Bombers rarin’ to face Rourke

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This article was published 11/11/2022 (1277 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are to defend the Grey Cup again this year, winning their third consecutive title, Deatrick Nichols wants to know they did it playing against the opponent’s best.

To that end, the Bombers defensive back is happy to know when he lines up against the B.C. Lions offence in the West Division final at IG Field Sunday, it will be quarterback Nathan Rourke behind centre. To show his respect for Rourke and what he’s done in just his second season in the CFL, Nichols gave him a quick shoutout for returning to B.C.’s lineup following a serious injury.

“He had what was supposed to be a season-ending injury and he came back and is playing with his guys. So, I’m happy to see him back out there doing what he loves,” Nichols said following Bombers practice Friday. “He’s a great football player that understands the details of what’s going on in the game and he’s played very well. But he’s going have to come out here and play some good football.”

Nichols is the key piece of a secondary that will be tasked with stopping Rourke and an offence filled with playmakers, particularly at receiver. He’s comfortable with the secondary, even if the group has had to adjust to injuries, filling holes with a couple inexperienced pieces such as Jamal Parker, who is a rookie, and Desmond Lawrence, who has played 15 games with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats over the past two seasons but has played just one game for Winnipeg after being signed as a free agent last month.

“They understand their assignments. They came ready, with their head down, threw away whatever they thought they knew and listened,” Nichols said. “They’ve put in the extra work and they deserve what they’re doing.”

Rourke had a stellar start to the season and was on pace to shatter several CFL records. But in his 10th game he suffered a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot, a diagnosis that threatened to sideline him for the season.

Rourke would eventually return in late October, in time to test out his foot in a regular-season finale loss to the Bombers. In 10 games, including a win over the Calgary Stampeders in the West semi-final, the 24-year-old has 3,349 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, with a completion percentage of 79 per cent (255-of-324).

He then led the Lions to a win over the Calgary Stampeders in the West semi-final last week, finishing 22-of-30 passing for 321 yards and two touchdowns. But by the end of the game Rourke was walking with a noticeable limp, and while he was able to move around in the pocket with relative ease, he had just one rushing attempt for five yards.

For someone who hurt teams almost as much with his legs as he did his arm — Rourke rushed 39 times for 304 yards and seven touchdowns — should the Bombers be thinking he won’t have much mobility to run this week, especially on what’s expecting to be a cold and wet IG Field?

“I’m sure if he has the opportunity to run and is open, I mean, it’s the West final, where it’s won or go home, he’s probably going to take it,” said Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson. “But if he wants to stay back and not run, that’s on him.”

Either way, Jefferson said it’s on the defensive line to get pressure on Rourke and force him into making bad plays. With the game in Winnipeg, in the cold and in front of the home crowd, he’s feeling good.

“It’s a high confidence level,” Jefferson said. “We’re playing at home, in front of our fans, in our stadium, in our environment with the (snowy) conditions. These are the things we Iook forward to, so come game time, when we put the pads on, we’re stepping out there for one another.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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