News

Quarterback Kevin Glenn and most of his Blue Bomber teammates will be sitting in front of TV sets Saturday afternoon with crossed fingers.

Winnipeg's 20-17 win over the Montreal Alouettes Friday night put the 10-7-1 Bombers back in first place in the CFL East Division, one point ahead of the 10-7-0 Toronto Argonauts.

But the Argonauts can take the top spot away from the Bombers with a win or tie in Saskatchewan on Saturday afternoon.

If Toronto wins, Winnipeg would host the Alouettes (8-10-0) in the division semifinal Nov. 11. The winner of that game would travel to Toronto for the final Nov. 18.

"It matters, it matters a lot," said Glenn, who'll watch the Toronto-Saskatchewan game with his wife, if his teammates don't organize a get-together. "Even though we were in control of our own destiny and we didn't handle it (last week) and now we're hoping that somebody else takes care of it for us.

"Finishing in first place would sound a lot better than finishing in second. Not saying that second place is bad, it's still a home playoff game."

Winnipeg lost 16-8 to the Argos last week in a game where the offence featured some overthrown balls by Glenn, missed catches by receivers and special teams' breakdowns that led to two Toronto TDs.

Glenn said the win over Montreal was a good effort by all three phases of the team, and something special by backup running back Fred Reid.

Reid rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns and had three catches for 32 yards, including one 34-yard reception that helped the Bombers run out the clock. He had two catches for minus yards.

The 25-year-old rookie was getting his second straight start in place of injured running back Charles Roberts, who is close to returning from a deep thigh bruise.

"I know somebody may have said this before, that he was the best-kept secret in the CFL," Glenn said. "He's no secret right now."

Reid, whose pro experience is limited to a training camp stint with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005, scored on an 18-yard run in the game's opening drive and added a one-yard TD plunge midway through the second quarter.

"I'm glad I can just contribute in a good way," said Reid, who rushed one game for 200 yards with Mississippi State in 2004 when he replaced the starter.

"I feel like I can play a big part in this offence."

Bomber placekicker Troy Westwood connected on field goals from 30 and 21 yards and missed from 49 and 43 yards in front of a season-low crowd of 23,744 at Canad Inns Stadium.

Montreal running back Avon Cobourne ran for a three-yard TD and slotback Ben Cahoon stretched for a 19-yard TD reception for the Als' points. Placekicker Damon Duval booted a 15-yard field goal and missed a pair from 50 and 49 yards.

Glenn completed 15 of 29 pass attempts for 196 yards and one interception. The East nominee for the league's Most Outstanding Player award, Glenn set a new Bomber record for pass completions in a season with 397.

Montreal quarterback Marcus Brady was 13-of-35 for 235 yards, one TD and one interception.

Winnipeg led 20-14 at halftime. The third quarter was scoreless after Westwood missed two field goals.

"We can't only come away with three points in the second half when we come into the playoffs," Brady said. "This is a good Winnipeg defence and they knew they had to step it up because this was a big game for them. They stepped in up in the second half."

But he's not overly worried if he and his teammates meet the Bombers in the playoffs.

"I'm definitely looking forward to the playoffs," Brady said. "I think we're going to have something for them."

The penalty-filled game took almost three and a half hours to play. Winnipeg had 15 penalties for 126 yards and Toronto was flagged 15 times for 135 yards.

Notes — If Bombers SB Milt Stegall does retire after this season, he'll finish second on the CFL all-time receiving yardage list with 14,695 yards, 196 yards behind Allen Pitts. ...Montreal WR Ben Cahoon moved into 10th place on the list with 10,329 yards a Bombers OL Obby Khan left the game with a suspected tricep injury and had no comments a Montreal O-lineman Skip Seagraves tore the patella tendon in his leg.