Bombers stampeded in Calgary for first loss of season
The Bombers fell to 3-1 after a 37-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders Thursday night.
Coming off their best offensive game of the season against the Edmonton Elks, the Bombers offence struggled on this night, scoring just one touchdown along with three Sergio Castillo field goals.
Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros threw two interceptions, which were both returned for touchdowns.
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Running back Brady Oliveira returned to the lineup after missing two games due to injury and had 61 rushing yards on 13 carries, along with 51 yards on six receptions.
The Bombers defence, which had been stellar in three games this season, gave up 332 yards and did not record a sack or interception.
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Things unravelled on the game's first drive for the Bombers as Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. hit Clark Barnes for a 43-yard touchdown.
And then late in the first quarter, Collaros was intercepted by Calgary's Damon Webb, who returned it for a 30-yard major.
The Stamps found the endzone two more times in the second quarter on an 11-yard receiving touchdown from Damien Alford, and a two-yard rushing touchdown from Dedrick Mills giving Calgary a 29-6 lead at the half.
Mills ran for 93 yards on 18 carries.
Collaros would toss his second pick-six in the fourth quarter as Derrick Moncrief returned the interception 70 yards for a score.
The Bombers now head into their second bye week of the season before a rematch with the Stampeders, who are also 3-1, on Friday, July 18 in Winnipeg.
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Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Close isn't good enough
If the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going to get back into the West Division race, they need to take care of business at home against sub-.500 teams. They have a chance to do just that tonight when they host the Ottawa Redblacks (3-6) at 7:30 p.m. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS files Reciever Keric Wheatfall's (right) production has dropped significantly since the beginning of the season. After jumping out to a perfect 3-0, the 4-4 Bombers have dropped four of their last five and are coming off a heartbreaking 28-27 road loss in Calgary on Saturday. They started 2-6 in 2024 and turned out just fine by making it all the way to the Grey Cup, but the jury's still out on whether or not this is a group that has another rally in them. A loss to Ottawa would suggest otherwise. 'With the games we've had, we felt like we were really close to winning some of them. But, close enough isn't good enough,' said Bombers guard Patrick Neufeuld on Wednesday. 'You have to be able to go out, despite the circumstance, and overcome any sort of adversity you face and find a way to get a win. I think we're close, and we're really looking forward to playing in front of our crowd here.' After opening 2025 at 1-6, the Redblacks — led by Winnipeg's own Bob Dyce at head coach — have picked themselves off the mat with back-to-back wins. They exploited a dismal Toronto defence on Saturday by prevailing in a 46-42 shootout over the Argonauts which is the most points the franchise has scored since they were called the Rough Riders and dropped 46 on the Birmingham Barracudas in 1995. To prepare you for kickoff, here's the latest edition of 5 Storylines. NOT-SO-SCARY SECONDARY When Wednesday's walkthrough practice came to a close, defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger and the entire secondary stayed on the field for some extra work. 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Starting defensive tackle Cleyon Laing is also listed as a game-time decision. It's bad news for a Redblacks side that is already coughing up 28.4 points per game — which is the third-highest mark in the CFL — and rank middle of the pack in most defensive categories. The door is open for the Bombers to have a huge day, but they haven't exactly lit it up against Ottawa recently as Winnipeg has been held to fewer than 20 points in four of their previous six meetings. BROWN'S BACK IN TOWN Dru Brown made his first trip back to Winnipeg last season and it didn't go as planned. He slid to the ground when Bombers linebacker Redha Kramdi's elbow connected with his head on a late hit that took him out of the game in the second quarter. The Redblacks never recovered and went on to lose 25-16. 'It sucked,' is how Brown summed it up Wednesday shortly after landing in the Manitoba capital. 'I think every time you're going up against your buddies you want to win… To not be able to finish that was frustrating, but I'm looking forward to it (Thursday).' Brown — who broke into the CFL with the Bombers in 2021 and spent three years with the team — is hoping for a much different result this time out, and if he looks anything like he did in Toronto, it could be a tough evening in Bomberland. Brown torched the Argos for 373 passing yards and a career-high five touchdown passes. The one time he played a full four quarters against the Bombers (June 13, 2024 in Ottawa) he led the Redblacks to a 23-19 victory. 'He's very good,' said Holm. 'We got to play our best to stop him.' WHERE'S WHEATFALL? It's no secret the Bombers are lacking in talent in their receiver room right now outside of Nic Demski. With Dalton Schoen out of action, there's a lot of targets up for grabs and second-year receiver Keric Wheatfall has failed to seize the opportunity. After totalling 213 receiving yards and a touchdown in the first two games, Wheatfall has fallen silent as he hasn't eclipsed 25 yards in four of his last five showings and hasn't found the end zone since Week 4. Jerreth Sterns (28 catches, 290 yards, and three touchdowns) is on pace for career numbers across the board, but doesn't offer the same big play ability that Wheatfall does. As for Ottawa, they have zero issues with their pass catchers. Eugene Lewis and Justin Hardy both rank in the top 12 in receiving and combined for 157 yards and four touchdowns vs. the Boatmen. OFFENSIVE PLAY You can't just point the finger at Wheatfall — the entire offence needs to be better. 'We gotta not turn the ball over and score touchdowns. It's pretty simple,' said Neufeld. The Bombers haven't made it look simple, though. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. They've committed more turnovers (26) than anyone and the offence has scored the second fewest touchdowns (17) in the nine-team circuit. It's been a first half to forget for quarterback Zach Collaros who has been suspended, hurt, and has tossed way too many picks (eight in six games). It could be him, or it could be the fact he no longer has the luxury of airing it out to Kenny Lawler and/or Schoen, but either way, Collaros needs to find a way to push the ball downfield with the weapons he's stuck with. The fact running back Brady Oliveira — who did catch nine passes for 100 yards last week – still hasn't rushed for 100 yards in a game this season is mindblowing. First-year offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan has made a habit of getting away from his star tailback in the final two quarters and that needs to stop. Ottawa has scored just 21 points in the first quarter this season, so if Collaros and Co. come out strong, there's a good chance they can put the visitors in a hole early. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Air Force fighter jet to conduct flyby at Blue Bombers game
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Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bombers leaving latest loss in the past
Who had the Winnipeg Blue Bombers going 0-3 against the Calgary Stampeders on their 2025 bingo card? 'It happened. It is what it is,' said receiver Nic Demski after Tuesday's closed practice. 'At the end of the day, you just gotta look at yourself in the mirror, watch the film, be critcial and move on. There's a lot of football left to be played. There's another half to the season to be played, so, we just got to lock in and play our brand of football.' Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESS Bombers receiver Nic Demski (right) says the team has to 'lock in and play our brand of football.' Their most recent shortcoming against their West Division foe was the most heartbreaking of them all as they allowed Calgary to prevail 28-27 on Saturday at McMahon Stadium. Before the Stamps sent their fans home happy, it looked like the visitors were going to have their arms raised in victory thanks to the heroics of kicker Sergio Castillo. With just over a minute remaining, Castillo booted a CFL record-tying 63-yard field goal to give the Bombers a 26-25 edge. 'Well, I gotta credit my mother-in-law because she's here now taking care of my (son). I ate about 25 flour tortillas last week so that's probably what all the extra weight came from cause I usually weigh 203 and I was weighing 207 in pregame,' joked Castillo. 'So, credit to her for making all those tortillas. I wake up at five, six in the morning and there's fresh homemade tortillas and I come back home from practice, and I pound another five or six.' The elation Castillo felt – although he didn't know he tied Paul McCallum's 2001 record until he saw all the messages on his phone in the locker room — didn't last for long. He hoofed the ensuing kickoff into the end zone which allowed Calgary to give Winnipeg a point in exchange for starting their game-winning drive at their 40-yard line. Four plays later, the Stamps trotted out René Paredes to drill a 40-yarder for the win. 'I just didn't come through at the end with the kickoff how I would've liked. It kind of dampers a bit on the field goal. I think maybe later on, as time goes by, I'll be able to embrace it,' said Castillo. '(On the kickoff) I went with the mindset I'm just going to tap it, and if you look at my follow through, I barely even hurdle through, but I connected it so pure, just like I did with the field goal as well, but the intention was to tap it and get it to the 10, but it took off and that's on me.' The Bombers (4-4) don't have much time to dwell on what happened as they're on a quick turnaround. They host their old pal Dru Brown and the Ottawa Redblacks (3-6) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. It's not a lot of time for this Bombers' offence to find the answers to their problems. They rank dead last in passing yards, last in QB efficiency rating (89.1), eighth in second-down conversion rate (46.1 per cent), sixth in explosive plays, and first in turnovers committed. Inconsistent quarterback play and a lack of receiving threats with Dalton Schoen injured have played a role, but that doesn't give first-year offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan a pass. Hogan had his troops rolling through the first three weeks, but it's been a different story now that they've lost four of their last five. The Bombers were held to 62 yards of net offence in the final two quarters on Saturday. 'I got full confidence in him still,' said running back Brady Oliveira. 'There's been great glimpses of him as a playcaller, and maybe some that aren't so great. But there's going to be ups and downs and we all need to be there to support him and have his back and understand that we'll be OK. He'll get through this.' The defence is facing adversity as well. Two weeks ago, strong-side corner Jamal Parker went down with a leg injury, and he won't be ready to play against Ottawa. Then there's weak-side corner Terrell Bonds who was carted off on the weekend with a knee injury. Head coach Mike O'Shea said Tuesday they expect Bonds to be out for a while. 'Obviously, you feel for Terrell Bonds… It's just sad for him,' said safety Redha Kramdi. 'I know he'll attack recovery hard and try and get back as fast as possible and be as healthy as he can, but there's nothing we can do about it.' Before the injuries, the secondary was already having issues as they're coughing up the third most passing yards per game, have been exploited 18 times on passing plays that have equalled 30 yards or more, and rank eighth in interceptions with just six. 'It's a numbers game. Sometimes they look good, and sometimes they look bad,' said halfback Deatrick Nichols. 'Everybody's gonna get beat or give up a play, it's just all about the timing and everything like that. The numbers can say what they say, but we just have to work on when those plays happen for us. We just got to learn how to make them plays.' Making plays this week won't be easy considering Brown is coming in hot after tossing five touchdowns in Saturday's 46-42 shootout win over Toronto. 'That's one thing about this sport, you have to prove who you are each and every week,' said Nichols. 'And that's one thing we're trying to do this week is prove who we are, bounce back, and get a win.' Bombers cut veteran Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Winnipegger The Bombers released long snapper Mike Benson on Tuesday. The 38-year-old from Winnipeg suffered an injury in the season opener which put him on the injured list for five contests. He's been a healthy scratch the last two games as rookie Ian Leroux out of Laval has run away with the job. Benson, who joined his hometown Bombers in 2021, has played 158 career games with stops in Edmonton, B.C., and Ottawa since arriving in the CFL in 2012. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
