The Calgary Stampeders (6-3) hosted the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4) on Saturday night in their third and final meeting of the regular season. Vernon Adams Jr. and Zach Collaros were back as the starting quarterbacks for Calgary and Winnipeg.
First Quarter:
Winnipeg started the first quarter at the 37-yard line. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw two passes for 20 yards. Wide receiver Nic Demski rushed for four yards, and Collaros threw two more passes for nine yards to the 40-yard line. Kicker Sergio Castillo made a 49-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 10:13 left.
Later, Winnipeg punt returner Trey Vaval returned a 36-yard punt for 33 yards to the 13-yard line. Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira carried the ball twice for 12 yards, and backup quarterback Chris Streveler scored a one-yard touchdown for a 10-0 lead with 3:23 left.
Calgary’s offense struggled in the first quarter with eight yards (6 yards passing, 7 yards rushing, 5 yards lost) as they trailed Winnipeg 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. Winnipeg’s offense had 57 yards (37 yards passing, 20 yards rushing).
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 42-yard pass to Brady Oliveira at the 23-yard line. Two plays later, Collaros found Jerreth Sterns wide-open for the touchdown. Winnipeg extended its lead to 17-0 with 13:35 left to cap off a seven-play drive for 78 yards.
Calgary’s offense started at the 32-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a pass to Tevin Jones. Jones broke two tackles on his way to scoring a 78-yard touchdown. The Stampeders trailed the Blue Bombers 17-7 with 12:25 left.
On the kickoff, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes kicked the ball 90 yards to Trey Vaval. The ball went over Vaval and bounced into the endzone, where Vaval conceded the single point. Calgary trailed Winnipeg 17-8.
Later, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw three passes for 36 yards, and running back Brady Oliveira rushed for 32 yards to the seven-yard line. Oliveira gained another yard to force a third down at the six-yard line. On third down, Calgary’s defense stopped Chris Streveler, forcing a turnover at the five-yard line.
After Calgary’s offense went two-and-out, Winnipeg returner Trey Vaval returned a 55-yard punt for 17 yards to the 53-yard line. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw two passes for eight yards to the 45-yard line. On third down, kicker Sergio Castillo made a 53-yard field goal for a 20-8 lead with 3:26 left.
Late in the second quarter, Vernon Adams Jr.’s pass to Dominique Rhymes was incomplete. A defensive pass interference penalty on Winnipeg defensive back Jake Kelly placed the ball at the 30-yard line. The offense moved the ball to the eight-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Tevin Jones. The Stampeders trailed the Blue Bombers 20-15 with 1:56 left to cap off a five-play drive for 70 yards.
On the kickoff, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes kicked the ball 87 yards into the endzone for a single point. It was now 20-16. Winnipeg’s offense moved the ball to the 29-yard line. Kicker Sergio Castillo made a 37-yard field goal. The Blue Bombers led the Stampeders 23-16 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Winnipeg’s offense had 241 yards (171 yards passing, 70 yards rushing), 11 first downs, 1 for 2 in the redzone, and the team was penalized two times for 45 yards. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 13 of 15 passes (86%) for 169 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for four yards.
Running back Brady Oliveira had eight carries for 56 yards and seven catches for 90 yards. Wide receiver Nic Demski made two catches for 26 yards, and Jerreth Sterns made one catch for 23 yards and one touchdown. The defense made one tackle for loss and one sack.
Calgary’s offense had 135 yards (109 yards passing, 31 yards rushing, 5 yards lost), 6 first downs, 1 for 1 in the redzone, and the team was penalized three times for 20 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 6 of 10 passes (60%) for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Dedrick Mills had seven carries for 30 yards. Wide receiver Tevin Jones made two catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns, while Clark Barnes made one catch for 10 yards. The defense made one tackle for loss and one turnover on downs.
Third Quarter:
In the third quarter, Calgary return Kaylon Horton returned a 70-yard kickoff for 41 yards to the 51-yard line. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw two passes for 50 yards, and running back Dedrick Mills rushed for three yards to the six-yard line before the drive stalled. Kicker Rene Paredes made a 14-yard field goal. The Stampeders trailed the Blue Bombers 23-19 with 12:43 left.
Later, Calgary running back Dedrick Mills had two carries for 17 yards, followed by quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. throwing three passes for 53 yards to the 24-yard line. On third down, kicker Rene Paredes made a 31-yard field goal. The Stampeders trailed the Blue Bombers 23-22 with 4:11 left.
Late in the third quarter, Calgary linebacker Jacob Roberts sacked Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros for a seven-yard loss. On the final play of the third quarter, Winnipeg punter Jamieson Sheahan punted the ball 43 yards to Kaylon Horton. Horton returned the ball for four yards to the 36-yard line. A no yards penalty on Winnipeg moved the ball to the 47-yard line. The Stampeders trailed the Blue Bombers 23-22 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
In the fourth quarter, Calgary’s offense moved the ball to the 27-yard line. Kicker Rene Paredes made a 34-yard field goal. The Stampeders took a 25-23 lead with 12:43 left.
Later, Calgary’s defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings sacked Collaros for a one-yard loss. It was Calgary’s third sack of the game. Calgary’s offense started on the 48-yard line. Running back Dedrick Mills had two carries for seven yards to the 39-yard line.
On third down, kicker Rene Paredes missed a 46-yard field goal wide left. Winnipeg returner Trey Vaval returned it for 36 yards to the 28-yard line with 3:25 left.
Late in the fourth quarter, Winnipeg’s offense moved the ball to the 53-yard line. Calgary defensive lineman Charles Wiley sacked Collaros for a two-yard loss, forcing third down. Kicker Sergio Castillo kicked a 63-yard field goal. The Blue Bombers took a 26-25 lead with 1:01 left. On the kickoff, Castillo kicked the ball 100 yards. The ball bounced into the endzone and out of bounds for a single point. It was now 27-25.
The ball was placed on the 55-yard line. Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw two passes for 30 yards, and running back Dedrick Mills had two carries for seven yards to the 33-yard line. Kicker Rene Paredes kicked a game-winning 40-yard field goal to give the Stampeders a 28-27 win over the Blue Bombers. The win snaps Calgary’s two-game losing streak, and for the first time since 2016 sweep the Blue Bombers in the regular season.
Final Stats:
Calgary’s offense had 408 yards (300 yards passing, 113 yards rushing, 5 yards lost), 17 first downs, 1 for 2 in the redzone, and the team was penalized three times for 20 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 17 of 24 passes (70.8%) for 300 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Dedrick Mills had 18 carries for 105 yards. Wide receiver Jalen Philpot led the receivers making five catches for 88 yards, while Tevin Jones made two catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. The defense made 45 tackles, two tackles for loss, four sacks, and one turnover on downs.
Winnipeg’s offense had 303 yards (216 yards passing, 101 yards rushing, 14 yards lost), 16 first downs, 1 for 2 in the redzone, and the team was penalized five times for 76 yards. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 21 of 26 passes (80.7%) for 214 yards, one touchdown, and three carries for 23 yards.
Running back Brady Oliveira had 12 carries for 68 yards and led the receivers making nine catches for 100 yards. Wide receiver Kevens Clercius made three catches for 32 yards, and Jerreth Sterns made three catches for 27 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 37 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack.
Next week, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday at 8:30 pm on TSN, CBS Sports Network, and CFL+. The Calgary Stampeders are on a bye week.
