The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (12-4) visited BC Place Stadium on Friday night against the B.C. Lions (11-5) with first place on the line. This was the third and final meeting of the season.
In their first matchup in Week 3, the Lions blew out the Blue Bombers 30-6 in Winnipeg. In Week 9, Winnipeg returned the favor by beating them 50-14 at BC Place Stadium. While the first two games were blowouts, it took overtime to settle this game once and for all.
In the first quarter, B.C. kicker Sean Whyte made a 36-yard field goal to put the Lions up 3-0 with 10:27 left. Later in the first quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo attempted to tie the game with a 48-yard field goal but missed it and Terry Williams returned it for 25 yards before he was tackled on their 24-yard line.
On the fourth play, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed a 17-yard pass to Justin McInnis at the Blue Bombers’ 54-yard line. Adams threw three more passes for 37 yards. Three plays later, backup quarterback Dominique Davis scored a one-yard touchdown with a quarterback sneak that made it 10-0 Lions with 1:42 left of the first quarter.
With eight seconds left of the first quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw two passes for 23 yards. Winnipeg trailed 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. They started the second quarter on the Lions’ 36-yard line.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo kicked a 32-yard field goal to make it 10-3 B.C. with 12:27 left. When B.C. got the ball, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a deep pass right into the hands of Jevon Cottoy for a 70-yard touchdown for a 17-3 lead with 11:48 left of the second quarter.
Winnipeg needed a response. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 30-yard pass to Dalton Schoen before he was tackled on the Lions’ 30-yard line. Two plays later, Collaros threw a slant pass to Janarion Grant for an 11-yard touchdown. It was now 17-10 Lions with 10:17 left of the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros’s pass was intercepted by Adrian Green. However, the Lions could not turn the turnover into points. On the final play of the second quarter, B.C. kicker Sean Whyte made a 44-yard field goal for a 20-10 lead at halftime.
B.C. had 246 yards on offense. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 13 of 20 passes (65%) for 252 yards and one touchdown. Running back Taquan Mizzell had three carries for 19 yards, and one catch for 38 yards. Wide receiver Javon Cottoy made two catches for 88 yards and one touchdown. B.C.’s defense had one sack and one interception.
Winnipeg had 192 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 12 of 14 passes (85.7%) for 154 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Running back Brady Oliveira had five carries for 25 yards, and wide receiver Dalton Schoen made three catches for 65 yards. Winnipeg’s defense had a nice first half with four sacks.
In the third quarter, the two teams traded field goals. First, Winnipeg Sergio Castillo kicked a 37-yard field goal which made it 20-13 Lions with 10:55 left. Next, B.C. kicker Sean Whyte converted a 35-yard field goal to restore a ten-point lead of 23-13 with 5:40 left. Then, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 23-yard field goal which made 23-16 with 2:50 left of the third quarter.
Late in the third quarter, Winnipeg backup quarterback Dakota Prukop rushed for a gain of four yards before getting brought down on the Lions’ 48-yard line. On the final play, Zach Collaros’s pass to Kenny Lawler went incomplete.
In the fourth quarter, B.C.’s defense forced two turnovers but came away with only three points on a 40-yard field goal from Sean Whyte which made it 26-16 with 5:55 left. Later in the fourth quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Drew Wolitarsky to make it a three-point game 26-23 with 2:20 left of the fourth quarter.
With 15 seconds left of regulation, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo tied the game 26-26 with a 28-yard field goal. On the final play of the fourth quarter, B.C. quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw a deep pass to Dominique Rhymes, who almost ended the game before Jamal Parker tripped him up to send the game into overtime. Had Rhymes gone down, B.C. could have ended the game with the game with a field goal.
In overtime, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed a 16-yard pass to Brady Oliveira. Three plays later, Brady Oliveira waited for a hole to open up before rushing up the middle for a nine-yard touchdown. In overtime, teams must go for a two-point conversion. Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros found Kenny Lawler for a two-point conversion as Winnipeg took its first lead of the game 34-26.
It was B.C.’s turn. Winnipeg’s defense stepped up to sack Vernon Adams Jr. on first down. On the final play of the game on 3rd and 18, Adams Jr. tried to throw a deep pass to Justin McInnis Evan Holm broke up the play and the game was over. The Blue Bombers survived to reclaim first place with a 34-26 win over the Lions in what can be described as the game of the year.
This game was like watching two heavyweight boxers go at it for the championship. It had everything. Winnipeg did not panic when trailing and slowly battled back. They took advantage of BC’s mistakes to come away with the win. While this was the final meeting of the regular season, these two teams are destined to meet in the Western Final.
Winnipeg had 487 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 31 of 41 passes (75.6%) for 389 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and one carry for six yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had 12 carries for 73 yards, one touchdown, and eight catches for 85 yards.
Wide receiver Kenny Lawler led the receivers with nine catches for 97 yards. Winnipeg’s defense had 38 tackles and six sacks.
B.C. had 356 yards on offense. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. completed 19 of 33 passes (57%) for 352 yards, one touchdown, and three carries for 21 yards. Running back Taquan Mizzell had six carries for 23 yards and three catches for 46 yards.
Wide receiver Dominique Rhymes made five catches for 107 yards. B.C.’s defense made 50 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Next week, the B.C. Lions visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Friday at 7 pm on CFL+, while the Blue Bombers are off next week. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
