Buck helps Bombers down Hamilton 34-12 for third win of the season

WINNIPEG – Buck Pierce threw for 288 yards and a touchdown to lead the Blue Bombers offence Friday night as Winnipeg delivered one of its best performances this season to down the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 34-12.

Justin Palardy kicked four field goals as the Bombers (3-9) ended a four-game losing streak and beat the Ticats (4-8) for the second time this season.

Chad Simpson closed in on 200 yards rushing and receiving as the Bomber offence also put an end to their touchdown drought that had stretched into 16 quarters of football.

Backup Alex Brink ran one yard for the third-quarter touchdown that ended it, but it was Pierce who returned lustre to an offence that had produced only two wins since he went down with a foot injury in July.

He connected with Kito Poblah in the fourth quarter for another touchdown and then Will Ford ran 17 yards for a third.

Pierce’s passing numbers for the night were more than double those of Hamilton quarterback Henry Burris, who finished with 156 yards passing.

Hamilton lost its first game in Winnipeg this season thanks largely to turnovers. This time it was penalties that helped sap the Ticats’ momentum.

The first half of the game was a field goal dual between Palardy and Hamilton’s Luca Congi that Palardy won 9-6.

Congi had two more in the third quarter but Brink’s touchdown kept the Bombers in the lead.

Palardy also had a fourth field goal in the fourth quarter and a single.

Notes: Terrence Edwards moved into fourth on the Bomber all-time receiving list when he passed 6,296 yards.