The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-2) visited McMahon Stadium on Friday night against the Calgary Stampeders (3-7) for the second time this season. The two teams met in Week 5 in Winnipeg where the Blue Bombers won that game 24-11. The Blue Bombers had won four straight games against Calgary and the streak continued on Friday night.
Both offenses had their moments on the field but both struggled to get inside the red zone. Both defenses did not give up many big plays, but one play by Winnipeg’s defense determined the outcome of the game.
In the first quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Dru Brown threw three passes for 30 yards. After failing to get a first down, kicker Sergio Castillo made an 18-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 8:16 left. On the sixth play for Calgary, quarterback Jake Maier threw a 14-yard pass to Marken Michel which led to a Rene Paredes 44-yard field goal that tied the game 3-3 with 3:28 left.
Later in the first quarter, Calgary took a 6-3 when Rene Paredes made a 43-yard field goal with a minute left. Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira finished the first quarter with three carries for 41 yards to the Stampeders’ 29-yard line. Calgary led 6-3 after one quarter.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg made it to Calgary’s 16-yard line before Sergio Castillo made his second field goal of the night for 24 yards that tied the game 6-6 with 12:21 left. On the fourth play for Calgary, running back Dedrick Mills broke out for a gain of 14 yards before he was tackled on the Blue Bombers’ 42-yard line.
After failing to get a first down, Rene Paredes attempted a 45-yard field goal. He missed it which ended his field goal streak at 20. With 4:01 left, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier completed a 31-yard pass to Reggie Begelton but was unable to get any more yards and punted it back to Winnipeg. The defenses stood tall for the rest of the second quarter and the game remained tied 6-6 at halftime.
Winnipeg had 155 yards on offense. Quarterback Dru Brown completed 9 of 14 passes (64.3%) for 63 yards, running back Brady Oliveira had ten carries for 73 yards and wide receiver Rasheed Bailey had three catches for 19 yards. The offense fumbled the ball three times and converted one first down and 12 second down plays.
Calgary had 113 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 7 of 12 passes (58.3%) for 72 yards, and two carries for eight yards. Running back Dedrick Mills had three carries for 18 yards, and Reggie Begelton made two catches for 41 yards. Calgary converted two first downs and nine second down plays. Calgary’s defense sacked Brown one time.
In the third quarter, Winnipeg punter Jamieson Sheahan punted the ball to Tommylee Lewis for 51 yards. Lewis found a gap in the middle and took off for 45 yards before getting tackled on the Blue Bombers’ 37-yard line. Calgary did go far and kicker Rene Paredes made a 40-yard field goal to take a 9-6 lead with 9:46 left.
Later in the third quarter, Calgary quarterback Jake Maier threw a deep pass intended for Reggie Begelton. Winnipeg defensive back Evan Holm made contact with Begelton and was called for defensive pass interference. The ball was moved to Calgary’s 53-yard line.
On the next play, Maier went deep again this time for Marken Michel, who extended his arms to make a great catch for 45 yards. Once again, Calgary could not move the ball further and Rene Paredes kicked an 18-yard field goal for a 12-6 lead with 3:52 left.
When Winnipeg got the ball, Dru Brown went deep to complete a 30-yard pass to Dalton Schoen plus a face mask penalty on Calgary’s Branden Dozier moved the ball to the Stampeders’ 25-yard line. After failing to get a first down, kicker Sergio Castillo made a 26-yard field goal which made it 12-9 with 19 seconds left.
The turning point of the game happened in the final seconds of the third quarter. Jake Maier was looking to throw a deep pass intended for Marken Michel but Demerio Houston got in front of Michel for a pix-six 45-yard touchdown which gave Winnipeg its first lead of the game 16-12 as the third quarter ended.
In the fourth quarter, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes made a 36-yard field goal. It was now 16-15 Winnipeg with 10:41 left. Then, Winnipeg quarterback Dru Brown completed three passes for 37 yards. After Brown was called for intentional grounding, kicker Sergio Castillo made a 42-yard field goal for a 19-15 lead with 7:07 left.
When Calgary got the ball, quarterback Jake Maier threw a deep pass to Tommylee Lewis for a gain of 46 yards. After getting sacked and failing to get a first down, Rene Paredes made a 33-yard field goal, which made it 19-18 with 4:36 left.
Calgary’s defense forced a two-and-out and the offense had a chance to get the lead. Jake Maier attempted a pass to Dedrick Mills but it was incomplete. However, a defensive pass interference penalty on Winnipeg gave them a fresh set of downs.
They could not move the ball and Rene Paredes attempted a 50-yard field goal. He came up short and Greg McCrae returned it out of the endzone to prevent the single point.
Calgary’s defense needed one more stop to force Winnipeg to punt the ball. Winnipeg backup quarterback Dakota Prukop rushed up the middle for a three-yard gain that sealed the game. The Blue Bombers defeated the Stampeders by the final score of 19-18. Winnipeg has now won five straight games against Calgary dating back to 2022. The last time Calgary beat Winnipeg was on November 20, 2021, with a 13-12 win.
Both defensive coordinators did a good job with their game plans. Their guys did not give up many big plays and held the offenses to just field goals. Both offenses could not do much at all once they got near the red zone. You can’t rely on the kicker to win the games. Eventually, you have to score touchdowns, and Winnipeg’s defense got that touchdown to win the game.
I’m not worried about Winnipeg because they can score touchdowns. Calgary, on the other hand, has not scored a touchdown for two straight games. Calgary’s downfall continues and eventually change is badly needed for that organization.
The fans are frustrated and rightfully so, and the Stampeders front office has turned a blind eye to not see how bad of a product they are putting on the field. Sadly, this is going to continue and you will see more empty seats at McMahon Stadium.
Winnipeg’s offense had 257 yards. Quarterback Dru Brown completed 17 of 27 passes (63%) for 171 yards. Brown completed a lot of short-yard passes and only took one shot down the field. Winnipeg, just like the rest of the league, can’t keep repeating short-yard passes. Both defenses in this game knew what was coming and stopped them.
Running back Brady Oliveira had 14 carries for 80 yards, and two catches for 19 yards, and Dalton Schoen led the receivers with three catches for 50 yards. Winnipeg’s defense had 31 tackles, one sack, one interception, and one touchdown.
Calgary had 245 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 11 of 24 passes (45.8%) for 190 yards, one interception, and two carries for eight yards.
He has now not thrown a touchdown pass in four games since Week 7 against Ottawa when he threw four touchdown passes. Running back Ka’Deem Carey had ten carries for 28 yards, and running back Dedrick Mills had five carries for 23 yards.
Wide receiver Marken Michel led the receivers with three catches for 63 yards. Calgary’s defense had 42 tackles, four sacks, and four fumble recoveries.
Next Thursday, the Blue Bombers host the Montreal Alouettes at 8:30 pm on CBS Sports Network, while the Stampeders visit the Toronto Argonauts next Friday at 7:30 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
