Oct 2, 2009 - 11:12 PM
0 shoutsWINNIPEG (CP) - Winnipeg's Jovon Johnson returned a missed field goal 118 yards for a touchdown as the Blue Bombers defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 27-17 in CFL action Friday.
It was the first time this season Winnipeg has won back-to-back games this season but came in front of a season-low crowd of 21,965 at Canad Inns Stadium.
Edmonton (6-7) has now lost four of its last five games.
Winnipeg (5-8) got its first TD from receiver Adarius Bowman in the second quarter and Johnson notched his early in the third.
Eskimo kicker Neil Prefontaine's 43-yard field-goal attempt missed wide left and Johnson elected to bring it out of the end zone, dodging would-be tacklers for the second-longest return in team history.
The record is held by Albert Johnson III, who returned a kick 122 yards in 2000.
Bombers kicker Alexis Serna hit all three of his field-goal attempts from 24, 32 and 41 yards. Prefontaine conceded a pair of safeties for Winnipeg's other points.
Edmonton scored its lone TD off a three-yard pass from Ricky Ray to Maurice Mann late in the first quarter. Bomber punter Mike Renaud also conceded two safeties.
Prefontaine was good on field goals from 18 and 41 yards, and played a key role in his 18-yarder.
Taking a high snap late in the second quarter, the 11-year CFL veteran pulled the ball in and ran 31 yards up an open side of the field until he was stopped at Winnipeg's 44-yard line.
Ray tried to march the offence into the end zone, but had to settle for the short field goal.
Penalties hurt both teams, but the Bombers were the benefactors late in the second quarter.
Eskimos defensive back Bobby Keyes was called for pass interference on Bomber receiver Otis Amey in the end zone and Winnipeg took the ball at Edmonton's one-yard line.
Bombers QB Michael Bishop rolled out on the next play and connected with Bowman for his fourth TD of the season with 17 seconds left.
Edmonton led 7-6 after the first quarter.
Kick returner Tristan Jackson fumbled a Winnipeg punt and Bomber linebacker Shawn Gallant recovered the ball at Edmonton's 21-yard line.
The free possession only led to Serna's 24-yard field goal.
Mann's second-quarter TD was aided by a 60-yard bolt through traffic by running back Arkee Whitlock. The six-play, 80-yard drive ended with Mann's three-yard catch at 12:38.
Winnipeg took a 13-10 lead into the dressing room at halftime and scored the only points of the third quarter.
Johnson started it off with his return, Prefontaine conceded a safety and Serna nailed his 41-yarder into a strong wind.
Winnipeg led 25-10 starting the fourth, but Edmonton responded quickly with Prefontaine's 41-yarder into the wind at 1:03.
Prefontaine conceded his second safety three minutes to boost the Bomber lead to 27-13.
The teams then exchanged turnovers, with Bishop and Ray being intercepted, but neither led to points.
Ray was replaced by Jason Maas with about six minutes left in the game.
Maas appeared to connect with Kamau Peterson for a 19-yard reception to Winnipeg's six-yard line, but a review ruled the catch incomplete.
Maas went to Peterson again on third and six, but the veteran receiver couldn't pull in the pass and Edmonton turned the ball over on downs with just over a minute to go.
Renaud conceded a pair of safeties to end the scoring.
Bishop completed 20-of-34 passes for 184 yards with one TD and one interception. Ray was 24-of-39 for 188 yards, one TD and one interception.
Notes: Bombers running back Fred Reid ran 16 times for 83 yards, the fifth game in a row he hasn't gone over 100 yards rushing.
