Most people are familiar with a “Game Ball.” It goes to a player who played exemplary football; someone who went above and beyond. Fewer, are familiar with the “Jock,” an award that often goes to an idiotic, or underperforming play.

These two teams have played each other close this year, with Winnipeg being on the losing end both times! While the game was never out of reach, Winnipeg only scored 4 points in the first half. In large part that was due to Toronto’s relentless pressure; which we knew was their game plan after we saw that they dressed 9 D-Linemen. Yet Chad Kelly heard footsteps and saw shadows; largely in part due to Willie Jefferson (who had tons of pressures but had zero defensive stats)! And that is the thing about stats, they do not always tell the full story.

But with that, we will look at some stats, as we access the Game Ball winner.

And while I will not capture everyone on defense, here were the Bomber leaders that game.

Game Ball
So who do you like? You may totally disagree with my selection, and I am 100% fine with that. The guy that I am choosing this week did not jump off the page. In fact, some will say that his performance was simply not good enough. No, do not worry, I am not giving it to Castillo. And as mentioned earlier, Willie Jefferson would be a worthy recipient. So would Tony Jones. But I am going to go to the offensive side of the ball. I am giving my Game Ball to…Zach Collaros!

Look, it really is not his fault that he was sacked that many times, hang that on the O-Line. I am actually thankful that Collaros did not try and do too much and throw more interceptions. Rather, he ate the ball, took the sacks, peeled himself off of the ground, and did not play scared. And although he did not throw a TD, but did throw an INT, his stat line was not terrible. But none of that is the reason that he gets my Game Ball. He gets it for one reason and one reason only….he will do whatever it takes to win!

Sure, at times that means that he will force the issue and throw a pick. But he doe not play scared, and he does not play reckless. And he is willing to lay it on the line; late in his career with a history of head injuries. Whatever you think about that – almost – 17 yard scramble, he showed he is a gamer! Did the Bombers get jobbed on the spot? Maybe. But Zach Collaros showed that to him winning is everything.

Yes, the Bombers still lost. And, no, they have not secured a West Final at this point. But when your quarterback makes that type of run, that type of effort, laying out – literally – I guarantee you that reverberates through the locker-room and has an impact for the rest of the season.

For doing all you could possibly do to help your team win, Collaros, you get my Game Ball.

Jock
Look, if you want to give the Jock to Command Centre, I totally get it. To me, Collaros had the first down by a yard – if someone out there is more informed than I am on the rule of the play please enlighten us on the ruling.

But as for me, I will not go there. I had a short conversation with a lady in the parking lot and it went a bit like this:

Me: “Well, you cannot blame that lose on the refs.”
Her: “Sure you can.”
Me: “No, the Bombers had enough opportunities that they did not capitalize on that would have made that play irrelevant.”
Then we went our own ways.

This week the Jock is going to one of the three phases of the game. I cannot give it to the defense, they did what they needed to do. I could give it to the the offence, or the offensive line. I could give it to special teams – they just are not getting enough out of the return game. Or I could give it to Castillo, make those kicks and the Bombers win. Or maybe Sheahan, who was out punted by about a 5 yard average – combine that with a better Toronto return game and that sure makes a difference.

But in a game where everything that could go wrong did go wrong, for the first time ever…I will let you hand out the Jock.

Let me know in the comments section, wherever you are reading this, who you give the Jock to.

But before then, make sure to watch the highlights to refresh yourself before making your selection.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments section wherever you are reading this.

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