The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ decision to challenge an eight-yard catch-and-run midway through the second quarter of Friday’s clash with the Calgary Stampeders baffled fans watching from coast to coast, but it appears head coach Mike O’Shea knew exactly what he was doing when he threw the flag.
“Yeah, I should probably pick it up but I’m just so pissed off at that point. Emotion got the best of me,” O’Shea admitted to the Winnipeg media following the victory.
“I know the result is going to be we’re not going to get any yards after that so I shouldn’t worry about proving a point. I should just pick the challenge flag up and go to second-and-10.”
The play was initially ruled an incompletion on the field but replay showed that receiver Nic Demski got his hands underneath the football. The command centre awarded the reception after review but the ball could not be advanced past the catch point as the play had been blown dead. As Demski was behind the line of scrimmage, that resulted in a two-yard loss for Winnipeg on the successful challenge.
While broadcasters and viewers speculated that O’Shea had not been properly informed about this potential outcome, the head coach confirmed to bemused reporters that he fully understood the consequences of his decision.
“Yeah, I know, it’s not smart. But I won the challenge,” he grinned wryly.
“Second-and-12, second-and-10, we’re already in field goal range. We convert anyway, thank goodness, but it’s stupid on my part. I know what’s gonna happen, they can’t give us any yards. I’m just so angry at that point, which is not good.”
Quarterback Zach Collaros hit Demski again for a 14-yard gain on the next play, erasing any damage done by the challenge. The drive resulted in a 28-yard field goal from kicker Sergio Castillo, as Winnipeg went on to a thrilling 41-37 victory.
The normally steady-handed O’Shea was reluctant to reveal what made him so irrationally angry that he needed to challenge on principle, alluding to the potential for CFL fines. After some prodding, he admitted to taking issue with the way the play was officiated.
“The guy on our sideline has it as a catch. It gets overruled by a guy who’s thirty or forty yards away,” the Hall of Famer shrugged. “Yes, there’s a bounce but from that distance, you can’t see whether the receiver’s hands are touching or whether they’re open. You can’t possibly see that, so I don’t know how that can happen.”
O’Shea made his point with the challenge flag and managed to avoid major repercussions for his team. The Bombers (2-4) have now won two straight games and will next visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday, July 19.
