WINNIPEG 19 MONTREAL 11
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers played for pride Saturday and ended their CFL season with a morale boosting 19-11 win over the East Division leading Montreal Alouettes.
It was also their last game at Canad Inns Stadium.
Both teams played backup quarterbacks, Montreal because they chose to sit Anthony Calvillo and Winnipeg because Buck Pierce was hurt for the third time this season.
The result leaves the Bombers at 6-12, tied on points with Hamilton but ahead thanks to the series edge, leaving the Tiger-Cats in last place in the CFL. The win cost the Bombers first pick in the 2013 CFL draft but coach Tim Burke wasn't complaining.
"It feels really good to get a win, obviously, and I think it's a good positive step for next year," he said.
He had good things to say about both quarterbacks but singled out Justin Goltz, who came in for the fourth quarter and scored the go-ahead touchdown.
"You could see his athletic ability. He can run, he can throw, he's a big guy, I think he's got a really good future."
With Pierce missing 11 games this season and failing to finish others because of injury, the Bombers are taking a hard look at what to do with the quarterback position for 2013.
The Alouettes still finish first in the CFL East Division at 11-7 but quarterback Adrian McPherson failed to capitalize on the 10-0 first quarter lead he built in his first start this season.
"I'm really disappointed," he said. "I didn't feel too bad, especially for someone who hasn't played in so long. . .
I'll go back watch the film and see how I can try and get better."
Winnipeg cornerback Jovon Johnson, who set up Goltz's touchdown with a 71-yard punt return, said the win was important for a team that has struggled.
"We talked about it before the game. . . Our season for next year starts today," he said.
Goltz replaced Alex Brink in the fourth quarter after Brink completed 17-of26 pass attempts for 173 yards and one interception.
McPherson scored one touchdown and was also his team's leading rusher with 102 yards.
Brink and McPherson both handle wildcat plays for their teams and Brink was second on the Bomber rushing list at 58 yards.
Burke wasn't happy that his team got off to another slow start, although this time they managed to find their feet and stage a comeback.
Sean Whyte kicked a 17-yard field goal to put Montreal on the board at 4: 10 of the first quarter on the Alouettes opening drive. McPherson's touchdown made it 10-0 about six minutes later.
Justin Palardy's 24-yard field goal a few seconds into the second quarter got Winnipeg on the board and the Bombers picked up two singles on a missed field goal and a punt to trail 10-5 at the half.
The second half was all Winnipeg as Montreal managed only a single and Winnipeg got another field goal, Goltz's touchdown and a single.
The Bombers lost their best receiver in the third quarter when rookie Chris Matthews was crushed to the turf by Montreal's Kryies Hebert.
He was out cold and took a few minutes to regain his feet but said after the game he felt fine. He also added another 55 yards to his total for the season, bringing him to 1,192, good enough for sixth in the CFL.
Next season, the Bombers will be playing at Investors Group Field, located at the University of Manitoba.
ESKIMOS FIRE GM TILLMAN
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Eskimos couldn't, or wouldn't, single out any one reason for firing general manager Eric Tillman.The team announced on Saturday it had ended Tillman's contract effective immediately and Eskimos president and CEO Len Rhodes said in a statement that he "did not see Eric as a part of this team moving forward."
But Rhodes, at a media conference, insisted over and over that there was no single cause for Tillman's dismissal. "It's what I believe is in the best interests of the club," said Rhodes. "We've decided to go with someone else."
The timing, however, is surprising as Edmonton (7-11) still qualified for the post-season.
