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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers secured their place in the CFL playoffs for the tenth consecutive season on Friday, defeating the B.C. Lions 34-10 in Vancouver. The win moved Winnipeg to a 9-9 record and officially ended the Calgary Stampeders’ post-season hopes. Calgary also finished at 9-9 but could not hold on to a playoff position after the Bombers’ victory.
The result was another example of a turbulent season for Winnipeg. Quarterback Dru Brown reflected on the team’s inconsistency but framed it as a learning experience heading into the post-season.
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“We’ve kind of had just an adverse year, a lot of ups and downs,” Brown said. “I know that our fans probably get frustrated about it, but ultimately, you have to ask yourself hard questions and really try to problem solve. We’re hoping we can take all those lessons into the playoffs.”
Collaros Exits with Injury, Brown Steps Up
Brown began the game on the sideline. However, he entered the contest late in the third quarter after starter Zach Collaros left with an injury. Collaros completed nine of 20 passes for 105 yards and one interception before Lions defensive lineman Nathan Cherry hit him. Cherry received a roughing-the-passer penalty on the play.
Collaros lay on the field for several minutes while trainers attended to what appeared to be a head or neck injury. He eventually walked to the medical tent under his own power. Head coach Mike O’Shea said after the game he had no update on the 38-year-old quarterback’s condition.
Brown then delivered an outstanding performance in relief. He completed all 11 of his pass attempts for 185 yards and two touchdowns. O’Shea praised his backup’s composure under pressure.
“Dru, he’s just so calm,” O’Shea said. “He just understands that he’s going to walk in there, operate the offence, and if we make plays, that’s great. He is going to operate really well in a very calm manner.”
How the Game Unfolded
B.C. struck first. Kaidon Salter, starting at quarterback for the Lions, connected with Nate DeMontagnac on a 36-yard touchdown pass just two minutes into the game. Sean Whyte added the convert, and the Lions led 7-0 early.
Both teams struggled through a sloppy first half filled with turnovers and uncharacteristic errors. Winnipeg finally got on the board with just over two minutes left in the second quarter. Sergio Castillo booted a 40-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3. Whyte then responded with a 48-yard field goal of his own, and Castillo missed a 54-yard attempt as time expired. The Lions led 10-3 at halftime.
O’Shea acknowledged the offence was not performing well at the break. “Sometimes the grind is really good. It’s good football,” he said. “We need to play better football. You just keep hoping that this is going to be the spark.”
After Brown took over in the third quarter, Winnipeg’s offence came to life. Brown connected with Dorian Singer on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the end zone to level the score at 10-10. Next, star running back Brady Oliveira broke through the Lions’ defence and sprinted 63 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Castillo converted, and Winnipeg led 17-10.
Brown later found Nik Demski in the back of the end zone for another major score. Castillo added a 15-yard field goal, and Oliveira capped the scoring with a four-yard rushing touchdown — his second of the night. Oliveira finished with 149 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Meanwhile, B.C. came agonizingly close to a late score. Backup quarterback Chris Oladokun, making his CFL debut after previously serving as a backup to Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs, connected with Emani Bailey deep in Winnipeg territory. However, Bailey was brought down less than a yard from the goal line as time expired.
Playoff Picture Still Taking Shape
The Lions entered Friday’s game having already clinched a playoff berth and the right to host the West Division semifinal on October 31. B.C. rested several key players, including starting quarterback Nathan Rourke and receivers Keon Hatcher Sr. and Justin McInnis. The game still drew a crowd of 30,833.
Lions head coach Buck Pierce said the game gave the team valuable information about its depth players. “We knew some guys were going to get a lot of work, and deservingly so,” Pierce said. “Overall, we feel pretty good, and I think we got a lot of information on some guys that really stepped up for us tonight.”
Salter finished 12-for-21 with 177 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. Oladokun replaced him in the fourth quarter and added 48 passing yards before throwing an interception.
The full playoff picture for the West Division will not be clear until Saturday. The Edmonton Elks, at 13-4, visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders, at 9-8. A Saskatchewan win would set up a West semifinal between the Roughriders and the Lions, while Winnipeg would cross over to face the Toronto Argonauts in the East. A Saskatchewan loss would instead create a West rematch between B.C. and Winnipeg, with Saskatchewan travelling east to face Toronto.
O’Shea said he has no preference in Saturday’s outcome. “I cheer for good football,” he said. “Whatever the score ends up, the score ends up. But you want everybody to play well, because carrying a mistake around with you for an off-season is tough for any player.”
