Bombers looking to register second straight victory when they face Ticats

“He plays with a lot of passion and he’s one of those guys that knows how to win games. He played great. I thought our whole offence played great. We’ve just got to continue to do that.”

The Bombers can end some dubious streaks with a victory over the Ticats, whose wins have all come on the road this season. Winnipeg hasn’t won at home in its last six tries (three this season) and the last time it registered consecutive victories was in July 2014.

Harris, who signed with his hometown club in the off-season, wants to give Winnipeg fans something to cheer about. The tailback certainly did his part against Edmonton, running 22 times for 127 yards — his first 100-yard effort of the year — and scoring his first TD of the season.

Harris credited an attitude change as one reason why the offence, particularly the offensive line, played so well.

“I think we just got kind of sick of being bullied a little bit and we played with an attitude and a passion and a little chip on our shoulder,” Harris said. “I’ve been talking about that all week and we’ve got to maintain that and keep playing with that kind of passion.”

Nichols vowed he’ll be fired up again and said the team showed its identity last week.

“Last week, we did a lot of good things in all three phases where we were very aggressive, hitting people, taking it to them rather than kind of sitting back on our heels and hoping good things happen,” Nichols said.

Nichols will be dealing a receiving corps that took more hits on the injury front last week. Starters Weston Dressler and Darvin Adams are out, joining Ryan Smith who’ll miss a third straight game.

Wide receiver Kris Adams will make his CFL debut, while veteran slotback Clarence Denmark re-signed with his former club Sunday.

Winnipeg’s secondary has also been ravaged by injuries and will once again start four rookies.

“We don’t ever look at a team as a wounded animal because they’re not,” said Hamilton head coach Kent Austin, whose team is coming off a bye week. “They’re a good football team and we need to play well.”

Winnipeg’s only other victory this season was a 28-24 road win over the Ticats on July 7. The Bombers forced six turnovers in that game.

Jeremiah Masoli, who’s guiding the Ticats’ offence in place of injured starter Zach Collaros, threw two interceptions and fumbled three times in the loss.

“They played a hard, aggressive game on defence but at the same time, we were just shooting ourselves in the foot all the time,” Masoli said. “I think we’ve come a long way since that game.”

Masoli definitely has, especially considering his performance before Hamilton’s break.

Masoli recorded a CFL-record 23 straight completions in a 37-31 win over Edmonton on July 23, a game that saw Hamilton erase a 25-point deficit.

“Even with the bye week, a lot of guys are still feeling confident, still feeling the momentum from that game,” Masoli said. “I think we’ll be able to capitalize on some of that.”

Masoli will start against Winnipeg. Austin said Collaros may be ready to play next week after recovering from last year’s season-ending knee injury.

It might be too much to expect Winnipeg’s defence to again force six turnovers, but defensive back Bruce Johnson says the unit will try.

“That week . . . we worked hard and got six (turnovers),” Johnson said. “This time when we come around, we’ll try to get more.”

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Bombers looking to register second straight victory when they face Ticats

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