Winnipeg, MB (Best E Casino) - Ryan Dinwiddie connected with Romby Bryant on a 35-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to an exciting 32-28 win over the Calgary Stampeders.
Dinwiddie completed 24-of-39 passes for 450 yards for the Blue Bombers (1-4), who captured their first win of the 2008 season in the final minute after they had briefly lost the lead 32 seconds earlier. Bryant caught six passes for 152 yards and Terrence Edwards had seven receptions for 143 yards in the win.
Henry Burris ended 31-of-44 for 386 yards and three touchdowns for the Stampeders (3-2), who entered the game as winners of two straight. Ken-Yon Rambo caught nine passes for 133 yards while Nik Lewis added seven receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns for Calgary.
Calgary took a 28-25 lead with 52 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. An 11- play, 75-yard drive culminated in a six-yard TD pass from Burris to Jeremaine Copeland, who was wide open in the back of the end zone due to blown coverage by the Winnipeg backfield.
The Bombers took the ensuing kickoff back to the 44-yard line. On first down, a screen pass to Charles Roberts was good for 13 yards and Dinwiddie then found Arjei Franklin over the middle for a big gain. The Bombers were within field goal range and needed three points to force overtime, but instead opted to try for the winning score.
With enough time to go for the end zone once before the field goal attempt, Dinwiddie tossed a perfect pass that Bryant caught in the front right corner of the end zone next to the pylon with 20 seconds to play. Bryant snuck behind Calgary defender Brandon Browner and brought the ball in as he was falling to the ground for the winning score.
A last gasp attempt by Burris was knocked down in the final seconds.
The Blue Bombers held a 5-0 lead thanks to a pair of singles and a 24-yard field goal by Alexis Serna before a touchdown early in the second quarter gave the hosts a 12-0 lead.
A five-play, 69-yard drive was highlighted by a nice touch pass from Dinwiddie to Bryant, who snared the ball in the midst of traffic and took it to the five-yard line. Two players later, Graeme Bell ran into the end zone from one yard out with 11:23 on the clock.
But Calgary answered on the ensuing possession and answered with a 69-yard scoring drive of its own, this one included six plays. From the 13-yard line, Burris dropped back and connected with Lewis in the end zone. The Bombers challenged the catch, but the call stood.
After a Stamps single, the teams traded field goals -- a 30-yarder by Serna and a 45-yard boot by Sandro DeAngelis -- and went into the locker rooms with the hosts leading, 15-11.
Two field goals by Serna and one off the foot of DeAngelis provided all the scoring in a mostly defensive third quarter before a 30-yard scoring strike from Burris to Lewis with 8:01 to go in the fourth gave Calgary a 22-21 edge.
The combination of a Winnipeg single and a 45-yard field goal by Serna in the latter stages of the final stanza moved the Bombers ahead, 25-22.
Game Notes
Franklin finished with 92 receiving yards...Lewis now has five TD catches this season...Winnipeg outgained the Stamps in total yards, 531-423...Dinwiddie, a product of Boise State, made his second career start -- his first was in last year's Grey Cup when he replaced the injured Kevin Glenn. The Bombers lost 23-19 to Saskatchewan in that title game...Calgary RB Joffrey Reynolds, who entered the game leading the CFL in rushing, was held to 35 yards on eight carries.
