The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-2) visited Hamilton Stadium on Sunday night to close out the FanDuel Canada Day Weekend against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-2).
The Blue Bombers got the ball to start the game at the 43-yard line. On the first play of the game, quarterback Zach Collaros attempted to quickly throw the ball to Tim White, but it was intercepted by Hamilton defensive back Destin Talbert at the 46-yard line. Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell threw two passes for 27 yards, including a 20-yarder to Kiondre Smith to the 19-yard line.
On the next play, Mitchell threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Lawler. Lawler fought Winnipeg defensive back Jonathan Moxey for the football. After making the catch, he kept both feet inbounds by sliding. The play was automatically reviewed, and the touchdown was good. The Tiger-Cats took a 7-0 lead with 12:44 left to conclude a three-play drive for 46 yards.
Late in the first quarter, Winnipeg had the ball on the 46-yard line. Running back Brady Oliveira rushed for five yards, and Zach Collaros completed a three-yard pass to Nic Demski to the 380yard line. Kicker Sergio Castillo made a 46-yard field goal. The Blue Bombers trailed the Tiger-Cats 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg had the ball on the 46-yard line. Hamilton’s defense pressured Collaros, and Reggie Stubblefield hit him, causing a fumble, but Winnipeg recovered. Collaros was dinged up after the play. Hamilton would get the ball at the 17-yard line. Zach Collaros was out for the rest of the game, and Taylor Elgersma was the new quarterback for Winnipeg.
Bo Levi Mitchell threw five passes for 67 yards, and running back Larry Rountree III had two carries for eight yards to the three-yard line. On third down, kicker Marc Liegghio made a 10-yard field goal for a 10-3 lead with 8:33 left.
After Winnipeg went two-and-out, Hamilton had the ball on the 34-yard line. The Tiger-Cats moved the ball to the 27-yard line, plus a defensive pass interference penalty moved the ball to the 12-yard line. The drive stalled, and kicker Marc Liegghio made a 14-yard field goal for a 13-3 lead with 2:42 left.
Late in the second quarter, Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira had two carries for 15 yards. The Blue Bombers continued to move the ball to the 47-yard line. Kicker Sergio Castillo attempted a 56-yard field goal, and it was not good. The ball rolled into the endzone, where Isaiah Wooden Sr. conceded the single point. The Blue Bombers trailed the Tiger-Cats 13-4 at halftime.
Hamilton’s offense had 199 yards. Bo Levi Mitchell went 15 of 25 for 188 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Kiondre Smith made five catches for 76 yards, and Kenny Lawler made four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Winnipeg’s offense had 81 yards. Zach Collaros went 5 of 7 for 41 yards and one interception. The 41 yards moved Collaros to second place on Winnipeg’s all-time passing list. Taylor Elgersma went 2 for 2 for 13 yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had eight carries for 32 yards, and Nic Demski made three catches for 27 yards and one carry for six yards.
Hamilton got the ball to start the third quarter on the 26-yard line. They moved the ball to the 48-yard line. On the next play, Winnipeg defensive lineman Jake Ceresna sacked Mitchell, and Mitchell’s left ankle went the other way. Bo had a cast put on, and he was loaded in the ambulance. The game was delayed for a bit while another ambulance arrived at the stadium.
Once another ambulance arrived, the game resumed. Tre Ford was the new quarterback for Hamilton. Winnipeg returner Trey Vaval gave the Blue Bombers great field position with a 46-yard return to the 31-yard line. On the next play, Taylor Elgersma shoveled the ball to Ontaria Wilson, who avoided a tackle on his way to scoring the touchdown. The Blue Bombers trailed the Tiger-Cats 13-11 with 10:41 left.
Hamilton quarterback Tre Ford would complete three passes for 14 yards, and rushed for a yard, while both teams went two-and-out for the rest of the third quarter. The Tiger-Cats led the Blue Bombers 13-11 to end the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Tre Ford appeared to have thrown a touchdown to Kenny Lawler, but a closer look at the instant replay showed Lawler did not make the catch. Both offenses were not able to make much progress with the backup quarterbacks. Late in the game, Tre Ford’s pass intended for Kenny Lawler was intercepted by Major Williams for a 17-yard run to the 41-yard line.
For the rest of the game, Winnipeg relied on Brady Oliveira, who carried the ball seven times for 40 yards to the 15-yard line. Kicker Sergio Castillo made a 23-yard field goal with 21 seconds left. Jake Dolegala went in for the final eight seconds. On the last play, he was sacked by David Reese. The Blue Bombers defeated the Tiger-Cats 14-13.
Winnipeg’s offense had 200 yards (127 passing yards, 97 rushing yards, 24 yards lost), 13 first downs, 0 for 1 in the redzone, and the team was penalized six times for 75 yards. Quarterback Taylor Elgersma completed 11 of 15 passes (73%) for 86 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for three yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had 17 carries for 84 yards, and one catch for eight yards.
Wide receiver Ontaria Wilson made two catches for 39 yards and one touchdown, while Nic Demski made four catches for 29 yards and one carry for six yards. The defense made 36 tackles, one tackle for loss, two sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.
Hamilton’s offense had 281 yards (240 passing yards, 61 rushing yards, 20 yards lost), 19 first downs, 1 for 3 in the redzone, and the team was penalized seven times for 75 yards. Quarterback Tre Ford completed 3 of 7 passes (42.8%) for 12 yards, one interception, and one carry for one yard. Running back Larry Rountree III had nine carries for 45 yards.
Wide receiver Kiondre Smith made seven catches for 90 yards, while Kenny Lawler made five catches for 64 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 40 tackles, two tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble.
Next Friday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Toronto Argonauts at 8:30 pm on TSN and CFL+, while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday at 7 pm on TSN, CBS Sports Network, and CFL+.
