Game Summary

It was game #1 in the post-Jeff Reinebold era as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers played host to the Edmonton Eskimos. However, for the 19,448 in attendance on this cold, overcast day, the result was not what they were looking for as the Eskimos put up 30 unanswered points in the first three quarters and coasted to a 40-20 victory. The Eskimos opened the scoring 57 seconds into the match when DB Dwayne Provo stepped in front of a Troy Kopp pass and returned it 44 yards for the major. Fleming added the first of his four converts on the day. The Eskimos made it 13-0 at 12:51 of the first quarter when WR Marcus Dowdell corralled an 11-yard pass from QB David Archer. Fleming’s convert rounded out the first quarter scoring with Edmonton on top by a 14-0 count. Fleming opened up the second quarter scoring at 5:12 connecting on a 37-yard FG. The Eskimos rounded out the first half scoring when Winnipeg Grant Carter’s snap sailed over the head of punter Bob Cameron and into touch for a two-point safety sending the teams into the locker room with the Eskimos up by a 19-0 score. Fleming increased their lead to 22-0 at 9:25 of the third quarter when he recorded his third FG of the game, this one from 36-yards out. The Blue Bombers’ troubles continued when Kopp’s lateral sailed past RB Sean Millington and was scooped up by DL Leroy Blugh in the end zone. Fleming’s convert and ensuing 88-yard kickoff single made the score 30-0 in favour of the Eskimos after three quarters of play. Fleming’s assault on the Bombers continued in the fourth quarter when he added his fourth FG of the day, a 20-yard effort 3:10 into the final frame. The Bombers finally got on the scoreboard at 7:45 when RB Deland McCullough scampered in from 7 yards out. K Troy Westwood added the convert. However, the Eskimo machine countered right back when RB Troy Mills rambled for a 15-yard rushing major. Fleming’s convert upped Edmonton’s lead to 40-7. Winnipeg would account for the game’s final points when SB Milt Stegall snagged a 10-yard Kopp pass at 11:52. Westwood added the convert. DB John Kalin then scooped up a blocked Fleming punt and scored from 15 yards out. The Bombers’ two-point convert attempt failed making the final from Winnipeg Stadium, Edmonton 40, Winnipeg 20. The win improved the Eskimos’ record to 8-7, while the Bombers fell to 2-13.