ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – Although it may have been only the preseason, there was a buzz in Argos land as CFL football was officially back.
The Boatmen defence started the game off by forcing the new look Bombers offence off the field as Drew Willy and company could not get anything going. As predicted, QB Trevor Harris would get the first turn under centre as he looked to solidify his hold on the back-up quarterback position.
Harris completed his fist two pass attempts, first to newcomer WR Robert Gill and then to WR Darvin Adams for first downs, but the drive would stall around the 50-yard line.
The Bombers got the ball back and new pivot Drew Willy connected with WR Clarence Denmark to get into Argos territory. Rookie K Lirim Hajrullahu then connected from 43-yards out to put the Bombers up 3-0.
Harris and the offence would take the ball back and march directly into Bombers territory on the backs of the aforementioned Adams and starting RB Curtis Steele. After a pass interference penalty by Bombers DB Alex Suber on intended target Romby Bryant, the Argos sat at 1st and goal on the Bombers one-yard line. Steele sealed his already impressive drive with a leaping touchdown to give the Argos a 7-3 lead.
Harris left the game early in the second quarter after going 8 of 11 for 115 yards and QB Mitchell Gale took over. However, it would be the running backs that continued to carry the load. First, RB Jeremiah Johnson got the Argos into the score zone with a handful of impressive runs, and then RB Steve Slaton sealed the drive strolling into the endzone untouched to give the Argos a 14-3 lead and continue to make the Argos backfield conversation as clear as mud.
The Bombers got the ball back and orchestrated an impressive drive of their own on the backs of RB Paris Cotton and the arm of new starting QB Drew Willy. A pass from Willy to former Argo WR Julian Feoli-Gudino found the endzone to bring the Argos lead to four points at 14-10.
The Boatmen were unable to muster anything on offence with Gale behind center on their next drive and the Bombers came to within one-point midway through the quarter via the leg of Brett Maher from 48-yards out.
The Boatmen would take the 14-13 lead into halftime.
No points came from either team for most of the thrid quarter as both squads defences’ settled into their schemes.
WR Terrell Sinkfield made the games first big play on special teams as he returned a Bombers punt 50+ yards into the red zone. A hand-off to Johnson yielded nothing, and Gale dinged the upright with his pass on second down, leaving the Argos to settle for three and a 17-13 lead.
The fourth quarter kicked off with a failed Bombers drive and it was QB Casey Pachall’s turn to steer the Boatmen ship at quarterback. His first snaps as a CFL quarterback lead to a two-and-out and the Bombers took over following the Jasper punt.
On the next Bombers drive, a hit by LB Donald Washington left him hurt on the field for an extended period of time. He was able to leave the field under his own power and appeared ok following the ugly looking play.
An offside on the next play negated a Bomber touchdown and kept the Argos in the lead with just under 10 minutes left in the final frame. The Bombers settled for a field goal from 40 yards out bringing the score to 17-16 in favour of the Double Blue.
Pachall was once again under centre for the Argos and he, WR KJ Stroud and Coach Milanovich would place themselves in CFL history. Following an incomplete bomb by Pachall, Milanovich threw the challenge flag for un-called pass interference. The refs reviewed the play and determined there was in fact pass interference giving the Argos a massive boost in field position.
Immediately following, a roughing the passer penalty put the Boatmen in the red zone and a quick dump off to Slaton lead to another Argos TD. 25-16 Boatmen.
DL Aston Whiteside got his first CFL turnover, scooping up a Brian Brohm fumble and carrying it all the way to the red zone on the next Bomber posession.
On a trick sneak, Pachall looked to have the touchdown, but was striped on the goal line and the ball was recovered by Winnipeg, giving them life.
The Bombers rallied late as WR Donovon Kemp hauled in a QB Robert Marve strike to put the Bombers within two, but the two point conversion attempt landed incomplete leaving the Argos with a two point lead.
A strike to Stroud from Pachall put the Argos into Bomber territory with Coombs left to run out the clock and seal the game in the place he played his University ball.
A Pachall QB sneak on third and short finally ended it as the Boatmen kneeled out the final minute and moved to 1-0 in the preseason.