of Charles Roberts to lead the running game.
As it has all season long, the Bombers defence came up large for their coaches, taking away any kind of deep game from the Argos, who found their starting quarterback Michael Bishop struggling with any passes over thirty yards or so, while they had some success with a short pass game any long home run balls were largely incomplete, leading to far too many two and outs for a team to win a football game.
Inconsistent for most of the first three quarters, the Argonauts never seemed to get untracked and were unable to live up to the much ballyhooed hype about this game. Toronto’s fans (and maybe a player of two), as hosts of the Grey Cup had been almost counting their touchdowns before they were played this week, bold predictions of a dominating rout, a definitive declaration that fewer than ten points would cross an Argonaut goal line all made for a heavy case of hubris by the end of sixty minutes, complete with an almost maple leaf like crowd rendition of booing for the double boo at times.
In the end, the Bombers executed perfectly, their starting quarterback and now head cheerleader was on a pace for a pretty remarkable game, their strong point all year the Defense showed why they have been the steady constant in Blue and gold all year.
The Argos reverted to the team that struggled during the dog days of summer only able to turn it on after Labour day, in Sunday’s case their inability to put the nose to the grindstone made the Bombers job much easier.
Instead of a giddy celebration at the end of the game, with cheers for the toast of the town, instead the plaintive cry of tickets who wants tickets probably could be heard. Fortunately for Argo fans holding tickets to a game they may no longer wish to attend, there will be no shortage of folks from the flatlands arriving in town this week, anxious for a chance to sample the night life and pick up a few spare tickets.
Toronto’s dreams may be dashed, but the party will still go on. All be it with a decidedly western flavour to the week long festival.
Winnipeg Free Press--BOMBERS IN GREY CUP But Glenn breaks arm, will miss game
Globe and Mail--Blue Bombers head to Grey Cup
The Winnipeg Sun--Bombers advance to Grey Cup without QB Glenn
Winnipeg Sun--Bombers off to Grey Cup
The Canadian Press--Bishop comes up short
CanWest News--Blue Bombers get their big break
Associated Press--Bombers beat Argonauts to advance to Grey Cup
National Post--Blue Bombers dash Argos' Grey Cup hopes with 19-9 upset win
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