The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (14-4) concluded the 2023 regular season on Friday night at McMahon Stadium against the Calgary Stampeders (6-12) for the third and final meeting. The Blue Bombers won the two previous matchups.
The conditions were not great to start the game as snow and wind played a factor in the first half. There was not a lot of offense. However, once the weather moved away, the game picked up. Winnipeg played their backup and third-string players while Calgary played the starters for most of the game before the backups went in.
In the first quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo kicked two field goals. The first went for 51 yards for a 3-0 lead with 11:47 left, and the other field goal went for 23 yards for a 6-0 lead with 2:40 left of the first quarter. Winnipeg had the ball to begin the second quarter up 6-0.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 30-yard field goal for a 9-0 lead with 14:21 left. Calgary threatened later in the second quarter. Quarterback Jake Maier threw a 32-yard pass to Cole Tucker at the Blue Bombers’ 38-yard line. Two plays later, Maier threw a 10-yard pass to Marken Michel at the Blue Bombers’ 28-yard line.
After Tommy Stevens and Dedrick Mills combined for two carries logging 11 yards, the drive ended when Tommy Stevens was sacked by Miles Fox. Rene Paredes attempted a 45-yard field goal but missed it, keeping the game 9-0 with 14:21 left.
For the rest of the second quarter, Calgary kicker Rene Paredes put the Stampeders on the board with a 29-yard field goal which made it 9-3 with 6:32 left but Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo got those three points back with a 42-yard field goal for a 12-3 lead at halftime.
Winnipeg had 168 yards on offense. Quarterback Dru Brown completed 3 of 5 passes (60%) for 50 yards, running back Johnny Augustine had six carries for 43 yards, and wide receiver Kenny Lawler made two catches for 40 yards. Winnipeg’s defense made two sacks and one forced fumble.
Calgary had 79 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 2 of 8 passes (25%) for 42 yards, running back Dedrick Mills had two carries for 24 yards, and wide receiver Cole Tucker made one catch for 32 yards. Calgary’s defense made one sack.
In the third quarter, Calgary kicker Rene Parades converted a 35-yard field goal to cut Winnipeg’s lead to 12-6 with 12:20 left. Calgary’s defense came up with a big play during Winnipeg’s drive when Micah Awe stripped the ball out of Dakota Prukop’s arm and Adarius Taylor recovered it on their 32-yard line.
Six plays into Calgary’s drive, quarterback Jake Maier threw a short pass to Cole Tucker. Tucker spun around and got a good block ahead of him leading to a 21-yard touchdown. Calgary took their first lead of the game 13-12 with 4:45 left of the third quarter.
Calgary’s lead was short-lived. On the third play from scrimmage, Winnipeg quarterback Dru Brown threw a deep pass to Rasheed Bailey for a 68-yard touchdown. Calgary’s defenders were sloppy in trying to tackle Bailey. Winnipeg led 19-13 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Winnipeg blew the game open. First, quarterback Dru Brown threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Brendan O’Leary-Orange for a 26-13 lead with 13:51 left.
Next, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo converted a 40-yard field goal for a 29-13 lead with 9:47 left. Finally, Winnipeg backup quarterback Dakota Prukop scored a 1-yard touchdown with a quarterback sneak. The Blue Bombers defeated the Stampeders by the final score of 36-13.
The win extended the Blue Bombers winning streak to four games and swept the Calgary Stampeders in the regular season. There is a chance these two teams could meet again in the Western Final in a couple of weeks.
Winnipeg had 464 yards on offense. Quarterback Dru Brown completed 13 of 17 passes (76.5%) for 278 yards, two touchdowns, and two carries for 13 yards. Brown looked good out there. I won’t be surprised if other CFL teams attempt to acquire him in the offseason.
Winnipeg running back Johnny Augustine had 15 carries for 87 yards, and wide receiver Rasheed Bailey made two catches for 81 yards and one touchdown. Winnipeg’s defense made 23 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Calgary had 228 yards on offense. Quarterback Jake Maier completed 6 of 15 passes (40%) for 110 yards and one touchdown. Running back Dedrick Mills had 8 carries for 88 yards, and wide receiver Cole Tucker made two catches for 53 yards and one touchdown. Calgary’s defense made 52 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Next Saturday, the Calgary Stampeders take on the B.C. Lions in the Western Semi-Final at 6:30 pm on CFL+. The winner of that game will face Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Western Final. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
