Latest news with #ZachCollaros
CTV News
31-05-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Riders drop delayed preseason finale 27-20 against Winnipeg
Saskatchewan Roughriders Phalen Sanford (00) tackles Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Keric Wheatfall (88) during the first half of pre-season CFL football action in Regina, on Friday, May 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu Although it doesn't count towards the standings, the Saskatchewan Roughriders dropped a Friday night affair against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-20, going winless for the 2025 preseason. The Riders scored their first touchdown of the preseason with under 30 seconds remaining in the game to make the score closer. It was a game which saw a majority of back-ups get time for both teams. Several Saskatchewan starters, including Trevor Harris, A.J. Ouelette, Kian Schaffer-Baker and more did not dress. While more than a dozen Bomber regulars did not travel to Regina Friday. The game was delayed by over an hour from its originally scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff time due to air quality caused by wildfire smoke in the province's north. Once underway, Winnipeg would jump ahead quick with two fast touchdowns in the first quarter. Chris Streveler started the game for Winnipeg and marched the Bombers down the field to score first. On the second drive of the game for Winnipeg, everyday starter Zach Collaros needed just two passes to get to the endzone to give the blue and gold a two-score lead. The drive would be the only appearance for the two-time CFL MOP who was 2/2, 80 yards passing and a TD. Collaros will serve a suspension in Week 2 of the season for failing to make himself available for a drug test. Winnipeg has a bye Week 1. The Riders' offense continued to sputter this preseason, notching just 252 yards total offense - mostly on the final drive of the game. Similar to their first preseason game, the legs of Rider kickers would account for all the points scored by Saskatchewan. Brett Lauther finished the night 3/3 on field goals, including making a 53-yard field goal in the third quarter before Dawson Hodge got a chance to kick in the second half. Hodge made his lone attempt from 31 yards. With Harris getting the night off, Jake Maier started at the pivot position for Saskatchewan. Maier played the entirety of the first half under centre going 9/15, throwing for 113 yards, one interception and no touchdowns. Jake Maier Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Jake Maier (9) looks downfield during the first half of pre-season CFL football action against Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Regina, on Friday, May 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press) Jack Coan would enter the game to play the second half. The second-year quarterback out of Notre Dame threw for 189 yards on 18 completions and 25 attempts with no touchdowns nor interceptions. A bright spot on the Rider offense was returning wideout Joe Robustilli. The sophomore wide receiver caught six passes for a game-high 119 yards receiving. Regina-product Mitch Picton also saw lots of playing time Friday, making seven catches for 77 yards receiving. Saskatchewan lost both their preseason matchups against Winnipeg after losing 15-9 May 24. The Roughriders open the regular season against the Ottawa Redblacks at home Thursday June 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Mosaic Stadium and on TSN.
National Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Roughriders lose to Blue Bombers 15-9 in pre-season field-goal fest
Article content The Saskatchewan Roughriders got a look at their veteran starters and potential backups on Saturday. Article content Article content Neither provided many fireworks. Article content In the Green and White's opening CFL pre-season game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Manitoba capital, Saskatchewan lost 15-9 to the Bombers in a game that featured eight field goals and no touchdowns. Article content More importantly during the exhibition contest, the Roughriders got to evaluate their returning players and give them a taste of game action while also looking at some rookies for the first time in a live game since opening training camp two weeks ago. Article content Veteran quarterback Trevor Harris started the game for Saskatchewan and played three drives before exiting the game early in the second quarter. Article content While Harris and the offence were held off the scoreboard on their first two drives, on the third series the QB connected with receiver KeeSean Johnson for a 16-yard gain before veteran running back A.J. Ouellette rumbled for 21 yards along the ground, setting up 31-yard field goal by Brett Lauther. Article content For the Bombers, quarterback Zach Collaros, running back Brady Oliveira and the rest of the veterans also started the game for the Bombers and played the first three series for the Blue and Gold before many of the backups came in. Article content On Winnipeg's third series, Collaros and the Bombers put together an eight-play, 66-yard drive before opening the scoring with a field goal near the end of the first quarter. Article content Many of the veterans then headed to the bench as Harris went 3-of-8 for 38 yards in his three drives while Ouellette had three carries for 26 yards. Collaros was 10-of-13 for 93 yards while Oliveira was limited to two carries for 11 yards. Article content Several backups then got a chance to enter the game early in the second quarter as Chris Streveler came in at quarterback for the Bombers before putting together an eight-play, 41-yard drive which resulted in a 50-yard field goal by Winnipeg's Sergio Castillo to make it 6-3. Article content Article content On the ensuing kickoff, Riders' rookie receiver Drae McCray ran it back 51 yards to midfield before Jake Maier entered the game at quarterback for the Riders. Article content On the next play, Saskatchewan appeared to get the ball right back as Streveler was intercepted by Jayden Dalke after Marcus Sayles provided blanket coverage on Dillon Mitchell. However, the call on the field was overturned and called pass interference after a challenge by Bombers' head coach Mike O'Shea.
Winnipeg Free Press
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Blue Bombers triumph in preseason opener
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers won the first of their two preseason contests in a 15-9 decision over the prairie rival Saskatchewan Roughriders at Princess Auto Stadium. Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo made good on every field goal attempt, connecting from 19, 50, 41, 18 and 21 yards. Zach Collaros tossed for 93 passing while completing 10 of his 13 passes, with zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Bombers and Roughriders will meet again on Friday, May 30, in Regina for the final tune-up before the regular season. Kick-off is 8 p.m. CT.
Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign quarterback Zach Collaros to a one-year extension
WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed star quarterback Zach Collaros to a one-year contract extension through the 2026 season, the CFL club announced Friday. Collaros, who is entering his sixth season in Winnipeg, has helped the Bombers reach five straight Grey Cup finals, with victories in 2019 and 2021. Collaros, who was named the league's outstanding player in 2021 and '22, threw for a career-best 4,336 yards with 17 touchdowns in 2024, though he also tied a career high with 15 interceptions. Since his arrival at the 2019 trade deadline, the Blue Bombers are 57-18, including playoffs, in games in which he has started. Collaros has suited up for 158 career CFL games with Toronto (2012-13), Hamilton (2014-17), Saskatchewan (2018-19) and Winnipeg. His 32,935 career passing yards rank 17th in CFL history, and his next passing touchdown will be the 200th of his career. Winnipeg kicks off its pre-season Saturday against visiting Saskatchewan. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Blue Bombers sign Collaros to one-year extension
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers committed to their veteran quarterback today, announcing they have re-signed pivot Zach Collaros to a one-year contract extension through the 2026 season. This season is Collaros's sixth with the Bombers. The current face of the franchise, Collaros is a two-time Grey Cup champion, the club claiming back-to-back league titles in 2019 and 2021 with him at the helm, and has guided the team to five straight Grey Cup appearances — becoming the only quarterback in league history to have started more than three straight Grey Cup games. Collaros has been named twice the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in back-to-back years (2021 and 2022), as well as CFL All-Star honours (2021-2022). Darryl Dyck / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have extended quarterback Zach Collaros through the 2026 season. The Bombers pivot was traded from the Toronto Argonauts at the deadline in October of 2019, and the club has gone 57-18 since in games Collaros has started, including the playoffs. He is third in franchise history — behind only Ken Ploen (82) and Dieter Brock (71) — with his 49 regular-season wins and fifth in Bombers history with his 16,177 passing yards. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Last season, Collaros threw for a career-best 4,336 yards in 17 games, racking up 17 touchdowns and leading the club to a 10-7 record. He had four 300 yards-plus passing performances last year, including a season-high 432 yards in a win over the Edmonton Elks in September. He also threw for six touchdowns in that game, tied for second most in franchise history with Sean Salisbury (Sept. 10, 1989, vs. B.C. Lions) and Jack Jacobs (Oct. 4, 1952, vs. Calgary Stampeders) behind Jim Van Pelt's record seven touchdown game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on August 29, 1959. Collaros is ranked 17th in CFL history with his 32,935 career passing yards and his next passing touchdown will be the 200th of his career. He has suited up for 158 games playing with four different clubs: the Argonauts (2012-13), the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2014-17), the Roughriders (2018-19), and the Bombers (2019-).
