5 Quick Takes on the Bombers’ win over the Stamps Friday night:
1. Welcome to Winnipeg, Zach Collaros. And keep your wallet closed, because you should be able to eat for free in the next week. At least.
Making his first start for the Blue Bombers and seeing his first action since June while with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and before being traded – twice – the veteran pivot was sensational in leading the home side to a dramatic 29-28 victory over the Stamps that keeps alive their hopes of a playoff game at IG Field.
The win keeps the West Division playoff race blurry, with Winnipeg now 11-7. Calgary falls to 11-6, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders – 11-5 – now having a chance to clinch first Saturday night in Edmonton with a win over the Eskimos.
Collaros drove the Bombers into field-goal range with a late drive, setting up a dramatic Justin Medlock 34-yarder with no time left and the victory.
2. Collaros made his first start since June and first since twice being traded this season and quickly shook off whatever rust might have formed with his inactivity. Collaros completed his first six passes and while he did make some mistakes, the Bombers offence looked just that much more deadly. Collaros finished 22 of 28 for 221 yards with TD passes to Darvin Adams and Kenny Lawler while being intercepted once.
The Bombers’ other TD came from Nic Demski.
3. Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell, meanwhile, served up his usual stellar performance whenever he lines up against the Bombers. The veteran pivot completed 31 of 43 for 350 yards and four touchdowns – two each to Hergy Mayala and Eric Rogers.
4. Other notable numbers:
- Willie Jefferson added to his CFL record pass knockdown total for defensive lineman with is 16th. That also tops the CFL this year. The last D-lineman to lead the league in pass knockdowns was Fred Perry back in 2006, with 10.
- Andrew Harris rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries and in the process eclipsed the 9,000-yard mark for his career. He also passed Normie Kwong to become the CFL’s all-time leading Canadian rusher.
- Janarion Grant returned a missed Rene Paredes convert 122 yards for two points following a Calgary TD in the third quarter.
5. The Bombers have the bye for the final week of the regular season before the playoffs. TBD is whether they are at home for the West Semi-Final or on the road to Regina or to Calgary.
