THE CANADIAN PRESS
WINNIPEG — Don’t tell the Bombers their 36-13 pre-season win Wednesday night over the Alouettes doesn’t count for anything.
True, they’ll have to wait until June 24 to impact the standings, but a strong showing in all three phases has their 2016 campaign off to a strong start.
For a team seeking a culture change, winning in pre-season matters.
“It’s huge,” said running Bombers running back Andrew Harris, who powered his way to a six-yard gain on his first unofficial carry as a Bomber. “This city needs it, this club needs it and I’ve been telling the guys to get used to this.”
Bombers fans watched intently as the Winnipeg native put on the royal blue for the first time on Wednesday. Harris headlines a trio of major off-season additions that have given the Bomber offence a brand new look.
Ryan Smith was the first one involved with a 32-yard catch on the Bombers’ first completion. Weston Dressler was the holder on field goals but didn’t take any offensive snaps. In the end, it was Harris that energized Bombers fans the most.
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The 29-year-old rushed for six yards on his first carry of the game and sent Investors Group Field into a frenzy when he took a screen pass, broke a tackle and sprinted into the end zone, only to have the play reduced to a 16-yard gain on a holding penalty.
“That was good,” Head Coach Mike O’Shea said of Harris’ effort. “Really good.”
Consistency eluded O’Shea’s club through the first half, as Drew Willy completed only three of six passing attempts in a quarter of action before turning the game over to Matt Nichols. Nichols completed all three of his passes for 14 yards but quickly made way for Dominique Davis and Bryan Bennett.
A Tim Flanders touchdown on the last play of the half tied the game at 13 apiece through 30 minutes, while in the second half O’Shea said his team did a nice job cleaning up the penalties and missed tackles. Sergio Castillo, the backup to Justin Medlock, hit four of five field goal attempts in the game but in the end it was the duel between the Bombers’ third and fourth string quarterbacks that sparked the victory.
Both put in strong efforts, as Davis completed five of nine passes with an interception and set up a touchdown while Bennett threw for 67 yards and scored twice, once on the ground and once through the air.
“They understand that three guys dress,” O’Shea said of the competition. “They both played very well, they both made the plays they were asked to make. And good for them, that’s great. You love it when guys get opportunities and they make good on it.”
“This city needs it, this club needs it and I’ve been telling the guys to get used to this.”
Andrew Harris
In the end, it all comes back to getting in the habit of winning football games – even if they don’t yet count in the standings. That was the sentiment for the Bombers veterans new and old, as well as O’Shea.
“It’s fun, winning’s fun,” said O’Shea. “They get to enjoy their teammates, and a bunch of guys made plays. When they watch film there’s going to be a little bit of pride.
“They understand that this is an exhibition game, but it’s still football, there are still guys trying to hit you all the time. And the other team’s trying to win too.”
“With winning, it all starts with winning your one on one battles,” added Jamaal Westerman, who had a sack for six yards among two defensive tackles. “Any time you can get a win I think it’s a great thing because it means enough guys won their one on one battles to win the game.
“Of course I think it’s an important step and it’s something you want to get used to.”
And in the end, no one has emphasized the importance of changing the culture more than Harris, someone who’s kept a close eye on the Bombers from afar.
“The feeling of winning is something you need to get used to,” said Harris. “You need to understand how to do it and how to appreciate it.
“It was a big win – even though it’s pre-season you can’t overlook that.”
