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Blue Bombers top struggling Lions

Aug 14, 2011 - 5:48 AM Vancouver, BC (Sports Network) - Winnipeg used three rushing touchdowns to get past British Columbia, and the Blue Bombers continued their outstanding play with a 30-17 decision over the Lions at Empire Field.

Backup quarterback Alex Brink carried the ball twice for Winnipeg (6-1), and both times he touched the ball, he found the end zone. Fred Reid also added a score on the ground and finished with 36 rushing yards. Buck Pierce was not at his best, but the signal caller managed the game for the Blue Bombers and tallied 237 yards on 18-of-24 passing. Pierce also tossed an interception and was sacked three times.

Travis Lulay was very ineffective for British Columbia (1-6), finishing with just 103 yards on 12-of-23 passing. Jarious Jackson also saw time under center, and while he did throw a touchdown, he completed only six of his 19 passes for 124 yards. Jackson was sacked four times in the loss and was intercepted once.

The Lions were able to get on the scoreboard early, as Lulay led the Lions down the field with five straight completions, but it was Tim Brown that found the end zone with a six-yard run.

The first points for Winnipeg came off the foot of Justin Palardy, who drilled a 43-yard field goal late in the opening frame.

The Blue Bombers took a 10-7 lead early in the second stanza when Brink crossed the goal line on a two-yard run.

BC responded midway through the frame when Paul McCallum connected on a 20- yard chip shot, tying the game at 10 apiece.

Winnipeg went back on top 13-10 late in the first half when Palardy split the uprights with a 32-yard kick. That score would hold as the two teams entered the intermission.

Overall it was a sloppy first half, as Winnipeg and British Columbia combined for 12 punts.

The Blue Bombers came out of the break looking like a completely different team. On their first possession of the third quarter the Bombers wasted no time finding the end zone, as Reid capped off a five-play drive with a four- yard touchdown run.

Winnipeg extended its lead to 27-10 late in the quarter as Brink found the end zone for the second time, and this score came on a short one-yard plunge.

Later in the frame the Blue Bombers added a 31-yard field goal by Palardy, burying British Columbia deeper into a hole.

With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Jackson was able to connect with Akeem Foster on a 54-yard scoring strike. However, it was too late for BC to fight all the way back and the Blue Bombers were able to hold on for the victory.

Game Notes

This the first four-game winning streak for Winnipeg since 2003...The Bombers have won three consecutive road matchups for the first time since 1982...This is the first 6-1 start for Winnipeg since 1984.