TORONTO — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers don’t win pretty.
In fact, it’s quite often ugly. Grotesque, really. To the point where Blue and Gold supporters need serious restraint not to throw a brick at their televisions at times.
But no matter how bad it gets, they’re resilient and capable of finding unorthodox ways to get the job done — which is exactly what happened Saturday afternoon at BMO Stadium.
FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Dru Brown (4) throws to Nic Demski for the go-ahead touchdown catch during second half action against the Toronto Argonauts in Toronto on Saturday.
Despite turning the football over on four occasions, the Bombers crossed over and outlasted the Toronto Argonauts 25-22 in the Eastern semifinal in front of 21,786 fans.
“I think if anyone is gonna look at that stat sheet, they’re probably gonna be like ‘How in the heck did Winnipeg even win that game?’” running back Brady Oliveira told the Free Press.
“Yeah, it was freaking ugly, man. Especially offensively. But at the end of the day, we just found a way.”
The Bombers, who have been arguably the CFL’s most inconsistent team this season, are now one win away from playing in the Grey Cup. Up next is a date with the mighty and heavily-favoured Montreal Alouettes next Saturday in the Eastern Final.
But a trip to La Belle Province wouldn’t be happening without the heroics of special teams ace Nick Hallett.
The Bombers trailed 22-17 with less than two minutes remaining when Hallett forced Argos punt returner Janarion Grant — a former Bomber — to fumble. Thiadric Hansen jumped on the loose ball to give the Bombers possession at Toronto’s 52-yard line.
“I came over his arms to tackle him and it popped out. I was going for him, got the ball, so, it worked out,” said Hallett.
“Janarion is a hell of a player. I went up to him after the game. I know he’s down, but I love that guy. He’s a special ballplayer.”
FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Nic Demski (10) makes the go-ahead touchdown catch as Toronto Argonauts’ Alexander Teubner (33) pressures during second half action in Toronto on Saturday.
Five plays later, Dru Brown hit Nic Demski for a 32-yard touchdown strike in the back corner of the end zone for the game-winning score. The duo also connected on the two-point conversion to make it 25-22 with 47 seconds remaining.
Demski was a game-time decision because of an ankle injury. On Friday night, he didn’t expect he’d be able to play.
“I woke up this morning and I had it on my mind that I was gonna play this game. I just had the mentality that nothing was going to stop me from playing this game today and I’m very happy I made that decision,” said Demski.
The Bombers punted on four straight possessions before Grant’s mistake put them in prime scoring position.
“It was funny, my girl came out to this game, and she was like ‘How did you do that?’ But honestly, this is probably the most poised I’ve been in a game,” said Demski.
“I was just calm and there was just something about it where I knew I could perhaps be the difference-maker.”
The Bombers got a massive boost from the defence by holding the Argos to just nine points off all those turnovers. The unit also provided the visitors with a spark when they desperately needed it.
The Argos were starting a drive near midfield after Bombers receiver Tim White fumbled.
FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Ontaria Wilson (80) celebrates his touchdown with teammates Nic Demski (10) and Brady Oliveira (20) during first half action against the Toronto Argonauts in Toronto on Saturday.
On the very next play, Argos pivot Chad Kelly was gearing up launch a pass when defensive lineman Michael Fletcher knocked the ball loose. Fellow D-lineman David Reese scooped it up and sprinted 58 yards to the house to cut Toronto’s advantage to 19-17 at the end of the third.
“I knew that was going to be a big momentum play,” said Fletcher.
“I just loved it because it was like alright, the team can take this and we can ride the momentum now and change how the game is going. It’s just a great feeling to come through for the team.”
With the Bombers’ offence stuck in mud, the defence knew they had to take matters into their own hands.
“Literally, we were on the sideline, and after the Tim White fumble, we said, ‘Hey, we gotta go out there and do the same thing,’” said defensive tackle Jake Ceresna.
“Next play, we go out there, Fletch forces the fumble and Reese picks it up and scores it. I mean, just an amazing play by our rookies. They’ve been grinding all year. Huge for us.”
Kelly injured his shoulder on the play. He tried to tough it out and managed to lead the Argos to a field goal on the next drive, but backup Nick Arbuckle ended up taking over with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Kelly completed 18 of 30 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown. Arbuckle struggled in relief, going 2 of 6 for 25 yards.
FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Brady Oliveira (20) dives for an extra yard under heavy pressure from the Toronto Argonauts during second half action in Toronto on Saturday.
The Argos also got nothing out of their ground game with just 48 rushing yards.
“We just stayed committed to the process. It didn’t matter who was back there, we just kept playing our game, just gave them problems and tried to keep them out of the end zone,” said Ceresna.
The Bombers had a brilliant opening drive that was capped off by a 32-yard catch and run by receiver Ontaria Wilson to go up 7-0. After that, the group couldn’t do anything right.
Brown committed three turnovers in the first half with two interceptions and a fumble on a strip-sack.
“It kind of felt effortless on the first drive of the game. And then I’m sure all of you guys, similar to us, are like ‘How the hell does that turn into the next three and a half quarters?’ I wish I could tell you,” Brown told reporters.
“Trust me, my intent is not to turn it over. It’s no one’s intent to turn it over, but those things happen. If you shut down or get gun shy, then that’s one-thousand percent how you lose. You have to continue to shoot.”
Brown went 18-of-30 for 206 yards, two touchdowns and two picks. Oliveira had 20 carries for 95 yards. Demski led all receivers with 72 yards on four catches.
“I think what’s really important about this one is that idea, the concept of throughout the course of the game, one phase might not be rolling,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.
FRANK GUNN / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Nic Demski (10) celebrates his go-ahead touchdown catch with teammate Tommy Nield (83) in Toronto on Saturday.
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“And it’s up to the other two phases to have their backs and I thought this was a great example of that. This is something they can look at and understand and see how it works. This is cool.”
The Bombers got away with it this time, but they know it’s going to take a much, much cleaner performance to upset the first-place Alouettes.
On their last Montreal trip back on Oct. 3, they got stomped 37-10.
“We’re just going to cancel out the outside noise,” said Demski. “We know we got something special in here and we’re gonna make the most of it.”
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Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
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