no71

2021 wasn’t better than 2019 … but 2021 made 2019 better.
First cup in 29 years was a huge relief … but it was also just one cup in 29 years … now we have two in a row.
Our players were amazing in 2019 .. but there are Grey Cup winners every year … now they’re a once in a decade team.
“Finally” was turned into memorable greatness.

On the 1st and goal on the 5 .. when I was feeling despondent for the hundredth time in the game .. I thought of 1988 and mike gray and thought you never know. .. Nichols!! .. lots of key moment deflections or knockdowns by our DBs this year.

It's not a Grey Cup win...until you've read odds and sods. 

I said this exact same thing to my family. The 1988 Grey Cup.  Almost the same scenario. The pass tipped in the air & intercepted both by DT Mike Gray. There still was 1:45 left to play & those last few seconds were absolute torture. My reaction was the same when we won. Complete relief followed by happiness!
 

On the 1st and goal on the 5 .. when I was feeling despondent for the hundredth time in the game .. I thought of 1988 and mike gray and thought you never know. .. Nichols!! .. lots of key moment deflections or knockdowns by our DBs this year.

Both teams getting the heat on the QB....
Grant fumbles on punt return.....Hamilton ball....
Evans has ball tipped at LOS....Darby intercepts...
Castillo makes it 3-0 Bombers....
Alexander crunches White on end around....
Plenty of shoving and yapping out there
Leggs with the punt single.   4-0 Bombers
Hamilton punter slices punt....for 10 yards...
Zac finds Adams for FD.  Harris 3 tough yards....
Zac sacked....as Cats continue to get good pressure...
Castillo with the short FG, to put Blue up 7-0
Good kick coverage by both teams....
Jackson pops through the line for 20....
Evans scrambles....takes a brush to the head....
...from Jefferson and a harder one from Jeffcoat...
...Evans goes out - Masoli is in.
Masoli completes passes and scrambles.....to Wpg 27
Masoli finds Jackson on the 5.  Arbey 2nd down knockdown..
Short Hamilton FG has it at 7-3
Zac still pressured....Leggs with 24 yd punt..
Blue really spinning their wheels on O...
Under a minute left...Jackson on screen is wide open for 36..
...down to Wpg 12.  Masoli has time....
and finds Dunbar in the end zone.  Cats TD with 15 seconds left
Halftime.  Hamilton up 10-7. Pretty flat half for the Blue
Cats made 2 plays in the last 30 seconds of half.... and are leading this game
Cats getting the heat on Zac and jamming the LOS on Harris...
Bomber O looks static and predictable....
Zac goes deep....Bailey comes back to ball for 35 yd gain..
ZC finds Adams over the middle, for 21...to the Ham 6
Demski sweep loses yards....2nd dump pass falls short
Castillo hits the gimmie to tie the game at 10-10
The end rounds and swings to Demski...not working at all..
3rd and 2....for some reason Masoli takes it to the outside...
...and is swallowed up by Rose.  Turnover.
Zac proceeds to throw to Demski....and the pattern is jumped..
....by Kelly who picks it off and goes all the way to the Blue 30
Rough day for Demski all round, so far..
Masoli completes to Banks and Jackson.....
...then finds Banks in the flat, who runs it in for the TD.
17-10 Hamilton.  Bombers looking a bit shaky....
Zac gets the ball back.....and throws it between 2 receivers...
...right to Kelly again for back to back INT's.
Thomas sacks Masoli to take Cats out of FG range...
Demski swing pass for -2, Zac overthrows Nick on 2nd down....
Bombers give up safety into the wind.  19-10 Hamilton...
Blue being out played on both sides of the ball, right now...
Good Cats KR to the 50.  White takes sweep to the Bomber 20
Masoli runs sneak for FD.  Jackson stopped on 2nd and 3
Huge stop, there.  Chip shot FG now has Cats up 22-10.
4th Quarter - Bombers will have the wind, but need some Mo
Zack to Wolt for FD.  Harris rolls round the end for 14...
Bailey with great diving catch for 23.  Zac to Wolt for another FD
Ball on the Hamilton 10.  Slant incomplete.  Zac pressured....
....End zone throw...Lawler takes PI to prevent INT.
Castillo FG has it at 22-13 with 8:17 left...
Stove sacks Masoli.  Wilson makes great stop on 2nd down...
Short Ham punt.  Zac over the middle to Wolt for FD. 
Collaros hits Demski on crossing pattern....Nick eludes 2 tacklers...
....and dives into the end zone!! TD.  Back in business....22-20
Huge single on Kick off....now 22-21. 
Hamilton FD negated by Cats uber dumb roughing penalty..
Whitford shanks another punt.  Good field position 3:30 left...
Harris for 6.  Zack to Adams just short.....Hamilton offside..
First Down at Ham 45, with 2:34.  Zac 2nd pass to Wolt for 8
Castillo lines up 44 yard Field Goal...and puts it right down the pipe!!
Bombers claw ahead 24-22.   Deep kickoff.
White touches the ball for some reason...and kneels for a single!
Bombers up 25-22 with 1:52 left.  Cats need FG for the tie...
1:15 left.  Now 3rd and 8.  Masoli to Ackland diving catch to convert!
Sideline pass to Banks down to the Blue 35.  Slant pass to Dunbar for 19
Jackson up the gut to the 5 with 20 seconds left. 
What is happening with our D?  Jackson stuffed on 1st down.
Nichols knocks away pass to Ackland with 7 seconds left!! 
Gimme kick is good.... 25-25 apiece.  Overtime
Not sure what will give out first....my heart or my liver!
Coin toss.  Bombers going first....
Hamilton offside.  Harris plunges for FD.  Harris runs for 8
Harris pounds in for FD at the Hamilton 13...
Zac has time....and throws to Adams on hook pattern...
Adams goes low in the end one and cradles it in!!  TD!!!!
2 point try.  Bust in Ham secondary...Bailey wide open for the catch!!
33-25.  Time for the Big Blue D to lock this thing down.  Please.
Redemption for Collaros.   He does his job late...
Tiger cats take holding penalty.  Dump pass stuffed by Bighill
Masoli throws to the outside.  Nichols with the pick - no - deflected..
...to Rose who tips it up a bit more...and Wilson INTERCEPTS!!!!!
Game over.  D comes up with the capper!! 
Bombers stream onto the field!!
Gin streaming...all over the place...and just don't care!
BACK TO BACK GREY CUP CHAMPIONS!!
THE DROUGHT.....HAS BECOME A FLOOD!!
DEFENDING AND UNDISPUTED CHAMPS!!


Thanks to all my devoted readers.   I enjoyed typing this....as much as watching this.

2001 did not feel like this.  We kept winning, but it didn’lt feel dominant.  This is like the the 80s. The Bombers I grew up with.  I was still worried everyone was too cocky.  Hard not to be. Defense.  Everyone. Harris. Demski. Eli.  The German.  I’m going to start flying to every game.

2001 did not feel like this.  We kept winning, but it didn’lt feel dominant.  This is like the the 80s. The Bombers I grew up with.  I was still worried everyone was too cocky.  Hard not to be. Defense.  Everyone. Harris. Demski. Eli.  The German.  I’m going to start flying to every game.

2001 did not feel like this.  We kept winning, but it didn’lt feel dominant.  This is like the the 80s. The Bombers I grew up with.  I was still worried everyone was too cocky.  Hard not to be. Defense.  Everyone. Harris. Demski. Eli.  The German.  I’m going to start flying to every game.

2001 did not feel like this.  We kept winning, but it didn’lt feel dominant.  This is like the the 80s. The Bombers I grew up with.  I was still worried everyone was too cocky.  Hard not to be. Defense.  Everyone. Harris. Demski. Eli.  The German.  I’m going to start flying to every game.

Yes the Bombers had excellent field position all night… not going to win many games the way they played tonight.

First thing I did when I got home was re-watch the goal line stand on the Bombers' first drive.  McGuire was 100% in... you could see on the replay with the overhead shot, even after he got pushed back a bit, the white stripe on the ball had clearly broken the plane of the goal line.

Just got back,its crazy that we can win very ugly but clobber the other team by almost 30. Clean up a few mistakes and we put up 50 but to get to 50 we need a damn kicker. I don't even know who we can go after,maybe Lapo will send us Ward before ottawa cans him or maybe offer Medlock something. Were literally only a kicker away from being one of the most dominant Bomber teams in our history,make it happen,Walters.

Alexander is such a beast and such a clean violent hitter. He’s becoming one of my favourite players. 

Final score was a victory by 27 points. Entirely possible you won’t win many games when ending the game by 27 up. 

My first in-person bomber game in awhile.  Behind the Bomber bench there were way more Bomber fans than Leos.
No wrong answers
Collaros and DLine amazing but just expect this now.
1.  Lawlor.  Catching everything.
2.  Wolly.   Like we thought he’d be.  Hope he’s ok.
3. Corners.   Jones running routes better than receivers and Alford’s diving knockdowns.
And Harris, Oline, Rest of defense.  And ST not looking awful: kicking OK (nervously right on first one, then good; nice kickoffs) and Grant looks like a kick returner who has a chance at a kick return.

Seriously, how good has this guy been all season?!?! He's quietly on pace for over 1000 yards receiving. When was the last time a Canadian had 1000 yards receiving wearing blue and gold??? Poplawski?

My first in-person bomber game in awhile.  Behind the Bomber bench there were way more Bomber fans than Leos.
No wrong answers
Collaros and DLine amazing but just expect this now.
1.  Lawlor.  Catching everything.
2.  Wolly.   Like we thought he’d be.  Hope he’s ok.
3. Corners.   Jones running routes better than receivers and Alford’s diving knockdowns.
And Harris, Oline, Rest of defense.  And ST not looking awful: kicking OK (nervously right on first one, then good; nice kickoffs) and Grant looks like a kick returner who has a chance at a kick return.

My first in-person bomber game in awhile.  Behind the Bomber bench there were way more Bomber fans than Leos.
No wrong answers
Collaros and DLine amazing but just expect this now.
1.  Lawlor.  Catching everything.
2.  Wolly.   Like we thought he’d be.  Hope he’s ok.
3. Corners.   Jones running routes better than receivers and Alford’s diving knockdowns.
And Harris, Oline, Rest of defense.  And ST not looking awful: kicking OK (nervously right on first one, then good; nice kickoffs) and Grant looks like a kick returner who has a chance at a kick return.

1. ZC - if you haven't yet, watch the game recap on cfl.ca.  You can literally hear some of his fastballs whacking the receivers' pads
2. Stanley Bryant - when the OL plays like this - you gotta salute our glue guy at left tackle (punkt).
3. DL - Stove is back - and the nightmares for opposing QBs are just beginning...
HH: Brandon Alexander - our glue guy on the back end
OH: Nic Demski - some mighty fine catches last night - the hell with PI - he just catches the pigskin

Harris runs and Zac is on target.....
....to Adams, Bailey, and Woltman.....
...down to the Elks 9
Zac rolls out.....finds Adams all alone in the end zone
TD!  But Elks challenge for offensive PI......
....win the challenge....on a bush league call...on Adams
Zac is undeterred.   He simply hoists one up to Adams again.....
...the double coverage closes too late! TD! 
Mourtada shows good form on the extra point!
Lovely 80 yard drive to start things off
Suitor pumping up this XFL QB star, Cornelius
Zac throws passes to Bailey and Adams...to Elks 30
Demski takes it up the middle.... spins off a couple of hits....
... takes it into the end zone..... for 30 yard TD run!
Another convert from Mourtada....awesome.....
14-0.  This touted Elks D.... looking like fresh meat....
Cornelius throws more incompletes.....
Nelson returns punt sideways for 0 yards....
.....this guy really needs to go straight......down the highway...
Bailey busts hitch pass down the sideline for 30 yards..
Zac has Adams in the endzone, but under throws it...
...as DB undercuts Adams and picks it off......ouch.
Cornelius has time...completes some passes....
Bombers had the ball 10 minutes in 1st quarter
Suitor goes from pumping to gushing....about Cornelius...
Jeffcoat destroys attempted receiver sweep.....-6 yds
Cornelius complete to Walker....ball knocked loose by Alford
.....Briggs recovers fumble for the turnover....
Deep in Bomber end.....Zac is trapped....does not take the sack...
.....hit, then fumbles.....Elks recover on the Bomber 9
Wilder finds a hole....trucks Alford....then in for the score.....
This laugher...... is becoming somewhat less amusing  14-7 Blue
2 Bomber turnovers already....
Awkward reverse.....Nelson to Augustine goes nowhere....
...which pretty well sums up our return game.
Harris runs into run blitz.....so Zac pops screen pass to him...
.....as Harris rumbles for 35 yards.   Elks blitzing a lot.
Demski takes 2nd down pass, breaks tackle for good gain
Screen to Bailey, run by Harris has the ball on Elks 20.
Drive stalls......Mourtada misses 27 yard FG attempt...
Cornelius hits Walker with nice pass to Blue 50
Surprising lack of pressure from Bomber pass rush.....
White comes in and nails 44 yd FG.  15-10 Bombers
Cornelius scrambles for 15....then finds Ellington wide open...
...down to Bomber 15.  Wilder up the middle.....
....through some shoddy tackling for the TD..
Bomber D looking shaky on that drive  16-15 Elks.
Zac hits Bailey down the middle to Elks 50
Harris runs into another run blitz.  Lots of 9 man fronts...
Mourtada's 50 yd FG attempt isn't even close......bah.
Cornelius telegraphs out pattern....Alford jumps pattern.....
....he has the pick .....easy 20 INT return for the touchdown!!
23-16 Bombers.....man, we needed that.....
Wilder wide open in flat...good gain....plus BS roughing penalty..
Cornelius still getting time....hits hook pass to Blue 25
Hanson knocks down pass on 2nd down.   White 35 yard FG.
Bombers get it to Elks 37.  Mourtada with 44 yard try....
....which....MISSES BY A MILE.   0-3 now.   ok.....next.
Cornelius tries to scramble out of end zone....not protecting ball...
....Willie J. strips the ball out.....Bighill picks it up and dives into endzone!!
Another defensive TD...another convert......30-19.  Breathe.....
Leggo shanks punt...out of bounds...called for illegal kick....
This Bomber kicking game is currently murder on my liver...
Backup Elk QB runs for 45 yards against more shoddy tackling...
Jones knocks down pass on 2nd down......White with 19 yd FG..
Bailey cut down on flat pass, Zac throws incomplete.....
Bomber offense is stuck in neutral, this half....
Demski 10 yd catch...Harris bursts up middle for 25 yards
Harris for 4....Elks take dumb roughing penalty....ball on Elks 13
Zac loops it up to Wolt in the end zone.  Obvious PI on Rose
Ball on the 1  McGuire does his thing.  TD.  That should do it....
Perfect on extra points, anyways......36-22 for the champs....
Need 3 roster spaces - 1 guy punting, 1 guy XP's and another for FG's
Cornelius throws it out to nobody in particular....Nichols with the pick....
Bomber O kills some time.....Nichols knocks down pass.....guy is a keeper...
Cornelius chucks up long pass, and its intercepted by Alford..
Suitor still dribbling on about how he "likes what he sees" in Cornelius
TSN feed goes kaka.....Drunk TSN Camera Man puts in guest apperance....
Bombers line up in 6 and 1 victory formation.....
Could play better but did enough to get the job done
Could drink more....but did enough to get it done


 
 

Of course Dline. And also blitzes were working for a change.
Alexander and Bighill in the middle seems a good thing.
New secondary boys 45 and 32 have game.
I hope Italian Trevor Kennerd does well.  The kickoffs seem to be getting longer.
It’s been a long time since we’ve had a quarterback with throws this accurate.  I think it helps.

Nelson hits the wall on kickoff return…....
Harris gets 5 on first carry…..
Screen passes to non-Harris players….needs work
Henry with good punt return…good field position
Maier throws for a couple first downs….
…nice tackle by Alford on 2nd down….
Stamps FG, as Bomber give up points again…
…..on opening drive.  Need to shake that habit
Zac over the middle to Lawler for 15….
Harris has good hole, spins, breaks tackle for 20…
Bailey takes crossing pass, eludes a tackle, gets a block..
…and rolls down the sideline all the way to the Stamps 3
Harris plunges in for 6….no sweat…Welcome back Andrew!
75 yard TD drive…good stuff…
Legs misses the convert…
Lawler can’t hold on to a 2nd down pass
Henry with another good punt return…..
Bomber special teams…..not so special
Maier hits receiver who tightropes sideline
Paredes comes in for 39 yard FG.   Tie game.
Woltman drops 2nd pass over the middle….
Zac throwing the ball well….but needs more help.
on 3rd and 1..Stamps pull punt off the field….
….then throws deep and complete….but Huff fumbles…
…Bighill picks it up…takes it to the Stamp 50
Drive stalls…Lieggho lines up for 50 yd attempt – Good!
Carey eludes two Bombers around the end for 15
Maier has the fullback wide open for yet another completion..
Stamp backfield movement has Blue D somewhat befuddled…
Carey pops up the middle for 17 yd TD run..13-9 Stamps
what has happened to our great run D?
Nelson takes KR…starts, stops, starts….and is buried…..
Zac hoists one up to Bailey who goes up and comes down for 30
But, then Bailey can’t hold on to 2nd pass in tight coverage
Maier completes another 2nd down pass…no problems for him…
13-9 Stamps. Rookie QB is 16 for 16.  Not a championship half….
Miller with great tackle on KR…Bombers are offside…so..
….this time Gauthier lays on the big hit…
Maier has yet another 2nd down completion….
This game is a TALE OF 2ND DOWNS….
The Stamps ability to convert – Bombers inability to do same.
Nelson runs KR 30 yds to the outside….to gain 3
2 Harris runs for 20… Lawler drops perfect 2nd down seam pass
Bomber receivers are not doing Zac any favors out there….
Blue have done a nice job of game planning Harris right out of offense…
Bombers get some pressure on the QB….Hansen belts guy on screen
Zac has a couple of completions, sacked, then body slammed. Stamps penalty.
Zac has 2nd down pass knocked down.  Blue O cannot sustain anything…..
Maier gets (you guessed it) 2nd down conversion.  Coverage way too soft..
Jefferson knocks down Maier’s 2nd down pass.  If only the O could do something..
….as Bomber D is picking it up a bit….this half…
Harris for a tough 5….but cut down on 2nd down screen pass
Leggo the Kid comes in and hits 37 yd FG…to put Bombers up 15-13
Maier has 3 completions…including one to himself on the ole QB throwback
Maier has the flat wide open again for 2nd down conversion….D blitz ineffective
Stamp drive stalls……Paredes in for the go ahead 30 yard FG….Stamps 16 -15
1:50 left. Zac misses long, hits Bailey on 2nd down….Zac long incomplete to Adams…
….another 2nd down completion to Bailey in tight coverage…
Zac incomplete…but takes head shot.  15 yds roughing.  Harris 2nd run falls short..
Leggo trots out to try go-ahead FG with 55 seconds left…….
It’s wide!  But whistle on the snap.  Bombers 10 yd time count violation!
So now….a 46 yard try.   It is long enough….and…right…down…the…middle!!
18-16 Bombers.  Stamp returner falls on 20 yd line.   32 seconds left.
Maier hits Jordan……who makes great catch in double coverage
Stamp receiver drops ball in the flat.  Maier hits hook pass for 10
Times up.  Paredes lines up 52 yard game winner……and it’s short!!!
Bombers pull it out 18-16.  3 and 1.  But plenty to improve on….
Still shaking……not sure if it is from the game.  Or this gin.

ZC sideline pass to Lawler for 12
Then play action pass to Demski  for 21
Oliveria adds a 10 yd run…
…but 59 roughing penalty pushes them back
ZC incomplete 2nd down pass,  ends drive
MBT almost picked on 1st down
….then pressured into short dump off on 2nd
Nelson punt return for 15 and draws 15 no yarder
Good field position….as ZC dumps short to Lawler
Argos blitz……ZC lofts long pass down the middle to Bailey…
…who has a step and jumps up to take pass in end zone
….for the 35 yd TD!  7-0 for the Bombers
Kongbo stuffs run play….. then MBT pressured again –incomplete
Blue D line getting after the quarterback…..
Olivera rocked on 2nd down dump pass
White gets outside and runs for 20….
MBT sacked by Jeffcoat and a hord of Bombers
But illegal contact in secondary wipes that out
Bighill nails White for loss of 4
Good 2nd down tackle from Nichols to force punt
Oliveria crunched in backfield…loses 3 yds
2nd down incomplete has the Bombers punting
Not so easy running against the Argos, tonight
Lots of hard contact, by both teams, so far……
Miller misses tackle on sideline…25 yd gain
But Argos are offside on back to back plays
…..Toronto just boning themselves with the penalties….
On 2nd down, Zac doodles around 3 rushes….
…and dumps to Demski, nice effort short of the marker
Oliveria gets some revenge….he just cranks an Argo, downfield…
Both punters getting plenty of reps…..
Jefferson cuts down White in the backfield….for a -4
MBT rushed…..throws incomplete…….punt
Demski reverse sweep….nice run for 20
Then Nick catches screen…. but fumbles in Argo territory
Jefferson gets into MBT’s face…forces incomplete pass
MBT off the back foot to Collins, who breaks Miller tackle for 25
White stuffed:  MBT throws to nobody: 49 yd FG attempt by Bede
……hits the upright, drops straight down…..no dice.
Collaros hits FD passes to Lawler and McKnight…
Hook pass to Lawler for 15, pass to Woltman for 9
Zac pretty accurate with the throws tonight…
ZC finds McDaniels to the Argo 10…
But Zac sack, brings on Merde for the 20 yd FG.   10-0 Bombers
Did the Argos have 100 yds of O, in that half?
Must of taken 10 penalties, though…..
Nice 2nd pass knockdown by Nichols…
Could someone tell Bomber receivers to run forward..
…after they catch the bloody pass?
Blue kick coverage smothering….
White stuffed:  MBT pressured:  Argos punt
Argos take another 15 for no yards
Nelson is not the KR threat that Grant is…..
Bomber O could really use a big play….
Swing pass to Lawler… Oliveria powers for FD
Z hits Woltman, then Lawler to the Argo 30
Oliveria runs into heavy traffic, yet again…
Collaros launches long throw to Lawler in end zone…
…but ball is badly underthrown, and picked off…
Argos still hanging around, only down by 10
MBT finally has some time….wide open R downfield…
….but overthrows and misses a sure 6 points….
Oliveria stuffed again, Zac misses 2nd down pass again
Crowd is as dead as the Blue offense…right now…
MBT takes a seat as Nick Arbuckle goes in at QB…
Nick completes 4 passes in a row….
White runs trap play, gets outside….30 yd TD
10-7…so much for controlling this game….
Really time for some Bomber O, here….
Collaros finds Lawler twice, but Bailey tagged on a hold.
Oliveria thumped after catching screen pass….
Bomber O firing on 0 cylinders……
White has good run, but ball is stripped by Briggs…
….Blue recover deep in Argo end..
Argos promptly take a 15 yd roughing penalty…
Lack of discipline killing them in this one…
ZC throws up pass to the corner of end zone….
…to a wide open Demski…..TD!!  17-7
Argos take time count, then an offside penalty
Arbuckle completing couple of passes, but drive stalls..
Miller getting picked on a bit, tonight…
Brady O gets another 0 on the run….
McKnight catches pass short of marker…..punt again..
Bomber kick coverage still stifling….
Nelson finally gets loose on PR round the end for 30
Zac is incomplete, then sandwiched in the backfield
So much for the O….
Arbuckle has time and hits a wide open guy over the middle…
…unfortunately, the guy is Taylor for the Bombers.  INT.
ZC completes to Lawler…..Oliveria is stuffed, Argos offside…
Zac misses Bailey…Bombers settle for a crap 22 yd FG
20-7, with time running down
Pass completed, Alexander strips ball, Briggs recovers!!!
But officials call pass incomplete.  No time out to challenge..
Adding insult to injury, Bombers get delay of game penalty….
Brescacin hit by Nichols, rolling around holding his leg…
….as he is helped off the field…..looks pretty bad.
Hansen knocks down pass…..Nichols busts up pass catch….
…..as he is having a pretty good evening, back there…  
Arbuckle hit by Jeffcoat…fumbles…recovered by Willie J.
That is that…..tough grinding game…
Bombers had to work pretty hard to get through
I had to drink pretty hard, to get through...as well….

Win wasn’t complete without Odds and Sods.  Life is normal again.  Enough beers I’ll have some gin.