The defending Western Division champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0) hosted the new-looked Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1) on Friday night from IG Field. Winnipeg was looking to get a bad taste out of their mouths after losing the Grey Cup to Toronto.
They made some adjustments in the offseason. However, one of those big free agent signings, Kenny Lawler, did not play as he was placed on the suspended list for a DUI incident in 2021. Despite losing Lawler, the Blue Bombers had other weapons and they came to play on Friday night.
On the other side, Hamilton had a new quarterback in Bo Levi Mitchell. Mitchell who was looking for a fresh start with his new team. Hamilton added some key players in the offseason like Duke Williams, and reloaded the defense by signing guys like Ja’Gared Davis.
Hamilton got the ball to start the first quarter as Lawrence Woods III returned a kickoff for 40 yards to the Blue Bombers’ 54-yard line. Bo Levi Mitchell made one pass for 12 yards while running back James Butler had two carries for 18 yards before the drive stalled. Kicker Seth Small made a 31-yard field goal to give Hamilton a 3-0 lead with 11:36 left in the first quarter.
Then, it was Winnipeg’s turn. It did not last long when Jameer Thurman stripped the ball away from Nic Demski and it was recovered by Lawrence Woods III. However, it did not last long as Bo Levi Mitchell’s pass was intercepted by Demerio Houston. Houston made a nice interception using his tippy toes. From there on, Winnipeg went hunting.
Quarterback Zach Collaros threw four consecutive passes before connecting to Nic Demski for a 17-yard touchdown. It was now 7-3 Winnipeg with 6:55 left. After Winnipeg’s defense stopped Hamilton, the Ticats earned a single point on a Bailey Flint punt. It was now 7-4 Winnipeg with 5:39 left.
On the next Blue Bombers drive, Zach Collaros threw three straight passes including a 47-yard pass to Nic Demski. Hamilton’s defense was not able to put pressure on Collaros. On the next play, Hamilton tried blitzing Collaros but he threw the ball to Rasheed Bailey for a ten-yard touchdown. It was 14-4 Winnipeg with 2:49 left.
Hamilton’s offense made another mistake when Malik Clements knocked the ball out of James Butler’s hands and it was recovered by Winnipeg’s Demerio Houston. The turnover would lead to another touchdown as Zach Collaros connected to Drew Wolitarsky for 30 yards for a 21-4 lead with no time remaining. It was a great start for Winnipeg and disastrous for Hamilton.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg shut out Hamilton. With 6:50 left, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 32-yard field goal to make it 24-4. Then, with 29 seconds left on the Ticats’ eight-yard line, Winnipeg picked up two more points on a safety. It was now 26-4. I did not understand why Hamilton would give up a safety.
Yes, they didn’t want to give Winnipeg a great field position but you can’t give up more points especially when they had no answers in the first half. The Blue Bombers tacked on three more points on a Sergio Castillo 19-yard field goal to take a 29-4 lead at halftime.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros was having practice completing 13 of 19 passes (68%) for 255 yards, and three touchdowns Running back Brady Oliveira had 11 carries for 56 yards and one catch for 22 yards, and wide receiver Nic Demski had five catches for 111 yards, and one touchdown. Winnipeg’s offense had 343 yards.
Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell’s debut did not get off to a great start completing 8 of 16 passes (50%) for 61 yards, and one interception, while running back James Butler had six carries for 56 yards and one catch for six yards. Hamilton’s offense generated 102 yards.
In the second half, all Winnipeg needed to do was gain yards, score points, and run out the clock. Winnipeg extended their lead to 32-4 with 10:10 left in the third quarter on an 18-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo.
Hamilton’s offense still could not puncture Winnipeg’s defense. At this point in the game, they needed a miracle and got it thanks to the Ticats’ special teams.
The Ticats pinned the Blue Bombers inside their own 14-yard line. Carthell Flowers-Lloyd rushed off the edge to block Jamieson Sheahan’s punt and the ball went into the endzone before being recovered by Omar Bayless for the touchdown. It was the spark that Hamilton desperately needed. Hamilton tried a two-point conversion but failed. It was now 32-10 with 7:24 left.
After Hamilton’s defense stopped Winnipeg’s offense. The Ticats marched down the field before Bo Levi Mitchell threw a ten-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Tim White for the touchdown. Mitchell and White had problems connecting in the first half but they nailed it on this play. White was injured after the catch when a Winnipeg defense landed on his shoulder. It was now 32-17 with 3:16 left. The crowd was starting to get a little antsy in the stands.
Winnipeg needed to respond on their next drive as they were quiet for the third quarter. They went on a four-play drive for 43 yards before Brady Oliveira scored a three-yard touchdown that made it 39-17 with no time left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Winnipeg made a couple of huge mistakes. First, they tried to do a double reverse but Zach Collaros fumbled the ball and Hamilton recovered for a scoop and score by Chris Edwards for a 62-yard touchdown. Hamilton tried another two-point conversion but failed again. It was now 39-23 with 9:30 left.
On the kickoff, Winnipeg returner Janarion Grant had the ball popped out of his arm with a hit by Kyle Wilson. Fraser Sopik recovered the ball and nearly took it for a touchdown but got tackled at the two-yard line. Hamilton running back James Butler scored a two-yard touchdown. Then, they went for a two-point conversion and got it. It was now 39-31 with 8:51 left.
Late in the fourth quarter, Winnipeg was able to put the game away on Sergio Castillo’s 50-yard field goal for a 42-31 lead with 4:54 left in the game. Winnipeg’s defense pressured Hamilton and the Blue Bombers won 42-31 over the Tiger-Cats.
This game started what looked to be a blowout but instead turned into a close game. However, this game should not have been this close considering how Winnipeg dominated the first half. Gotta give credit to Hamilton for fighting back. It was their special teams and defense that got them back into the game.
Winnipeg cannot do what they did in this game or else they will get snake bitten. They need to play a simple game when having a huge lead and not turn the ball over. In addition, they could’ve had their backup players get playing time had they been able to continue their dominance.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros continues to show why he is the best in the CFL. He completed 21 of 31 passes (68%) for 354 yards, three touchdowns, and one carry for six yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had 22 carries for 106 yards, one touchdown, and two catches for 58 yards, while wide receiver Nic Demski had six catches for 113 yards and one touchdown.
Kicker Sergio Castillo made four field goals and converted two extra points. Winnipeg’s defense allowed 239 yards, with 38 tackles, four fumbles, and three sacks.
Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was not sharp in this game. He missed too many passes that were either low or overthrown. He finished the night completing 17 of 33 passes (51.5%) for 197 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Running back James Butler had 11 carries for 66 yards, one touchdown, and two catches for three yards, while wide receiver Tim White caught four passes for 71 yards, and one touchdown.
Kicker Seth Small made one field goal and converted two extra points. Hamilton’s defense allowed 478 yards, with 54 tackles, three fumbles, and one sack.
Next Friday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers battle the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 9 pm on CBS Sports Network, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats take on the Toronto Argonauts next Sunday at 7 pm on CBS Sports Network. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
