Blue Bombers outlast Lions in Round 1 of home-and-home

Maurice Leggett came off the bench for a game-saving tackle on speedster Chris Rainey to preserve the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' 37-35 home win against the B.C. Lions on Saturday.

In a wild first leg of a home-and-home series, Winnipeg (9-6) drew level with B.C. (9-5) for second place in the West Division by the margin of a couple yards. Down by four points in the final two minutes at Investors Group Field, Lions QB Jonathon Jennings had three completions in a row to set the Lions' short-yardage offence up with second-and-2 on the Blue Bombers' 5-yard line.

Rookie FS Taylor Loffler stuffed Anthony Allen short of the sticks. On third-and-1, the Lions ran the jet sweep to Rainey that had produced a touchdown in the first half. Leggett slipped between the blockers to level Rainey for a turnover on downs with 44 seconds left. Winnipeg ran down the clock before taking an intentional safety.

Leggett, who leads the CFL with seven interceptions, had spent much of the second half on the sideline with an apparent right knee injury.

The teams reconvene at BC Place on Friday.

Winnipeg's strong suits, the pass rush and special teams, set up Clarence Denmark's winning TD midway through the fourth quarter. Jamaal Westerman derailed a Lions drive by sacking Jennings. On the ensuing exchange of possession, Kevin Fogg shook loose for a 53-yard punt return to the Lions' 34. Two plays later, a double fake in the backfield helped Denmark sneak behind FS Mike Edem for a 22-yard score.

Winnipeg QB Matt Nichols was 22-of-32 for 233 yards with two touchdowns, and also had caught a 4-yard TD pass from SB Rory Kohlert. Andrew Harris had 116 yards from scrimmage (12 rushes for 66, five receptions for 50) and a touchdown. Tim Flanders also added a rushing TD. Justin Medlock was 3-of-3 on field goals.

Jennings was 28-of-38 for 422 yards with two interceptions for the Lions, who rallied after falling behind by 21 points midway through the second. Bryan Burnham made nine receptions for 208 yards, while Emmanuel Arceneaux added 10 for 150.

Rainey had 298 all-purpose yards. Allen and backup QB Travis Lulay also chipped in rushing TDs. Richie Leone was 4-of-5 on field goals.

The Lions took their first lead, 30-27, when Lulay scored on a 1-yard QB sneak with 2:17 left in the third quarter. Rainey ignited the drive with a 44-yard punt return.

After falling behind 24-3, the Lions scored 17 points in the final seven minutes of the second quarter. Rainey 56-yard TD run came out of a short-yardage set where he motioned behind the line of scrimmage and, thanks to blocks from Allen, FB Rolly Lumbala, and RT Jovan Olafioye, sprinted through the Winnipeg defence.

Burnham broke off a 55-yard reception on the next Lions possession, setting up Allen's TD with 2:40 left in the half. The Lions defence promptly forced a punt. A no-yards penalty by DB Julian Posey and a roughing-the-passer call on Westerman assisted the Lions in adding a field goal on the last play of the half.

The Blue Bombers scored on four of their first five possessions, including three consecutive drives. The second scoring drive included two trick plays. Dressler rushed 20 yards on a fake field goal. Two plays later, Harris took a direct snap and lateraled to Kohlert, who passed to the unattended Nichols in the end zone.

Leggett made a 46-yard interception return to set up the third Winnipeg touchdown, a 16-yard rush from Flanders. The veteran Sam linebacker was injured early in the third quarter, but stayed active on the sideline before returning for the game-deciding play.