Westwood’s field goal gives Winnipeg 24-22 win over Als in East semifinal
WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are off to the CFL’s East final.
Embattled Blue Bombers kicker Troy Westwood kicked the winning 20-yard field goal on the last play of the game Sunday to give his team a 24-22 win over Montreal in the East Division semifinal.
Winnipeg faces the Toronto Argonauts next weekend for the right to go to the Grey Cup.
Sunday’s win was Winnipeg’s fourth of the season over the Als, who came into the game with their first losing record (8-10) since they rejoined the CFL in 1996. The Bombers were 10-7-1.
Montreal led for most of the game, which was played with swirling, gusting winds in front of a season-low crowd of 22,843 at Canad Inns Stadium.
The turning point came with 1:35 left in the game when Montreal quarterback Marcus Brady kept the ball on a third-and-one gamble and was stopped. A Montreal challenge was unsuccessful and the Alouettes turned the ball over for the fourth time in the game.
Winnipeg took over at the Als’ 44-yard line.
Running back Charles Roberts ran three times for 24 yards and quarterback Kevin Glenn ran for three yards to set up Westwood’s kick.
Westwood, whose inconsistency this season put him in head coach Doug Berry’s doghouse, had earlier missed a go-ahead 39-yard field-goal attempt with about five minutes left in the game.
The 17-year veteran, who likely won’t be back next season, said before the game he relished having the opportunity to make the winning kick.
Winnipeg got its TDs on a 19-yard reception by Milt Stegall and 19-yard run by Roberts, who missed the past two games with a deep thigh bruise.
Westwood also booted field goals from 18 and 33 yards and added a 74-yard punt single.
Westwood now has 45 career playoff field goals, moving him into third place on the CFL’s all-time playoff list.
Montreal’s scoring came off a one-yard run by fullback Kerry Carter and a 65-yard TD reception by Kerry Watkins. Damon Duval connected on field goals from 43 and 20 yards and Winnipeg conceded a safety.
Montreal led 16-10 at halftime after a first half that featured two Montreal turnovers and one by Winnipeg.
After the Bombers scored on their first possession with the TD toss to Stegall, Montreal receiver Ashlan Davis appeared to score on a reverse early in the second quarter.
However, a Bombers challenge reversed the call and it was ruled Winnipeg linebacker Ike Charlton had pulled Davis down before the ball crossed the goal-line.
With third and one yard to go, Brady handed the ball to running back Jarrett Payton, who was stuffed by Bombers linebacker Barrin Simpson.
Payton left the game late in the third quarter after a rib injury that kept him out of last week’s game flared up.
The Bombers used the turnover on downs to claw their way close to midfield, but Glenn’s throw to O’Neil Wilson bounced off his gloves into Montreal cornerback Davis Sanchez’s hands.
The Als took over at Winnipeg’s 50-yard line and it became the Eric Deslauriers show.
The rookie Montreal receiver made a leaping grab and stayed in bounds for a 39-yard reception and then hung onto a low 10-yard throw at the one-yard line.
After Brady was stopped on the next play, fullback Kerry Carter plunged in for the tying TD at 6:15 to make it 7-7.
Late in the second, newly acquired Als kick returner Bashir Levingston fumbled a punt return. Winnipeg linebacker Neil McKinlay recovered the ball at Montreal’s 35, leading to Westwood’s 18-yarder.
On Montreal’s next possession, Brady fired the ball to Watkins, who got a good block from offensive tackle Luke Fritz and ran 65 yards for the TD and 14-10 edge at 13:19.
Westwood, who also did the punting in place of Pat Fleming (sore leg), conceded a safety to finish the first-half scoring.
Turnovers also played a role in the second half.
Glenn threw his second interception of the game (15th of the season) midway through the third quarter when Als DB Randee Drew stepped in front of a pass intended for Stegall.
After a drop by Watkins cut the drive short, Duval booted his 43-yarder and made it 19-10 at 7:48.
Roberts scored his TD at 9:27 of the third to finish off a four-play, 75-yard drive aided by Montreal penalties for a face mask and pass interference.
Bombers cornerback Juran Bolden, who missed the past three games with a back injury, stretched out and intercepted Brady six minutes into the fourth quarter.
Westwood ended up kicking the 33-yarder.
After missing his 39-yard attempt, he closed the lead 22-21 with a 74-yard punt single at 12:52.
Categories