Bob Irving
CFL.ca
Leave it to the Toronto Argonauts to spoil the party.
Friday night, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers played their final regular season game at the stadium that has been their home since 1953.
There were celebrations in and around Canad Inns throughout the day, and a major halftime production that featured a stirring nine-minute video about the stadium’s 58-year history.
Blue Bomber Hall of Famers such as Chris Walby, Willard Reaves, Trevor Kennerd, Bob Cameron and Milt Stegall were in attendance and the game attracted a Winnipeg football club record seventh consecutive sellout crowd.
It seemed like the perfect day. In fact, it seemed like the only two things that could ruin it, would be a combination of two severe setbacks.
And of course, something of that nature happened.
A loss, combined with the injury to Winnipeg’s starting quarterback Buck Pierce (more on that later) turned the mood – and perhaps the entire tone of the season – sour.
To top it all off, it took just about nine minutes for the Bomber faithful to realize their night had been ruined. Toronto tight end Chad Rempel got behind Jonathan Hefney to catch a 43-yard touchdown pass from Steven Jyles. On the ensuing kickoff, Deion Beasley fumbled, setting up a Noel Prefontaine field goal.
Byron Parker then picked off a Pierce pass and returned it 50 yards for his record ninth interception return touchdown. Finally, a 68-yard punt return by Chad Owens set up a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Johnson.
The Argos scored 24 of their 27 points in less than nine minutes to take a 24-3 lead, leaving the Bombers absolutely reeling.
The Bombers fought back, and dominated the rest of the game, but the damage had already been done. And just like that, the Blue Bombers had lost control of the race for first place in the East.
They also lost their quarterback. Pierce suffered a knee injury while being tackled as he threw the ball that Parker picked off. It’s being called a “sprained” knee and he has already been ruled out of Saturday’s season finale in Calgary.
To make matters worse, his status for the playoffs is also in question.
The Bomber players were bewildered and devastated after the game. They couldn’t believe they had squandered a contest in which they produced almost 500 yards of offence; nearly twice as much as the Argos.
But in this topsy-turvy 2011 season, why should we be surprised at anything that happens?
Sure enough, on Sunday afternoon in Montreal, the Calgary Stampeders did the Bombers a huge favour in knocking off the Alouettes in Montreal to once again put Winnipeg in control of how the Eastern race eventually come to an end.
So the despair that the Bombers spent the weekend dealing with turns to delight thanks to the Stampeders. Now, all Winnipeg has to do to grab first place and the coveted bye into the Eastern Final is beat the Stampeders in Calgary on Saturday in their final game of the regular season.
That’s all!!!
Except beating the Stampeders in Calgary is something the Bombers haven’t done for nearly 10 years. As a matter of fact, McMahon Stadium has been a graveyard of sorts for the Bombers. The last Winnipeg won in Calgary came in 2002.
But, should the Bombers come up short in Calgary, all will not necessarily be lost because Montreal would still have to beat B.C. later that same night to wrestle top spot away from the Blue and Gold.
The big winners here? The CFL of course. They couldn’t have scripted a regular season final-weekend with more drama.
