CFL.ca Staff

MONTREAL – The Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicked off their respective pre-season schedules Thursday night with numerous starters on the sidelines at Percival Molson Stadium.  

It was a battle of the backups at quarterback as Alex Brink made the start for the Bombers while Adrian McPherson began under centre for the Alouettes.

It was Brink and the Bombers that would prevail as they earned a 22-10 victory.

Rookie Canadian Rory Kohlert helped the Bombers get rolling on offence as he hauled in a 30-yard pass to put Winnipeg inside the Montreal 10 yard line but Brink went 0 for 2 and was forced to settle for a 23-yard Mike Renaud field goal with 7:37 left in the first quarter.

McPherson would get his chance to answer on Montreal’s next drive but overthrew a receiver, lofting the ball into the waiting arms of Bombers DB Jonathan Hefney who returned it to the Als’ 52 yard line.

Brink would hand the ball right back over two plays later however, as he fumbled on the Bombers’ 48 yardline after feeling pressure from the Montreal pass rush.

Montreal would fail to capitalize and Brink would lead the Bombers down the field on the opening drive of the second quarter to help Eric Wilbur knock another Winnipeg field goal through and go up 6-0.

Angelo State grad Josh Neiswander would enter the game at quarterback for the Alouettes with just over 12 minutes left in the first half, signalling the end to McPherson’s evening.  

He wouldn’t waste any time putting points on the board, completing an impressive drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Travon Patterson to put his club up by a point.

Joey Elliott would take over at quarterback for the Bombers midway through the second quarter, his first action since Week 3 of the 2011 campaign when he suffered a season-ending ACL tear.

He would help the Bombers put another three points on the board, leading his club down the field following a Johnny Sears interception.

The Bombers would enter halftime with a 9-7 lead.

Winnipeg would open up a nine-point lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter when rookie tailback Bloi-Dei Dorzon raced 38 yards for a major.  The drive would be answered by an Als field goal cutting the Bombers lead to 16-10.

Justin Goltz became the third Blue Bombers quarterback to see action, entering with just over six minutes left in the third quarter.

He would help the Bombers increase their lead to 19-10, setting up another Wilbur field goal from 38 yards out.

The Alouettes would then look to Elon product Scott Riddle to take over at quarterback to close out the game.  Meanwhile, Elliott would make another appearance and Brink would return to finish up the contest for Winnipeg.

Justin Palardy would add a 14-yard field goal with 1:30 left to finish the scoring.