The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-2), hosted the Montreal Alouettes (6-4) on Thursday night from IG Field for their second meeting of the season. The two teams met at Montreal in Week 4 where the Blue Bombers won the game 17-3.
Winnipeg had the ball to begin the game. On the first play, Zach Collaros scrambled out of the pocket, attempting to throw a pass toward Dalton Schoen, but Tyrell Richards intercepted it for a pick-six 40-yard touchdown that made it 7-0 Montreal with 14:10 left.
Later in the first quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo attempted a 52-yard field goal but missed it and Chandler Worthy returned it out of the endzone to prevent a single point. Late in the first quarter, Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira carried the ball three times for 18 yards to the Alouettes’ four-yard line. Then, Zach Collaros scrambled out of the pocket before throwing a touchdown pass to Dalton Schoen that tied the game 7-7 with 33 seconds left.
Montreal quarterback Cody Fajardo threw two passes for 27 yards to Austin Mack and Tyler Snead to close out the first quarter with the game tied 7-7.
The Alouettes struggled on its next series to begin the second quarter. They were penalized for holding after picking up 11 yards. On second down, Fajardo completed a deep pass to Austin Mack but after an official review, the call was overturned and ruled an incomplete pass. Montreal kicker David Cote kicked a 42-yard field goal which made it 10-7 with 12:36 left.
On the first play for Winnipeg, Zach Collaros completed a short pass to Nic Demski for 45 yards. There is something about the way he secured the ball and ran. When two defensive players tried to bring him down his two-armed grip on that ball secured the yards gained. The fundamentals of catching a ball, securing a ball, and how to run with the ball while being pursued is something that is lacking in this league. Two plays later, Collaros threw a deep pass to a wide-open Dalton Schoen for a 22-yard touchdown. Montreal’s coverage broke down which allowed Schoen to get wide open. It was now 14-10 Winnipeg with 10:58 left.
Later, Montreal’s defense came up with another big play when Zach Collaros tried to complete a pass to Kenny Lawler but it was intercepted by Marc-Antoine Dequoy. Montreal was unable to take advantage of the turnover.
Nevertheless, Montreal’s defense stepped up again late in the second quarter. Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros tried to throw a quick slant pass to Kenny Lawler but Marc-Antoine Dequoy read the play to make the interception for a pick-six 57-yard touchdown. It was now 17-14 Montreal with 2:28 left.
Winnipeg responded on their next drive. First, Zach Collaros completed a deep pass to Kenny Lawler for a gain of 40 yards. Two plays later, running back Brady Oliveira made a nice cut outside from the Alouettes’ 26-yard line to score a touchdown. However, kicker Sergio Castillo missed the extra point and it was now 20-14 Winnipeg with 1:04 left.
Montreal had gained 23 yards before the drive stalled before punting the ball back to Winnipeg. Winnipeg’s offense took a knee and led 20-14 at halftime.
Winnipeg’s offense had 261 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 9 of 15 passes (60%) for 172 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Running back Brady Oliveira had 11 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown.
Wide receivers Dalton Schoen, Nic Demski, and Kenny Lawler combined with six catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Winnipeg had nine first downs, and the defense did not get a sack in the first half.
Montreal’s offense had 152 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 10 of 16 passes (62.5%) for 112 yards, and one carry for 15 yards. Running back William Stanback had seven carries for 27 yards and wide receiver Austin Mack had five catches for 55 yards.
Montreal had seven first downs, and the defense had a big first half with one sack, three interceptions, and two touchdowns. Montreal did not do well on penalties. They committed eight of them for 81 yards.
In the second half, Winnipeg took control of this game and dominated. They did not allow Montreal to score any points. In the third quarter, Winnipeg defensive back Winston Rose intercepted Cody Fajardo’s pass. It would lead to a Dakota Prukop one-yard touchdown that made it 27-17 with 8:01 left.
Later, Winnipeg’s defense continued to rough up Fajardo. Cody Fajardo was set in a shotgun formation. The Blue Bombers’ defense broke through to chase Fajardo. He tried the get rid of the ball but Jackson Jeffcoat not only caused a fumble but recovered it on Montreal’s 40-yard line. It would lead to a Sergio Castillo 29-yard field goal for a 30-17 lead.
On Montreal’s next possession, Cody Fajardo completed a couple of passes for 13 yards. Down by 13 points, Montreal went for it on third down but did not get and Winnipeg took over possession. With six seconds left of the third quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a deep pass to Kenny Lawler for a 25-yard touchdown. It was now 37-17 as time expired to end the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Winnipeg punt returner Greg McCrae returned a punt for 48 yards to the Alouettes’ 43-yard line. Two plays later, Zach Collaros tried to throw a deep pass to Kenny Lawler but it was incomplete. However, a defensive pass interference penalty on Montreal gave them a first down on Montreal’s seven-yard line. Two plays later, Collaros threw a short pass to Brady Oliveira for the touchdown. It was now 44-17 with 10:50 left. After that touchdown, Winnipeg took out some of their starters with Dru Brown replacing Collaros at quarterback.
Winnipeg’s defense made quick work to force a two-and-out. The offense took control of the ball and the clock. They went on a seven-play drive which led to a 28-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo for a 47-17 lead with 3:16 left. Montreal had the ball for the final series of the game and took a knee to end the game. The Blue Bombers routed the Alouettes by the final score of 44-17.
Winnipeg got off to a rough start in the game but made a great recovery. They had 441 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros made a nice recovery completing 16 of 24 passes (66.6%) for 240 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions.
What I like about Collaros is that he did not panic after giving up three interceptions. He kept his composure before going on a tear. Not many quarterbacks in the CFL can say the same thing. This is why he is the best quarterback in the CFL right now.
Running back Brady Oliveira had 18 carries for 119 yards, one touchdown, one catch for six yards, and one touchdown. Wide receivers Nic Demski, Kenny Lawler, and Dalton Schoen combined with 11 catches logging 200 yards, and three touchdowns. This core of receivers is deadly and has given many teams problems defensively. Winnipeg’s defense made 29 tackles, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown.
The same can’t be said for Montreal’s offense, who only had 173 yards. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 14 of 25 passes (56%) for 137 yards, one interception, and two carries for -2 yards. He did not get much protection in this game as they struggled to move the ball.
The coaches did not do a good job making adjustments and kept running the same plays. Eventually, Winnipeg’s defense knew what was coming and the Alouettes still ran those plays. Running back William Stanback had eight carries for 32 yards and wide receiver Austin Mack had five catches for 55 yards.
One player who has the potential to be a force for Montreal is wide receiver Tyler Snead. He had two catches for 21 yards. His speed and agility are something to watch. He was wide open on a few occasions but Fajardo did not see him with pressure in his face.
Montreal’s defense had a great first half before getting pummeled in the second half. They had 40 tackles, one sack, and three interceptions. The penalties were an issue tonight committing 13 of them for 142 yards. Not good and that’s something they need to work on this week.
Next Saturday, the Montreal Alouettes host the B.C. Lions at 7 pm on CFL+, while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on 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.
