Eric Wilbur’s 37-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game was wide left as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers fell 26-25 to the Hamilton Tiger Cats on Wednesday night at Canad Inns Stadium.
Hamilton quarterback Henry Burris scored on a nine-yard run as the Tiger-Cats went 81 yards in nine plays on their opening drive and never trailed in the game. Burris completed 16-of-22 for 154 yards in his 30 minutes of work.
Buck Pierce, who did not play in Winnipeg’s 22-10 victory over the Alouettes in Montreal in their pre-season opener last week, completed five-of-15 pass attempts for 154 yards. He hooked up with Kito Poblah for a 57-yard gain which set up Alex Brink’s one-yard quarterback sneak 5:15 into the second quarter. Pierce also found Chris Matthews for a 45-yarder and Terrence Edwards for 30 yards.
Brink started the second half and found Doug Pierce with a 14-yard touchdown pass 6:44 into the third quarter. Quarterbacks Justin Goltz and Joey Elliott both saw playing time in the fourth quarter. The Bombers got within two points late in the game as Elliott found Kurt Adams with a 30-yard touchdown pass with 4:20 remaining. The two-point covert failed as Goltz’ pass to Jeremy Blount fell incomplete.
Linebacker Rene Stephan suffered a right arm injury midway through the third quarter. Defensive back Demond Washington left the game late in the third. He took a knee to the helmet while making a tackle. Offensive lineman and 2012 first round draft pick Tyson Pencer suffered a shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter and long-snapper Jordan Matechuk limped off the field late in the game.
Cut down day is Saturday as the football club has to get down to its 46-player roster and seven-man practice squad.
Winnipeg will open the 2012 season on Friday, June 29th in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions. The Blue Bombers will play four straight on the road. The home opener is Thursday, July 26th against the Edmonton Eskimos.
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