WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers snapped a four-game losing skid with a 31-14 victory over the Montreal Alouettes at Investors Group Field on Friday night.
Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols finished the game with 256 yards and one touchdown pass while Kenbrell Thompkins led all receivers with 94 yards and five catches for Winnipeg.
Als pivot Johnny Manziel‘s first start in six games was spoiled by the Blue and Gold, and his first CFL win will have to wait.
Bombers defensive lineman Craig Roh had Manziel’s number all night, sacking the former college star three times.
Winnipeg jumped out to an early lead on their opening series of the game. The Bombers appeared to find momentum quickly as Nichols connected with Drew Wolitarksy for a 19-yard gain on just his second pass of the night, placing the Blue and Gold in Montreal territory.
Als defensive lineman Woody Baron managed to slow Winnipeg down by sacking Nichols just a couple plays later on a key second down.
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Kicker Justin Medlock salvaged the opening drive by booting a 50-yard field goal to give Winnipeg a 3-0 lead.
The Bombers got the ball right back after a quick two-and-out by the Alouettes.
Andrew Harris became the first running back to eclipse the 1000-yard rushing mark this season following a 17-yard run on the drive.
Nichols continued to move the sticks, finding Thompkins for a long 22-yard gain.
Montreal got into penalty trouble after being called for illegal contact on a receiver deep in their own territory on a Bombers second down. Winnipeg capitalized on the costly mistake on the next play of the game. Nichols made a short pass to Harris, who then bolted into the end zone for the first major of the night.
The successful extra point give the Bombers a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
A 41-yard kickoff return by Stefan Logan gave Manziel and company favourable field position on the ensuing drive. The Als managed to get on the board with a 47-yard field goal from Boris Bede to cut the Bombers lead to 10-3 after the opening 15 minutes.
The Bombers and Als opened the second quarter by exchanging field goals.
Looking to put more distance between the Als late in the half, Nichols slung a long ball to Darvin Adams for a 49-yard completion to put Winnipeg in the red zone. Kienan Lafrance capped off the drive by charging across the plane to give the Bombers a comfortable 20-6 lead heading into halftime.
Harris did not return to the game in the second half after suffering a lower body injury.
Looking for a spark, Manziel decided to show off some trickery in the third quarter.
The pivot handed the ball off to Eugene Lewis, who then passed the ball back to a wide open Manziel on the opposite side of the field. Manziel ran for 22 yards after the catch to put the Als just short of the red zone.
The risk payed off. Antonio Pipkin finished off the drive with a two-yard major to set up a 21-13 game heading into the final quarter.
However, that was as close as the Als would get.
Medlock pulled the Bombers further away with a 43-yard field goal, his third of the night, to give Winnipeg a 24-14 lead.
The Als got the ball back with three minutes to go, but Marcus Sayles picked off a Manziel pass to seal the deal for the Bombers.
Nichols continued to show off his arm late in the game, tossing a 42-yard pass to Thompkins just short of the end zone. Chris Streveler put the nail in the coffin capping off the drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak for the Bombers third touchdown of the night.
Winnipeg is on the road next week to take on the Edmonton Eskimos, while the Als are back at home for a date with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
