Blue Bombers 34, Lions 26: Leos lose in probably the most painful of how

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The Gravy Bowl left ‘em hungry for extra.

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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers overcame a 10-point deficit within the ultimate two minutes to beat the B.C. Lions 34-26 in extra time Friday evening at B.C. Place, regardless of practically coughing up the sport within the ultimate seconds of regulation.

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There’s an excellent probability these two groups will meet once more within the post-season, however with two video games left, the Bombers have the within observe for first place within the West. The Lions fell to 11-5, whereas Winnipeg improved to 12-4.

“This might be be a tricky one. It’s powerful on these guys proper now. For a regular-season sport, that’s about as emotional and about as large as video games get,” stated head coach Rick Campbell. “We simply obtained to ensure we channel it in the fitting course, which I do know they are going to.

“That’s the important thing, is to make use of it. Use it as gasoline for the long run to get higher.

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“There’s these large moments of the sport … there’s all these these all these moments of the sport that may swing it in a single favour or the opposite. We obtained to we talked about we obtained to make no less than yet another play than they did and we actually got here up one quick.”

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THE PLAY THAT WAS ALMOST

Dominque Rhymes turned the nook, with Bombers defensive again Evan Holm greedy at air in his wake. He side-stepped Redha Kramdi, leaving him on the B.C. Place turf, regarded up, and noticed solely open inexperienced and glory.

The Lions have been cut up seconds and 25 yards from seeing their No. 1 receiver break into the tip zone for one of the crucial outstanding finishes in crew historical past. He might see it. He didn’t see Winnipeg’s Jamal Parker, who dragged him down from behind. It was a 65-yard reception. It wanted to be both 70 yards and paydirt, or 50, with Rhymes happening to protect the scant seconds on the clock. The play began with eight seconds left, and he caught it with 4.

“I most likely ought to have gotten down, however I felt I might get in the long run zone. I although it will be a simple landing after I made the catch,” a subdued Rhymes stated post-game.

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“I gotta be higher. I gotta be higher for the crew. Put that one on me. I gotta be a greater participant, be extra conscious.

“It’s a studying expertise. It’ll make you a greater participant. It’s the small particulars, in large video games like this that matter.”

Whereas Rhymes held his head in disbelief on the 5 yard line, Adams was pounding the bottom 70 yards away. He couldn’t imagine it.

The receiver stated he knew the time scenario and what was instructed, however when the primary two defenders missed, thought he had the landing within the bag.

“That’s only a soccer participant attempting to make a play,” stated Campbell. “Everybody knew what the clock scenario was. It’s simply too unhealthy that he didn’t fairly get there.”

“He wasn’t too pleased with himself,” added quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “We simply obtained to like on one another, be there for one another and choose one another up man.

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“We didn’t lose sport due to that play. It was a simply much more. … We will’t hand over a 10-point lead like that. We’ve obtained to be higher as an offence. We will’t level any fingers at anybody. We simply obtained to be right here for each other and are available again to work.”

THE SPOT THAT WAS ALMOST

B.C.’s offence sputtered to a halt within the second half. Earlier than Rhymes’ large acquire, they’d simply 53 yards within the third and fourth quarters.

However they have been nonetheless in place to ice the sport on their ultimate collection, holding a three-point lead. A brief Taquan Mizzell run put them right into a second-and-eight scenario, and when the pocket collapsed once more Adams — he was sacked six instances Friday and was continually on the run — he scrambled to the sideline and appeared to have stretched for the primary down on the Bombers 53 with 2:07 remaining.

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However the officers marked him properly wanting the primary down, regardless of replays backing up Adams’ declare, as he debated the spot with the stripes.

“He stated I went out of bounds,” stated Adams. “I advised him I stretched and I assumed I had it. And it regarded like I had it on the replay. So I don’t know what they’re doing. Yeah, I don’t know.”

The Lions couldn’t problem the play, having misplaced a first-half problem on a roughing-the-passer name, and there was no indication the Command Centre reviewed the play. Nonetheless, they’d an opportunity to get the primary down on quick yardage, however Dominique Davis got here up quick on the sneak, turning the again over to the Bombers with 1:52 left on their 53-yard line.

Sergio Castillo kicked the game-tying area purpose seven performs later to tie the sport with 12 seconds left.

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A TALE OF TWO HALVES

The Lions examined the Bombers from the beginning, arising quick on deep balls to Rhymes and Fortunate Whitehead, however nonetheless discovered themselves cruising early on at B.C. Place.

They led 17-3 after their first three collection, and Adams was throwing everywhere in the Bombers secondary. A Sean Whyte area purpose from 44 yards out put them up 20-10 going into the second half, and with Adams racking up 252 yards by way of the air.

However the wheels fell off within the second half. They put up simply 53 yards of offence to the Bombers 270. The bend-but-don’t-break defence did its job, getting strip sacks on back-to-back pink zone possessions towards Winnipeg, with Sione Teuhuma’s 51-yard fumble return with 6:55 gaining extra yards than all the offence had within the second half to that time.

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“I don’t know. We positively weren’t clicking,” stated Adams. “I don’t even know if I had a accomplished cross. Like, I don’t know what occurred. And we will’t do this to crew like that, man.

“The defence got here up with two back-to-back strip sacks, and we’ve obtained to assist them out as an offence. Me, the entire offence. Receivers. O-line, all of us. We obtained to assist one another out.”

The place the Lions have been getting the ball out fast within the first half, the ball wasn’t within the second half. However Bombers coach Mike O’Shea wasn’t about to disclose his crew’s changes.

“Commerce secrets and techniques,” he stated, smiling.

“He was eliminating the ball in a short time. So that you simply they tighten up in our again finish tightens up after which permits us to get some stress and I assumed we we obtained after him. And it simply simply obtained to the purpose the place I believe we have been within the groove and carrying them down just a little bit.”

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BY THE NUMBERS

352: Yards passing for Adams, together with a landing, on 19-of-33 makes an attempt.

389: Yards passing for Collaros, on  31-of-41 makes an attempt, with two touchdowns. He additionally was picked off by Adrian Greene and fumbled twice within the pink zone.

70: Variety of yards coated by 6-5, 240-pound receiver Jevon Cottoy, who out-paced and “peaced out” Bombers DB Winston Rose on a first-half rating.

487: Internet offence for Winnipeg, to B.C.’s 356.

16: Sacks on the season for Mathieu Betts, nonetheless probably the most within the CFL.

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NEXT GAME

Friday

B.C. Lions vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats

4 p.m., Tim Hortons Subject, TV: TSN, Radio: AM730

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