Preseason Recap – Argos 24 – Bombers 6

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

WINNIPEG – The time to defend has arrived, and the road to the repeat started in Winnipeg.  The Argos would start their preseason schedule against the Bombers for the first football game at Investors Group Field.  The preseason is a great opportunity for rookies and newcomers to show their stuff and make an impression on the coaching staff.

QB Trevor Harris would get the start for the Argonauts behind centre and worked the ball early, checking down often to WR Spencer Watt and also finding a connection with CFL Rookie WR Juaquin Iglesias.  Making his first career start at safety after the retirement of FS Jordan Younger, Matt Black procured the first turnoever of the game, intercepting Bombers QB Buck Pierce midway through the first quarter; however, starting K Anthony Alix missed the ensuing field goal attempt.

After a switch at QB for the Bombers, Max Hall took his first CFL snaps.  Hall marched the Bombers down the field for the early first quarter field goal.  3-0 Bombers.

The quarter ended with the Bombers up by that same field goal.  Harris would finish his quarter of action 8 for 11 for 115 yards, with Watt being the biggest beneficiary registering two catches for 54 yards.

QB Zach Collaros took over in quarter number two and quickly got the Argos into the endzone.  After a successful short yardage conversion, RB Gerald Riggs took the ball and ran to the outside and crossed the goalline to get the Argos on the board for the first time in 2013.  7-3 Boatmen.

Riggs would continue to run the ball for the Double Blue into the second quarter and eventually give way to RB Curtis Steele.  Riggs’ finished his day with four rushes for 34 yards and one touchdown, and added two receptions for 13 yards.

The Argos got he second takeaway of the game as CFL rookie DL Jonathan Williams got the rarely seen defensive lineman interception.  That set up a Collaros’ touchdown pass to former Alouette Trent Guy, and the Argos would jump out to the 14-3 lead.

There would be no more scoring in the second quarter, and the Argos lead by eleven heading into half time.  Collaros finished his quarter of action 9 of 12 for 95 yards and a touchdown and would add three rushes for 26 yards. The battle for the backup quarterback position is now more heated than ever.

QB Mitchell Gale would take over in the third quarter and wasted no time showing his skill set, starting off his first series with a handful of first down runs.  He found new Argos burner WR John Chiles on a deep bomb, setting them up deep in Bomber territory.  Two shots to the end zone would be incomplete and the Argos settled for the field goal.  17-3 Argos.

After an Anthony Alix trick play extended a drive, the Argos settled for a 43-yard field goal.  Alix missed the kick however, and the Bombers took the missed FG return all the way back to Argos territory.  A great effort from LB Major Culbert saved the TD on special teams.  The Bombers came away with a field goal and brought the score to 17-6.

Gale got his first TD late into the third quarter as he found offseason addition WR Romby Bryant for the score pushing the Argos lead to 24-6.  Gale would bow out at the end of the third with a line of 67 yards on 5 of 9 passing and one touchdown to go along with 52 yards rushing on four attempts.

Josh Portis took over for the Boatmen in the fourth quarter under centre but hiss first CFL drive was cut short by an Argos fumble.  Portis finished out the fourth quarter and end his CFL debut with 67 yards on 4 of 5 passing.

A successful preseason debut ended with a 24-6 win over the Bombers.

Make sure you come out to Varsity Stadium on June 20^th 2013 as the Argos host the Montreal Alouettes.  Limited tickets  are still available on ticket master, click here to purchase for all Argonauts home games.