THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Clarence Denmark was unstoppable, while the Bombers picked off Logan Kilgore five times to earn a 34-17 win over the Argos on Friday night at Toronto’s BMO Field.
First-year defensive back Kevin Fogg had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in yet another dominant performance for the Bomber defence, helping the Bombers win their third in a row and get back to .500.
Maurice Leggett also had two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, as the Blue and Gold expanded on a league-leading 21 turnovers forced heading into Week 8 play.
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Kevin Fogg makes one of his two interceptions in the Bombers’ win (The Canadian Press)
Matt Nichols led the way for the Bombers’ offence with 246 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 17-of-28 passing, while he leaned heavily on Denmark, who turned in a career-best performance with seven receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown in just his second game back with the Bombers.
All in all it was a forgettable evening for the Argos, plagued by non-stop turnovers while allowing Winnipeg to score 31 unanswered points in response to a 10-3 Toronto first-quarter lead.
Lirim Hajrullahu and Justin Medlock exchanged first-quarter field goals, while the Argos jumped out to a sudden lead when Kilgore found the diminutive Diontae Spencer wide open in behind the Bombers’ secondary for a 62-yard touchdown.
It took a couple of misfires in the opening frame, but the long touchdown proved that Kilgore and Spencer were building chemistry in No. 85’s first start of the season back from injury – that being Spencer’s fifth target and third catch of the opening 15 minutes.
Coming into the game looking to march to 4-0 coming off the bye over the last two seasons, the Argos had a 10-3 lead early on in front of their fans at BMO Field – but the Bombers, also picking up steam, weren’t going to make it easy for the Double Blue.
Argos defensive back Thomas Gordon intercepted Nichols’ pass to set the Boatmen up in good field position, but Kilgore’s pass to Shaw in double coverage was intercepted by Fogg for the defensive back and kick returner’s second pick of the season.
That set up a 45-yard field goal from Medlock, the first-year Bomber’s second of the game, but it was just the start of strong response by Mike O’Shea’s Bombers to the early first-half deficit.
| By the Numbers: Denmark has new life | ||||
In his second stint with the Bombers, Clarence Denmark continues to make the most of an unexpected opportunity as he and Matt Nichols build chemistry. |
Just like they had done all season, the Bombers fed off big plays by their 12 men on defence, this time linebacker Khalil Bass intercepting Kilgore for the Argo pivot’s second interception of the game and fifth of the season.
On the very next play, Nichols found a wide open Denmark behind coverage, and the veteran – back for his second game with the Bombers – ran untouched for a 29-yard touchdown to give the Bombers their first lead, 13-10 midway through the second quarter.
Things held up that way until halftime, while early in the third quarter the turnover bug continued to bite the Argos.
It started when Shaw had first down yardage but lost a handle of the football when stretching for extra yardage. The Argo defence atoned, but not long later, Kilgore’s deep pass to Spencer was juggled and up for grabs for both players. Coming down with it in tight coverage was rookie defensive back Fogg, giving Winnipeg the ball at its own 18.
Another big play by the Bombers’ secondary marked the third turnover of the game by Fogg, including two interceptions and a fumble.
Working in conjunction with the league’s top playmaking defence through the first seven weeks of the CFL season, Nichols and the Bomber offence made the Argos pay for their most recent blunder.
A 35-yard completion from Nichols to Denmark highlighted an otherwise very methodical drive by Paul LaPolice’s unit, one that ended with a four-yard touchdown run by Andrew Harris with 5:00 remaining in the third quarter to give the Bombers a 20-10 lead.
Harris’ third touchdown run of the season quieted a BMO Field crowd looking for something to cheer about, capping off an 11-play, 92-yard drive that took 5:05 off the clock – all made possible by a perfect 6-for-6 run by Nichols.
At risk of fading into the hot and humid Toronto night, Kilgore and the Argos needed a response fast and almost had it when the first-time starter scrambled and almost connected with Wallace Miles in behind coverage for what would have been a sure touchdown.
But after the Boatmen failed to take advantage, Nichols found a wide open Denmark streaking down the seam for a 79-yard touchdown connection, extending the Bombers’ lead to 27-10 early in the fourth quarter.
With the Argos looking to mount a late rally with just over six minutes remaining, Kilgore’s second career start turned from bad to worse. His pass over the middle was intercepted by Maurice Leggett and returned 98 yards for the touchdown, extending the Bombers lead to 34-10.
The scoring play was reviewed but upheld, while the pick marked Leggett’s third interception of the season and second returned for a touchdown.
Leggett added his second interception of the game and Kilgore’s fifth late in the fourth. The last time Winnipeg recorded five interceptions in a game was Oct. 5, 2001 against the Edmonton Eskimos.
The Boatmen broke a run of 31 straight Winnipeg points when Cody Fajardo connected with rookie receiver Levi Noel with a 34-yard touchdown pass at 2:02 of the first quarter.
Kilgore finished his night 26-of-44 for 303 yards, a touchdown and five interceptions while Spencer led the way for the Boatmen with 11 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown.
With the win, the Bombers get back to .500 and will take that to the bye week as Nichols moves to 3-0 as a starter this season.
The Argos will look to redeem their Friday night struggles next Saturday in a meeting against the Eskimos on Aug. 20.