Game Summary

22,208 fans packed Winnipeg Stadium for their home opener. With former Blue Bomber Matt Dunigan on the sidelines for Birmingham, they were looking to trounce the ’Cudas for their first win of the season. Birmingham had other plans. In their first ever CFL regular season half the ’Cudas scored four touchdowns and one field goal. Birmingham defensive back Andre Strode opened the scoring at 5:34 of the first quarter intercepting a Sammy Garza pass and returning it for a touchdown. Two minutes and thirty-three seconds later QB Jimmy Klingler and WR Jason Phillips connected for a 96 yard passing touchdown. The ’Cudas defence again opened the door when DE Donavan Gans recovered a Garza fumble. With forty seconds left in the first quarter, the ’Cudas capitalized on the turnover and scored their third touchdown of the game. CB Junior Thurman continued Birmingham’s domination on defence by intercepting a Garza pass and returning it 61 yards for a touchdown. K Franco Grilla, who had already converted all four Birmingham touchdowns, finished off the first half scoring binge with a twenty-three yard field goal at 14:23. Winnipeg managed to get on the board 4:06 into the second half with a 39 yard Troy Westwood field goal. Much of the rest of the third quarter was a defensive battle with no scoring until Blue Bomber punter Bob Cameron scored a single with 1:04 left in the quarter. Winnipeg got their first passing TD of the season and only their second touchdown of any kind when Garza hit Allan Boyko with a three yard pass. The ’Cudas scored twice more as P Scott Player booted a single and Klingler hooked up with WR Derrick Crawford for a three yard touchdown pass. The Baracudas recorded their first ever regular season win in their first CFL game in decisive fashion 38-10.