The Calgary Stampeders (3-4) visited Princess Auto Stadium on Friday night against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-3) in their second meeting of the season. They met back in Week 1 with the Blue Bombers winning by two points. Dru Brown made his third straight start for Winnipeg. Unlike their first meeting, this game saw a ton of scoring and new records set.
In the first quarter, Winnipeg got the ball on the 25-yard line. Quarterback Dru Brown threw two passes for seven yards. Calgary’s offense got the ball on the 51-yard line after Tyreik McAllister returned a punt for 21 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw two passes for 42 yards to the 17-yard line. On the next play, the offensive line opened a hole for Tyreik McAllister to rush for a 17-yard touchdown. The Stampeders took a 7-0 lead with 11:50 left on a three-play drive for 59 yards.
Midway through the first quarter, Calgary’s offense moved the ball to the 48-yard line before a penalty moved them back to the 53-yard line. Punter Mark Vassett punted the ball 55 yards into the endzone, where returner Trey Vaval conceded the single point. It was now 8-0 with eight minutes left.
Late in the first quarter, Winnipeg moved the ball to the 26-yard line. On the next play, quarterback Dru Brown’s pass intended for Ontaria Wilson was intercepted by Ben Labrosse at the 12-yard line. Calgary’s offense went to two-and-out. Winnipeg returner Trey Vaval returned a 43-yard punt by Mark Vassett for 41 yards to the 27-yard line as the first quarter ended. Calgary’s offense had 71 yards, and Winnipeg’s offense had 41 yards.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg was called for a holding penalty for a loss of 10 yards. Winnipeg quarterback Dru Brown threw a screen pass to Nic Demski. He had blockers in front of him and bulldozed his way into the endzone for a 37-yard touchdown. The Blue Bombers trailed the Stampeders 8-7 with 14:11 left on a two-play drive for 27 yards.
Calgary started its next drive on the 14-yard line. Vernon Adams Jr. threw three passes for 35 yards to the 49-yard line, while Quincy Vaughn rushed for two yards, and Dedrick Mills rushed for three yards to the 54-yard line. On the next play, Vernon Adams Jr. found a wide-open Tyreik McAllister in a busted coverage play for a 56-yard touchdown.
It was now 15-7 with 10:28 left to conclude a six-play drive for 96 yards. With that touchdown, it was Adams Jr.’s 21st consecutive touchdown pass without an interception, which is the most in CFL history. He also has thrown the most touchdowns (18) to start a season without an interception.
Winnipeg had the ball on the 53-yard line. Their offense gained seven yards but was short of the first down. Kicker Sergio Castillo attempted a 58-yard field goal. He missed it wide left. Calgary returner Tyreik McAllister found the crease, blowing by everyone for a 118-yard missed field goal touchdown. It was now 22-7 with 8:13 left. Tyreik McAllister became the first player in CFL history to score a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown, and a kick return touchdown.
Winnipeg had the ball on the 35-yard line. Dru Brown and company moved the ball to the 13-yard line. On the next play, Winnipeg’s offensive line opened a hole for Brady Oliveira, who went untouched for a 13-yard touchdown. It was now 22-14 with 2:33 left to conclude a 10-play drive for 75 yards.
For the rest of the second quarter, Calgary kicker Jude McAtamney made a 52-yard field goal, and Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 50-yard field goal. The Stampeders led the Blue Bombers 25-17 at halftime.
Calgary’s offense had 205 yards. Vernon Adams Jr. went 11 of 13 with 177 yards and one touchdown. Running back Tyreik McAllister had one carry for 17 yards, one touchdown, one catch for 56 yards, and a touchdown, and a kick return for 118 yards, and a touchdown. Wide receiver Jalen Philpot made three catches for 59 yards, and Erik Brooks made five catches for 39 yards.
Winnipeg’s offense had 189 yards. Dru Brown went 13 of 17 for 136 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Brady Oliveira had seven carries for 55 yards, and one rushing touchdown. Wide receiver Nic Demski made four catches for 66 yards and one touchdown, while Ontaria Wilson made four catches for 35 yards.
Calgary got the ball to start the third quarter on the 41-yard line. On the first play of the third quarter, Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Philpot for a 32-17 lead with 14:17 left. Later, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 36-yard field goal. It was now 32-20 with 9:52 left.
Midway through the third quarter, Calgary had the ball on the 21-yard line. Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 14-yard pass to Erick Brooks to the seven-yard line. Then, Adams Jr. threw a touchdown pass to Tevin Jones for a 39-20 lead with 3:58 left on a three-play drive for 21 yards.
Winnipeg had the ball on the 14-yard line. Two plays in, Dru Brown’s pass intended for Tim White was intercepted by Ben Labrosse. He attempted to pitch it to Marquel Lee, but Ontaria Wilson dove to get the ball back on the 35-yard line. Dru Brown threw three passes for 30 yards to the 45-yard line. On the next play, Winnipeg went with a draw play as Brown handed the ball off to Brady Oliveira. Oliveira got a good block in front of him on his way to scoring a 45-yard touchdown. It was now 39-27 with 48 seconds left on a four-play drive for 95 yards.
Calgary’s offense was making mistakes in the third quarter that allowed Winnipeg to get back into the game. On the final play of the third quarter, Winnipeg defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth strip-sacked Vernon Adams Jr., and the ball was recovered by Michael Fletcher on the 36-yard line.
In the fourth quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 34-yard field goal. It was now 39-30 with 14:01 left. After Calgary’s offense went two-and-out, their defense got the ball back. Dru Brown’s pass intended for Ontaria Wilson was intercepted by Ben Labrosse for a 65-yard return to the 16-yard line. It was his third interception of the night.
Calgary kicker Jude McAtamney made a 24-yard field goal for a 42-30 lead with 10:01 left. When Winnipeg got the ball back, they gave it right back to Calgary. Dru Brown scrambled to avoid pressure. He threw the ball intended for Nic Demski, but it was intercepted by Zy Alexander for a 24-yard return to the 36-yard line. Kicker Jude McAtamney attempted a 42-yard field goal and missed wide right. Winnipeg returner Trey Vaval returned it out of the endzone for 28 yards to the 12-yard line.
Late in the game, Winnipeg could not convert a third-down play, and Calgary took over at the 44-yard line. Two plays later, running back Dedrick Mills went untouched on his way to scoring a 36-yard touchdown. It was his third running touchdown of the season. The Stampeders beat the Blue Bombers 52-30.
Calgary’s offense had 387 yards (319 passing yards, 88 rushing yards, 20 yards lost), 14 first downs, 2 for 4 in the redzone, and the team was penalized six times for 55 yards. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 18 of 27 passes (66%) for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Dedrick Mills had 10 carries for 60 yards, and one rushing touchdown.
Running back Tyreik McAllister had one carry for 17 yards, one rushing touchdown, two catches for 62 yards, one touchdown, one missed field goal return for 118 yards, and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Jalen Philpot made four catches for 128 yards and one touchdown, and Erik Brooks made seven catches for 64 yards. The defense made 44 tackles, one tackle for loss, three sacks, and four interceptions.
Winnipeg’s offense had 362 yards (249 passing yards, 136 rushing yards, 23 yards lost), 17 first downs, 1 for 1 in the redzone, and the team was penalized seven times for 75 yards. Quarterback Dru Brown completed 24 of 40 passes (60%) for 249 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. Running back Brady Oliveira had 14 carries for 128 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Wide receiver Ontaria Wilson made seven catches for 95 yards, while Nic Demski made seven catches for 76 yards and one touchdown. The defense made 35 tackles, one tackle for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Next Thursday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the B.C. Lions at 8:30 pm on TSN and CFL+, while the Calgary Stampeders visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday at 3 pm on TSN and CFL+.
