Let the real games begin.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers closed out their pre-season schedule with a 30-19 loss to the BC Lions on Friday at Princess Auto Stadium.
The final score meant nothing as the Bombers rested almost all of their starters including quarterback Zach Collaros after three weeks of training camp.
Lions wide receiver Nick Cenacle scored his second touchdown of the game late in the first half to give the Lions a 20-13 lead at the break. And the Bombers only TD in the second half came in the final minute in the 11-point loss.
“I liked the effort they gave,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “We have a lot of good movies to watch and maybe some tough decisions to make.”
Taylor Elgersma and Bryce Perkins scored the Bombers only hits on quarterback sneaks.
Elgersma completed 11 of his 20 passes for 127 yards and rushed for another 18 yards.
“I felt comfortable,” Elgersma said. “I felt like I was getting a good look at it. I think there’s definitely a couple that were close. And we’re almost hitting big plays and we’re almost extending the drives further and putting more points on the board. But I think — did a better job of eliminating turnover-worthy plays.
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“You have to be hard on yourself. You have to be your own harshest critic if you want to improve. But you also have to be able to shake it off and come to work the next day and come compete.”
Elgersma is clearly eligible for the backup QB job after playing the first three quarters, but after the game O’Shea still wouldn’t commit to Elgersma as a backup.
“I thought he opened with a pretty good drive,” O’Shea said. “He was rolling it really well and there are always plays that every quarterback wants to have again. But I still like what I hear when he gets on the can with Tommy (Condell) and he’s talking. He sees the game really well.”
Perkins played the final quarter and was 7-for-10 for 51 yards.
Christian Fredericksen led the Bombers in receiving with six catches for 79 yards.
Lions first-string quarterback Nathan Rourke only played on the first three drives and had 91 passing yards before exiting the game.
The Bombers must now make their final cuts before Friday’s season opener in Calgary against the Stampeders.
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