After getting stomped on by the B.C. Lions last week. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) looked to start a new winning streak on Saturday night against the Montreal Alouettes (2-1) from Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal, Quebec.
The Blue Bombers needed to win this game to set themselves up for a potential tie in the West Division with the Lions playing on Monday night against the Toronto Argonauts. The game was delayed for nearly two hours due to lightning in the area. Once the game started, Winnipeg went to work.
Early in the first quarter, Montreal almost took the lead but David Cote missed a 45-yard field goal and Winnipeg got the ball on their 15-yard line. A combination of short passes and rushing yards led them to Montreal’s 12-yard line.
Then, quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Drew Wolitarsky for a 7-0 lead with 1:12 left. It was the first touchdown allowed by the Alouettes’ defense this year. Montreal went two-and-out before punting the ball on the final play of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 48-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead with 1:51 left. Winnipeg led 10-0 at halftime. Outside of a couple of long drives by Winnipeg and one for Montreal which resulted in a missed field goal. The first half was all defense and a lot of dropped passes.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed 12 of 16 passes (75%) for 146 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for four yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had eight carries for 50 yards. Wide receivers Dalton Schoen had three catches for 61 yards, and Drew Wolitarsky had three catches for 38 yards, and one touchdown as part of Winnipeg’s 254 yards on offense with seven first downs.
For Montreal, it was not a good first half for them. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 6 of 11 passes (54.5%) for 44 yards, and four carries for 22 yards. Running back Walter Fletcher had two carries for 11 yards, and wide receiver Austin Mack had three catches for 22 yards with Montreal having 82 yards on offense and one first down.
In the third quarter, Winnipeg extended their lead. After Brandon Alexander intercepted Cody Fajardo’s pass and returned it for 62 yards giving Winnipeg great field position. Brady Oliveira and Rasheed Bailey combined with three carries for 19 yards. Three plays later, Zach Collaros threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schoen. It was 17-0 Winnipeg with 44 seconds left.
Montreal had the ball on their 44-yard line to begin the fourth quarter. Montreal did not get far before punting the ball back to Winnipeg. Montreal’s defense came up with a big play when Kordell Rodgers intercepted Zach Collaros’s pass. However, he fumbled the ball but Montreal recovered it.
Later, it looked like Montreal had finally scored a touchdown when Cody Fajardo threw a 20-yard pass to Austin Mack. However, after further review, the call was overturned and ruled an incomplete pass. Montreal settled for a 27-yard field goal by David Cote. It was now 17-3 with 6:09 left in the game.
Winnipeg’s defense stood tall in the final two drives for Montreal. A forced fumble by Demerio Houston, and a third down sack by Willie Jefferson. Winnipeg picked up a first down before lining up in victory formation. The Blue Bombers defeated the Alouettes by the final score of 17-3.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros did not have a bad game. He completed 15 of 23 passes (65.2%) for 193 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and one carry for four yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had 20 carries for 102 yards and two catches for 19 yards.
Wide receivers Dalton Schoen and Drew Wolitarsky combined with 8 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Winnipeg’s defense allowed 328 yards, with 33 tackles, six sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 17 of 27 passes (63%) for 258 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and six carries for 40 yards. Running back William Stanback had 8 carries for 42 yards, while wide receiver Kaion Julien-Grant had six catches for 129 yards.
Montreal’s defense allowed 358 yards, with 45 tackles, one sack, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Next Friday, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Calgary Stampeders at 8:30 pm on CFL+, while the Montreal Alouettes battle the B.C. Lions 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.
