5 Takeaways as last-second field goal saves Calgary Stampeders, completes sweep of Winnipeg Blue Bombers
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A few working against them.
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And others falling in their favour.
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While a 63-yarder nearly knocked them down Saturday night — just as a 58-yarder did so two weeks ago at McMahon Stadium — the Stampeders were saved by a big one of their own from clutch veteran René Paredes.
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The superstar kicker hit a 40-yard field-goal at the final whistle to drop the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a 28-27 CFL thriller.
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'Same as every kick — been there 12 times (with walk-off field goals),' said the ever-humble Paredes, moments after the entertaining game that also saw Bombers counterpart Sergio Castillo nail a CFL record-tying 63-yard field goal with just 61 seconds remaining on the clock.
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'I know what to do,' continued Paredes. 'Had a chance, and I had to make the kick. Just happy for the guys — they fought all game.'
Paredes fought off a missed field goal for what could have been a dagger to the Bombers one drive earlier — his only bobble on a starry 4-of-5 night — to rebound for the winning points, which gave the Stamps more wins on the schedule than each of the last two seasons.
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'It just feels great to beat a great Winnipeg team three times in one year,' said Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. 'We know we're going to probably see them again in the playoffs so we've got to hopefully get it when it matters.
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Their 6-3 record — thanks in beautiful part to that sensational season sweep — also gives them a big buffer on the third-place Blue Bombers (4-4) in the CFL's West Division and keeps them on track to chase down the front-running Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-1), who visit McMahon after the Stamps bye-week for a contest on Saturday, Aug. 23 (5 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
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'It's going to be a dogfight right till the end — it really will,' said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. 'I honestly think any team can beat another team.
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'Obviously, I think the West games are a little bit more important than games against the East teams. But as long as win and try and protect your home turf, that's the key.'
Here are 5 takeaways from Saturday's win over the Bombers …
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Winnipeg Free Press
14 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Blue and Gold miss golden opportunity in Calgary heartbreaker
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' heartbreaking 28-27 road loss to the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Saturday went beyond the standings. At 4-4, the Blue and Gold are in the thick of the CFL's West Division playoff race as the page flips to the second half of the season, but it's fair to wonder how a victory against one of the league's top teams might've helped turn the tide for a club that had played an uninspiring brand of football for weeks. In that sense, the Bombers whiffed on a golden opportunity. Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, left, fakes a handoff to Nic Demski during first half CFL football action against the Calgary Stampeders in Calgary, Alta., Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files) Winnipeg was set up to pull off the upset after Sergio Castillo connected on a CFL record-tying 63-yard field goal to give the visitors a late lead. However, Calgary only needed four plays to get into range for René Paredes, who drilled a 40-yard boot with zeroes on the clock to complete a dramatic victory for the Stamps, who improved to 6-3. Calgary has won all three regular-season meetings against the Bombers for the first time since 2016, while Winnipeg has now dropped four of its last five. 'We just got to find a way to make one or two of those little plays,' said Willie Jefferson. 'It's gonna sting for the night… but once we start watching film on the next team, we can't dwell on the past. We gotta keep moving forward. We gotta try to stack some wins together, and just keep moving.' Indeed, there's no time to dwell. The Bombers must reset for a home date against the Ottawa Redblacks (3-6) at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday (7:30 p.m.). Before we turn to Week 11, let's wrap up Week 10 with the latest edition of Five Takeaways. There's an old adage in football: players over plays. It means that rather than trying to find the perfect play for a particular situation, offensive play callers are best advised to dial up something to get the ball in the hands of their most impactful players. The Bombers' offence is at its best when Brady Oliveira is touching the ball frequently. Winnipeg tied a season-high with 23 points in the first half. The offence ran 31 plays in the opening two quarters — Oliveira touched the ball 15 times and amassed 146 total scrimmage yards on those opportunities, as Zach Collaros looked his way eight times in the passing game, including on a beautiful 42-yard connection up the left hash, while Winnipeg racked up 241 yards of net offence. In the second half, Oliveira nearly disappeared from the game plan, and so did the Bombers' offence. The bell cow running back touched the ball just six times after halftime — five rushes, one reception — while Winnipeg mustered a dismal 62 yards of net offence and punted on five of their six possessions. First-year offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan has been scrutinized about his usage — or lack thereof — of Oliveira this season, and that doesn't look to change after the offence squandered a solid performance by the Bombers' defence. Part of the outcry over Oliveira's usage is that the Bombers have lacked consistent production from the receiving corps, beyond hometown product Nic Demski. Oliveira (nine catches for 100 yards) was Winnipeg's leading receiver on this night, but that wasn't by design. Collaros rarely had a throw he completed in rhythm, as he was forced to hold onto the ball and dance in the pocket while waiting for one of his pass-catchers to uncover. Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nic Demski, left,escapes a tackle from Calgary Stampeders' Bailey Devine-Scott during first half CFL football action in Calgary, Alta., Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files) Behind Oliveira in receiving were Kevens Clercius, three catches for 32 yards; Demski, three grabs for 28 yards; Jerreth Sterns, three receptions for 27 yards; Dillon Mitchell, three catches for 22 yards; and Keric Wheatfall, one catch for seven yards. The offence's biggest play of the game came on a 23-yard strike from Collaros to Sterns, who waltzed into the end zone untouched in the first quarter. The absence of star receiver Dalton Schoen, whose return remains unknown, looms large for this group. Collaros needs at least two pass catchers he can count on, regardless of the situation. If the Bombers and Stamps are to meet again in the playoffs, rest assured, there will be a concerted effort to stop Jaylon Hutchings. Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, right, is sacked by Calgary Stampeders' Jaylon Hutchings during second half CFL football action in Calgary, Alta., Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files) The Stampeders' 25-year-old defensive tackle was a problem for the interior of the Bombers' offensive line. Hutchings continued his breakout season, registering a pair of sacks and pressuring Collaros on three occasions. He now has six sacks to go with 24 defensive tackles this season. The 6 foot, 304-pounder also made several important plays in the run game, and even sniffed out a screen pass in the third quarter, hauling Oliveira to the ground to end the Bombers' drive. The third phase of the game continues to be special for the Blue and Gold. Sergio Castillo was nails again on this night, connecting from 49, 53 and 37 yards before his record-tying kick. Castillo is 21-of-23 on the year, and his three makes of 50-plus yards are tied for second most in the league, while his average attempt of 39.2 yards is the most of any kicker. The kicking battery has been solid with rookie Ian Leroux snapping and Jamieson Sheahan holding. Meanwhile, Trey Vaval continues to provide a spark in the return game. His 449 punt-return yards were the most of any player entering Week 10, and he averaged 15.8 yards per attempt against Calgary. Believe it or not, the first half was the easy part of the Bombers' schedule this season. The Stampeders on the road were just the beginning, and now the Bombers head into the teeth of their campaign. Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Evan Holm, top, and Deatrick Nichols, bottom, tackle Calgary Stampeders' Dedrick Mills during first half CFL football action in Calgary, Alta., Saturday. (Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press files)/p> After Winnipeg hosts the Redblacks, they hit the road for a pair of games against the Montreal Alouettes (5-4) — who hope Davis Alexander returns by then — and Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-1) on Labour Day. Then the Riders visit to complete the annual home-and-home between the Prairie rivals before the Bombers go back on the road to face the East Division-leading Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Clubs are judged based on their performances against the best teams in the league. The Bombers missed an opportunity against Calgary on Saturday, but they will have plenty more chances coming up. X: @jfreysam Joshua Frey-SamReporter Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh. Every piece of reporting Josh 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.
Calgary Herald
15 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Host Okotoks Dawgs drop Game 1 of WCBL's best-of-three semifinal series
Article content The Okotoks Dawgs' drive for history hit a speed bump Sunday. Article content In pushing for a Western Canadian Baseball League-record fourth-straight championship, the team got sidetracked 7-3 to the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the first game of the West Division semifinal series at Seaman Stadium. Article content Article content That puts the Dawgs in a do-or-die spot heading into Monday's game of the best-of-three series at Gulls Stadium in Sylvan Lake (7:05 p.m.). Article content In Game 1, the Dawgs scored two runs in the fourth inning and one in the sixth, but it wasn't enough to answer the early strength by the Gulls, who tallied two runs in each of the first and second frames, and the four-run barrage in the sixth. Article content Article content A late insurance run by the Gulls in the ninth sealed the outcome. Article content Offensively, the Dawgs collected eight hits, with Zane Skansi (Campbellsville University) providing the biggest swing of the day — a solo home run. Ricardo Sanchz (Tennessee Tech), Nash Crowell (Tennessee Tech), Connor Crowson (Tennessee Tech), Logan Grant (Bellevue University), Aidan Rose (UBC), Jake Skaggs (Pittsburgh State) and Barry Eiseman (Reinhart University) each added a hit. Rose and Grant each knocked home runs. Article content On the mound for the Dawgs, it was Gavin Wuschke (Bellevue) working five innings and allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out six. Reid Madariaga (Seattle University) and Garrett White (Bellevue) each threw a scoreless inning in relief, combining for two strikeouts. The Dawgs pullpen allowed just one run in the final three innings. Article content Article content If needed, Game 3 of the semifinal is scheduled for Wednesday at Seaman Stadium (7:05 p.m.). Article content The Dawgs came into the post-seaosn as the top team in the West after a 40-16 regular schedule. Article content Next in the division were the Gulls with a 36-20 record. Article content The Dawgs punched their ticket to the semifinal series by dispatching of the Brooks Bombers in two straight games — 11-4 and 9-2 — earlier this week. Article content The Gulls, meanwhile, took down the Lethbridge Bulls 8-0 and 6-2 to reach this series.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Last-second field goal by ‘clutch' Paredes lifts Stampeders to 28-27 win over Bombers
Rene Paredes received a vote of confidence from an impressed opponent after the veteran kicker booted another game-winning field goal as time expired. Paredes kicked a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the game to lift the Calgary Stampeders (6-3) to a thrilling 28-27 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-4) on Saturday. Just 61 seconds earlier, Winnipeg's Sergio Castillo tied a CFL record by kicking a 63-yard field goal to give the Blue Bombers a 26-25 advantage. 'He got the last laugh again,' said Castillo, who also kicked a 100-yard single on the ensuing kickoff to put Winnipeg up by two points. 'I think it was like three game-winning kicks he has when I play against him.' Castillo was impressed that Paredes was able to keep his composure after missing a 46-yarder with just over three minutes left on the clock. 'Him being a 14-, 15-year vet, that speaks volumes because anybody can make one in the fourth, but can you miss one and then bounce back mentally, so props to Rene for that, because between those two ears, I bet there's a lot of negativity, because it's happened to me before,' said Castillo, who finished the game with four field goals. Paredes also had four field goals and added two singles for the Stamps, who snapped a two-game losing streak. 'Same as every kick — been there 12 times already (with walk-off field goals),' said Paredes, who commended his teammates for putting him in great positions to succeed. 'Our offence is pretty good. I'm not having the best season this year. But I'm going to keep grinding and working. This (game) probably helps me.' After missing the previous game with a head injury, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. returned to the lineup and threw a pair of touchdown passes to Tevin Jones. 'Clutch Rene, I'm happy to have him on my side,' said Adams, who completed 17-of-24 passes for 300 yards. 'It just feels great to beat a great Winnipeg team three times in one year. We know we're going to probably see them again in the playoffs.' Starting quarterback Zach Collaros threw a touchdown pass to Jerreth Sterns for the Bombers, while his backup Chris Streveler ran for a TD. After missing Winnipeg's previous game with a neck injury, Collaros looked fine in his return as he completed 21-of-26 passes for 214 yards. Collaros connected on the first four passes he threw on Winnipeg's first drive of the game to help set up a 49-yard field goal by Castillo at 4:47 of the first quarter. Trey Vaval returned a punt 33 yards back to Calgary's 13-yard line later in the opening quarter. Three plays later, Streveler plunged into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown to put the visitors up 10-0. The Bombers then added to their lead 63 seconds into the second quarter when Sterns caught a 23-yard TD pass from Collaros to cap off a seven-play, 78-yard drive. The Stamps answered right back 69 seconds later when Jones hauled in a long bomb from Adams and ran the rest of the way for a 78-yard TD. 'We were pretty bad in the first quarter,' said Calgary coach and general manager Dave Dickenson. 'They definitely had the momentum, but we were making a lot of mistakes and really, we just hung in there. It really was that play to Tevin that started the offence figuring stuff out.' Paredes added a 90-yard single on the ensuing kickoff to pull the Stamps within nine points. Thanks to a 25-yard catch followed by a 32-yard run by Brady Oliveira, the Bombers moved deep into Calgary territory once again, but came up empty-handed when they turned the ball over on downs. Linebacker Jacob Roberts was credited with stopping Streveler short of gaining the yard he needed after Winnipeg coach Mike O'Shea decided to gamble on third down. After Castillo kicked a 53-yard field goal to put the Bombers up 20-8, Adams responded by leading the Stamps on a five-play, 70-yard drive that he capped off by tossing an eight-yard TD pass to Jones. After Paredes booted an 87-yard single, Castillo kicked a 37-yard field goal with six seconds left in the first half to put Winnipeg up 23-16. Paredes accounted for all of the scoring in the third quarter as he kicked a 13-yard field goal and then added another one from 31 yards out The Calgary kicker then booted a 34-yard field goal at 2:15 of the fourth quarter to give Calgary a 25-23 lead. The Stamps had a chance to add to that lead, but he missed a 46-yard field goal attempt wide to the right to give Winnipeg the ball back with 3:13 left on the clock. Castillo then booted his long bomb to tie the CFL record that Paul McCallum of the Saskatchewan Roughriders set in 2001. 'It was probably all the 20 tortillas that my mother-in-law made me when she got here from Texas,' said the affable kicker, who would like nothing more than to earn the chance to play the Stamps again in the playoffs. 'They're all homemade, so I got a lot of extra power there.' Up next Blue Bombers: Host the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday. Stampeders: Host the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, Aug. 23. -- Laurence Heinen This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2025.
