Menu
@
May 31, 2025

Game Recap | Preseason #2: WPG SASK

Keric Wheatfall and Dalton Schoen celebrate in Friday's preseason win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders; photo by Sam Calvert

REGINA — The open auditions and dress rehearsals are kaput. Now comes the anguishing part for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers coaching staff and football personnel department:

Picking a football team and the practice roster from the close to 90 candidates who have flashed so much through training camp and two preseason games, including Friday’s wildfire-smoke delayed 27-20 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in front of announced crowd of 26,293 in the provincial capital.

“I loved the way the guys played, I really do,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “It really felt on the bench that they were having a lot of fun playing the game with each other which is really, really pleasing. It’s one of the things you want to see.

“We have a list of things we like to see every week but sometimes, unfortunately in this business, you overlook the idea of having fun and I thought our guys had a good time tonight.”

All Canadian Football League teams must make their roster decisions by Saturday night, with the deadline set for 10 p.m. Winnipeg time. Here’s the best explanation of a CFL roster composition and the math here won’t be kind for the players who don’t make the active roster, are moved to the injured lists or added to the practice squad.

Teams can dress 45 players for a regular-season game including three QBs, at least one Global player, 21 Canadians, including one nationalized American, and a maximum of 19 Americans — not including the pivots and the nationalized player.

That means it’s crunch time for management and for the players, — to quote a Tom Petty tune here — the waiting is the hardest part.

“This is the part that stinks,” said O’Shea of the looming cut-down day. “So, we just get some evaluation in, make sure we watch the tape and start talking to the guys.”

Worth noting — the Blue Bombers left 13 regulars in Winnipeg in defensive linemen Willie Jefferson, James Vaughters and Jake Thomas, linebackers Tony Jones, Kyrie Wilson and Shayne Gauthier, dime Redha Kramdi, defensive backs Deatrick Nichols, Evan Holm, Michael Griffin II and Terrell Bonds, right tackle Eric Lofton and running back Brady Oliveira.

The Riders, meanwhile, rested QB Trevor Harris, RB A.J. Ouellette, WRs Kian Schaffer-Baker and Samuel Emilus, DT Micah Johsnon, DE Malik Carney LB Jameer Thurman, DBs Marcus Sayles, Roland Milligan Jr. and Tevaughn Campbell, among others.

In other words, this Prairie rivalry will look a whole lot different when these two clubs meet in the annual Labour Day Classic-Banjo Bowl doubleheader in late summer and then what could be a critical matchup in Week 20 in mid-October.

That was by design of course, as the Blue Bombers and Riders both had some final evaluations to make.

“If (the 13 players) travel it takes away multiple plays of opportunity for these other guys, which we need to see,” said O’Shea. “I thought we had a really good training camp. I thought a lot of guys competed really well and guys grew as camp went on, so to limit their opportunity in the last game wouldn’t be good.”

More on the Blue Bombers final preseason game from our view in the Mosaic Stadium press box…

THE QBs: Chris Streveler started the game and was in command from his first snap, leading the Blue Bombers on their first TD drive of the preseason by going 7-of-7 for 59 yards, including a 21-yard scoring strike to Keric Wheatfall on the game’s first possession.

Zach Collaros entered the game on Winnipeg’s second position with just under six minutes left in the first quarter and the veteran pivot kept the momentum rolling by completing his first two passes — both covering 40 yards — with the first to Dalton Schoen and the second to Wheatfall, again, for another score.

The early numbers: Streveler and Collaros combined to go 9-for-9 for 139 yards with the two scores to Wheatfall.

Collaros’ night was done after that brief stint, while Streveler re-entered the game and did throw one interception before finishing 8-of-10 for 76 yards with the one TD and one pick.

“Definitely another step tonight,” said Streveler, who returned to the field last week for the first time after tearing three knee ligaments in last year’s Banjo Bowl. “It’s exciting to get the start — nothing changes on my end, but to take the first snap is always a good feeling to set the tone from the start.

“So, to put together a good drive there to start and finish in the end zone — a 12-play drive — it felt good for the offence to spread the ball around and develop some chemistry with some of these new guys.

“Obviously, there was the interception… I forced the ball there and shouldn’t have done that. But there’s always stuff you can learn from a preseason game, and I’ll be better for it.”

Chase Artopoeus, who was so solid in finishing up last week’s game by going 5 of 6 for 43 yards, had his first two possessions begin deep in Winnipeg territory and was 1-of-3 for 11 yards in limited work before getting dinged and not returning. O’Shea said afterward, “Artopoeus got landed on kind of funny and we’ll see how he is but I’m sure he’s OK.”

That gave Terry Wilson plenty of opportunity to flash his skillset and after a so-so start — he had to pull down a high snap on his first touch and was sacked while his first throw was almost picked — he settled in and finished the night 9-of-12 for 58 yards.

STEPPING UP: With Wheatfall absolutely shining in the first half he certainly elevated his name in the receiver conversation. It’s a given that Nic Demski, Dalton Schoen and Kevens Clercius will start, but Wheatfall — who started seven games a year ago in his rookie season — really helped his cause with the two TDs and leading the team with five catches for 88 yards in less than a half of work.

What happens after that is still anyone’s guess. A whopping total of 18 receivers dressed for Friday’s game and of the three veteran receivers added in free agency over the winter, Jerreth Sterns had one catch for 17 yards, Reggie White, Jr. had one reception for zero yards and Dillon Mitchell was not targeted but did chip in with two punt returns for 13 yards and one kickoff return for 21 yards.

In fact, next to Wheatfall, the next leading receiver in catches was running back Matthew Peterson (3-22) and in yardage was draft pick Joey Corcoran (2-27).

WHO ELSE HELPED THEMSELVES: Quick hitters on this and in no particular order…

-It sure doesn’t hurt when a dude returns scoops up a fumble and returned it 90 yards for a TD, so take a bow Phillip Webb, who capitalized on a big hit by Jaiden Woodbey on Mario Anderson.

-Woodbey, mentioned above, brings the thump and finished three tackles — along with Jonathan Jones, Marquise Bridges, Trey Vaval and Tay Gowan. Latavious Brini led all Blue Bombers defenders with four tackles.

-Running back Quinton Cooley, the 5-7, 210 bowling ball nicknamed ‘The Shuttlebus’ by his teammates, continues to run with a vengeance. With Brady Oliviera not making the trip the Liberty University led the club in rushing for a second straight game with eight carries for 56 yards while adding one catch for nine more. He’s not going to unseat Brady Oliveira, but he really stepped up in the two preseason games.

-Second-round draft pick Jaylen Smith, the linebacker from North Texas, had two tackles and three more on special teams.

-Defensive tackle Devin Adams continues to push the pocket backwards and had a sack after a Kemari Munier-Bailey pressure. Jay Person also had a sack and the play of the defensive front was outstanding, forcing the coaching staff into more difficult decisions at that position group.

-The Blue Bombers trotted out a bunch of kick return candidates with Vaval returning one punt for seven yards and a spectacular return of 93 yards was wiped out by a penalty. He also added two kickoff returns for 58 yards. David Wallis chipped in with three kickoff returns for 57 yards and one punt for seven. Keilahn Harris also got into the action with two punt returns for nine yards.

With Peyton Logan on the one-game injured list, who handles these chores in the season opener seems still to be determined.

NEXT: The Blue Bombers now head into a bye week, although the team is expected to practise a few times in the days ahead. The CFL’s 2025 regular season opens with all but the Blue Bombers in action, starting with the Ottawa RedBlacks at Saskatchewan on Thursday, June 5th.

Winnipeg opens its regular season in Week 2, with Buck Pierce and the B.C. Lions paying a visit to Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday, June 12th with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.