When the 2023 CFL schedule was announced, many fans and media circled the B.C. Lions (3-0) and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-1) Thursday night matchup from IG Field as a rematch of the 2022 Western Final. Both teams came into this game with a 2-0 record but only one would remain undefeated and take sole possession of first place.
The hype was real and many wondered how the B.C. Lions would do against the Blue Bombers without Nathan Rourke, who left for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, and Vernon Adams Jr. as the Lions’ quarterback. Well, the Lions not only answered those questions, but they also did it convincingly.
In the first quarter, Winnipeg took an early 3-0 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo with 10:21 left. On the Lions’ first possession of the game, Vernon Adams Jr. threw an 11-yard pass to Jevon Cottoy.
Two plays later, Adams threw a deep pass intended for Alexander Hollins but it was incomplete. However, a defensive pass interference penalty on Desmond Lawrence put the Lions on the one-yard line. Backup quarterback Dominique Davis came in and scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak. It was 7-3 Lions with 7:21 left.
Then, the Lions’ defense made quick work on Winnipeg’s offense when Mathieu Betts sacked Zach Collaros. After the Lions’ offense failed to score on their next drive, Winnipeg got the ball and Collaros intended pass to Dalton Schoen was incomplete but an unnecessary roughness penalty on Quincy Mauger moved the ball toward the Blue Bombers’ 43-yard line as the first quarter ended with Winnipeg down 7-3.
For the second time, the Lions got to Collaros when Emmanuel Rugamba sacked him. It was the second sack for the Lions’ defense and Winnipeg was forced to punt the ball. Next, the Lions’ offense moved the ball toward the Blue Bombers’ 32-yard line where Sean Whyte made a 40-yard field goal which extended the Lions’ lead to 10-3 with 9:22 left.
Later in the second quarter, Winnipeg put together another good drive that resulted in another sack for the Lions by Sione Teuhema and kicker Sergio Castillo converted a 21-yard field goal. It was now 10-6 Lions with 49 seconds left. Little did anyone know, those were the final points scored by Winnipeg.
It is unimaginable considering we’ve grown accustomed to Winnipeg’s success and dominant performances. Winnipeg was off all game making mental mistakes and not being in the right positions. B.C. did whatever they wanted to on the field and Winnipeg could not stop them.
That was enough time for the Lions to put more points on the board before halftime. Vernon Adams Jr. threw three passes for 62 yards to three different receivers reaching Winnipeg’s two-yard line. Next, Adams finished the drive by throwing a two-yard touchdown to Alexanders Hollins that made it 17-6 Lions at halftime.
B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 13 of 15 passes (86.7%) for 164 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for six yards. Running back Taquan Mizzell had five carries for 16 yards, while wide receivers Lucky Whitehead and Alexander Hollins combined with 11 catches for 137 yards and one touchdown as part of the Lions’ 180 yards on offense.
For Winnipeg, the numbers were close. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 8 of 13 passes (62%) for 134 yards, running back Brady Oliveira had eight carries for 47 yards, and one catch for 11 yards, and wide receiver Carlton Agudosi had five catches for 61 yards as part of Winnipeg’s 173 yards on offense.
In the third quarter, Lions kicker Sean Whyte made two field goals, one for 33 yards and the other went for 22 yards with 1:58 left as the Lions led 23-6. The crowd in Winnipeg was simply stunned by their performance. The Lions’ defense got to Collaros two more times by Mathieu Betts and David Menard. The Lions led 23-6 with one quarter left to play.
In the fourth quarter, the Lions put the final nail in the coffin when Vernon Adams Jr. threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Justin McInnis that made it 30-6. After that score, Dane Evans took over the rest of the game for the Lions. Meanwhile, the Lions’ defense picked up two more sacks from Nathan Cherry and Mathieu Betts for the third time plus an interception by Ben Hladik. The Lions sacked Collaros seven times in this game.
For the first time since October 28th, 2017, the B.C. Lions defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Winnipeg by the final score of 30-6. This was a statement win by the Lions.
B.C. Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. finished the night completing 20 of 30 passes (67%) for 241 yards, two touchdowns, and two carries for 30 yards. Running back Taquan Mizzell led the rushers with 10 carries for 50 yards. Wide receivers Alexander Hollins and Lucky Whitehead combined 13 catches for 159 yards and one touchdown.
Kicker Sean Whyte made three field goals with a long of 40 yards. The Lions’ defense put on a show, allowing 218 yards, with 40 tackles, seven sacks, and one interception.
For Winnipeg, quarterback Zach Collaros completed 15 of 26 passes (58%) for 178 yards, one interception, while running back Brady Oliveira led the rushers with 10 carries for 52 yards and one catch for 11 yards. Wide receivers Carlton Agudosi and Nic Demski had 11 catches for 119 yards.
Kicker Sergio Castillo made two field goals with a long of 37 yards. Winnipeg’s defense allowed 313 yards, with 36 tackles, and three sacks.
Next Saturday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit the Montreal Alouettes at 7 pm on CBS Sports Network, while the B.C. Lions battle the Toronto Argonauts on Monday 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.
