Bombers stun Lions with 13 points in final 3 minutes

Buoyed by two late takeaways, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers scored 13 points over the final three minutes to beat the B.C. Lions, 35-32, in their second-place showdown on Friday.

In a see-saw second game of a home and home between the West Division rivals, Justin Medlock put Winnipeg (10-6) on top with a 24-yard field goal with 14 seconds left. The winning kick, and fifth lead change of the night at B.C. Place, was set up by rookie special teamer Shayne Gauthier stripping the ball from the Lions' Chris Rainey on a kickoff return with 2:12 left.

Jesse Briggs recovered the fumble on B.C.'s 49-yard line, and Matt Nichols patiently used up almost all of the remaining time while navigating Winnipeg into easy field-goal range.

The Bombers forced six turnovers, but struggled to convert them into points during the first 57 minutes. The lack of finish likely played into coach Michael O'Shea settling for a field goal on third and goal from the one-yard line with 2:59 left, which pared B.C.'s lead to 32-25.

On the next play, Lions QB Jonathan Jennings was intercepted by CB Kevin Fogg, who went down the sideline for a 50-yard return to B.C.'s 10. Clarence Denmark got open on a corner route for the tying TD on the next play.

Winnipeg was plus-4 on takeaways, improving its CFL-best ratio to plus-34.

The Lions (9-6) were unable to conserve time for a response since their last timeout was rescinded after coach-GM Wally Buono had unsuccessfully challenged an illegal contact penalty earlier in the fourth quarter. After Medlock's go-ahead kick, Rainey nearly atoned for his cough up by returning the ensuing kickoff to midfield. Richie Leone's 62-yard attempt at a tying field goal was straight, but several yards short.

The teams could potentially meet again in the West semifinal. The Lions (9-6) have another home game with playoff implications next week against the Edmonton Eskimos (8-7), while Winnipeg has a bye before a home-and-away series with East-leading Ottawa.

Nichols was 27-of-38 for 301 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and also added a rushing touchdown. Andrew Harris had 153 yards from scrimmage (12 rushes for 73, eight receptions for 80), while Denmark added six receptions for 75. Medlock was 7-of-7 on field goals.

Jennings was 22-of-39 for 327 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while another pick was thrown by Jeremiah Johnson on a trick play. Rainey and national receiver Shawn Gore had touchdown receptions, while backup QB Travis Lulay added a rushing score. Leone was 3-of-5 on field goals with two singles, one of which came when he missed a 29-yarder.

Winnipeg safety Taylor Loffler, who played for the University of British Columbia, made two interceptions and also forced a fumble which set up a field goal. Not to be outdone, fellow national safety Mike Edem has also made two interceptions since joining the Lions.

Blue Bombers G Sukh Chungh (right knee) did not play in the second half.