Blue Bombers hold off Redblacks late to sweep home-and-home series

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their home-and-home series with the Ottawa Redblacks 19-12 Friday night at TD Place in Ottawa.

With less than two minutes remaining, Ottawa (0-2-0), managed to get the ball down to the Winnipeg 17 yard line but came up empty-handed.

In the season opener for both sides, the Blue Bombers defeated the Redblacks 19-17 last Wednesday.

Collaros finished Friday’s game 15 for 22, for 228 yards, and two touchdowns. Jeremiah Masoli, Ottawa’s quarterback, completed 27 of 38 passes for 331 yard. But it was Lewis Ward, the Redblacks’ kicker, who scored all the points with four field goals in five attempts.

Both teams had a difficult first half due to lack of discipline. Ottawa took seven penalties for 51 yards, while Winnipeg took six for 55 yards.

The half ended with Ottawa holding a narrow lead of 9-7 after the Bombers scored an important touchdown in the last minute. Winnipeg marched downfield and Collaros found Greg Ellingson to score a touchdown pass of 13 yards with 16 seconds remaining.

The Bombers tried to convert the two-point conversion but were stopped twice. Ottawa received a penalty for illegal touch on their first attempt. Winnipeg was placed on the one yard line before they were stopped again.

Winnipeg took a 10-9 lead after a 30-yard field kick on the opening drive in the second half.

Ward made a field goal of 38 yards late in the third quarter, bringing Ottawa within a point. Three of the four field-goal attempts by Ward were successful for the Redblacks.

The 29-year-old made a rare miss with a 37-yard attempt in half one, but he recovered with 37- and 32 yard kicks.

Hamilton will be in Winnipeg on June 24. Ottawa will be absent next week, before hosting the B.C. Lions on June 30,