THE CANADIAN PRESS
WINNIPEG — Kevin Glenn threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns while running back Marcus Thigpen made CFL history as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 39-28 in CFL action Friday night.
The victory improved Hamilton’s record to 3-4 and gave them the 3-1 win in the teams’ four-game season series.
Winnipeg dropped to 2-5 in front of 27,892 fans at Canad Inns Stadium.
CFL history was made on Hamilton’s first touchdown of the game.
When Thigpen ran in a five-yard TD to cap his team’s first drive of the game, he became the first player in league history to score a touchdown five different ways in one season.
Earlier this season, the rookie out of Indiana University returned a punt, kickoff and missed field goal for touchdowns and also caught a TD pass.
The kickoff and missed field goal return scores were also against Winnipeg with the punt return and receiving TD’s versus Calgary.
Winnipeg’s woes began before the first whistle, when new Bomber placekicker Louie Sakoda pulled his calf muscle during the pre-game warm-up and didn’t play.
Sakoda was signed earlier in the week after Alexis Serna was cut. Punter Mike Renaud took over the kicking duties, but didn’t have to attempt a field goal.
Hamilton also scored off a 55-yard catch from league-leading receiver Arland Bruce III, a three-yard reception and two-yard run by running back DeAndra Cobb and a 19-yard catch from slotback Marquay McDaniel.
Placekicker Sandro DeAngelis booted a 35-yard field goal and punter Eric Wilbur added a 62-yard punt single to round out Hamilton’s points.
Glenn completed 18-of-26 passes for 274 yards, the three TD’s and two interceptions.
Winnipeg slotback Terrence Edwards hauled in a 21-yard TD toss from Steven Jyles and a 32-yard TD pass from Buck Pierce, who was back starting after missing the previous three games with a sprained right knee.
However, Pierce was replaced by Jyles late in the second quarter after completing 7-of-12 passes for 63 yards with the one TD and one interception.
Jyles finished 14 of 22 for 227 yards, two TD’s and no interceptions.
Winnipeg’s other points came off a 55-yard interception return by cornerback Jovon Johnson and a nine-yard TD pass from Jyles to Adarius Bowman.
The Tiger-Cats mounted a 14-0 lead on their first two series of the game off Thigpen and Bruce’s TD’s.
Pierce then threw a pass to Edwards, who fought with Ticat defensive back Jason Shivers for the ball. After they both fell to the ground, the referee ruled it a Shivers’ interception that stood up against a Bomber challenge.
Hamilton came away with nothing from the turnover and Edwards soon showed up Shivers.
Pierce tossed his 32-yard pass to Edwards, who got behind Shivers in the end zone to make it 14-7 at 10:04 of the first quarter.
Hamilton put up 17 straight points in the second quarter off Cobb and McDaniel’s TDs and DeAngelis’ field goal to go ahead 31-7.
Cobb’s TD at 11 seconds of the second quarter came after Winnipeg receiver Aaron Hargreaves fumbled a catch late in the first that was recovered by Ticat linebacker Otis Floyd at Winnipeg’s 17-yard line.
The Bombers also had a turnover on downs in the first half, but Hamilton did nothing with it.
Johnson ran back his interception for the TD and Wilbur added his single for a halftime Hamilton lead of 32-14.
Winnipeg had the only scoring of the third quarter after the teams traded turnovers.
Bomber running back Fred Reid fumbled early in the quarter, but the Ticats couldn’t capitalize.
Late in the quarter, Winnipeg defensive back Brady Browne intercepted Glenn in the end zone and ran the ball out 60 yards. The drive ended with Bowman’s TD at 13:08, cutting Hamilton’s lead to 32-21.
Winnipeg fans’ earlier boos turned to cheers after the score, but they were soon silenced with Cobb’s second TD at 2:26 of the fourth.
The Bombers appeared to have a late TD catch by Brock Ralph, but he was ruled out of bounds in the end zone. Winnipeg didn’t have any challenges left.
Edwards’ second TD of the game ended the scoring at 14:18.
