Three Things We Learned: Argonauts — Blue Bombers

Alec Gearty

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Three Things We Learned: Argonauts — Blue Bombers image

On Thursday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts kicked off Week 5 of the CFL season. In front of a crowd of 25, 085, Andrew Harris's two-touchdown performance led the Blue Bombers to the 33-25 win as well as a vital win in terms of the Crossover.

Here is what we learned and what we saw from Winnipeg and Toronto on Thursday:

Martese Jackson is money

After bouncing around from roster to roster last year, Jackson cracked the Argos roster in 2017. His primary role was to be used on the kick return and punt return teams. In his second game with the Argos, Jackson was set at his own 35-yard line for the Blue Bombers punt. Jackson fielded the punt and sprinted down the Blue Bombers sideline for the 78-yard touchdown — as seen below.

Jackson would add a 109-yard return as well before it was later called back due to an illegal blocking penalty assessed to the Argos’ Llevi Noel. Jackson compiled a total of 339 total return yards, which are the fourth most that a player had in a game in CFL history. The infraction would cost Karen Kuldys, from Winnipeg, $1 million.

In Safeway and Sobeys' Touchdown to Win contest, if there is a kick returned for a touchdown a fan will win a $25,000 theatre package. If there are two kickoffs returned for a touchdown, the same fan would recieve $1 million. As the infraction was called on Noel, Kuldys and her family saw their $1 million dissappear. Commisioner Randy Ambrosie came to the rescue roughly 24 hours later. 

“We’re all fans and whatever team you root for, we would all love to see a CFL fan win a million dollars," Ambrosie said in a statement. "We all feel for Karen and what she must have gone through last night, and what she must still be feeling today. I was in Winnipeg for the game and I spoke with her today. On behalf of the CFL, I invited her and her family to come to Grey Cup this year as our guests,

Along with the perk of going to the 105th Grey Cup, Kuldys recieved Blue Bombers' season ticket, airplane miles to add to that $25,000 theatre package she had no issue winning. 

Ricky Ray remains on verge of history

When the time comes for Ricky Ray to call it a career, there is no doubt he will leave as one of the CFL’s greatest players. Ray will celebrate his 38th birthday in Week 18, and given his age, Ray is doubted by many who wonder if the veteran still has enough left in the tank for the Toronto Argonauts. They were wrong. 

In Week 4's Thursday night game at Winnipeg, Ray looked revitalized under new head coach Marc Trestman, throwing for 330 yards in a 33-25 loss to the Blue Bombers. Despite the Argos’ immense air-game, Ray remains in sixth place for most passing touchdowns all time by a CFL quarterback. 

Ray has thrown 300 touchdowns in his 15-year CFL career. Besides Kevin Glenn, no other active quarterback is in striking distance of Ray — even Glenn is 33 touchdowns behind. 

It would have been taken a career-game for Ray to reach Matt Dunigan’s 306-touchdown mark but Ray still had a chance to cut the lead. Instead, Ray had his worst outing of the season.

While Ray threw for over 300 yards in his fourth straight game, the Blue Bombers held Ray to his first scoreless game of the season.

Winnipeg's defense has potential to be the best

Led by TJ Heath, the Bombers defense could be very hard to beat. Heath was traded to Winnipeg last September in a package deal that involved sending quarterback Drew Willy to Toronto. On Thursday, Heath faced his former team and he would make them regret that decision. 

Ray was moving the Argos' along near midfield. With under a minute remaining and down by eight, the Argos' were desperatly relying on the passing game. However, as Ray dropped back; Heath cut S.J Green's route for the interception. Heath solidified the Blue Bombers' first home win of the year but more importantly, Winnipeg kept Ray's offense off the scoresheet for the majority of the second half. 

Entering Week 5, Heath leads the CFL in interceptions with four. Sam Hurl and Maurice Leggett also add one each to the team's total. The Blue Bombers find themselves inside the top-five of each major defensive statistic — total points allowed, interceptions, and sacks. What's next for Winnipeg? A matchup with the BC Lions — the CFL's second-highest scoring team.

Alec Gearty