Blue Bombers pull ahead in second half to defeat Stampeders 24-11

The victory in front of 30,561 fans at IG Field bumped up Winnipeg’s record to 4-1. Calgary fell to 1-3.

Castillo was also good on field goals from 47 and 12 yards out, keeping him a perfect 11-for-11 this season. It extended his active streak to 21 consecutive field goals from last Sept. 16.

Bombers running back Greg McCrae recorded a 68-yard catch-and-run touchdown and Jamieson Sheahan added a punt single.

Calgary got a touchdown off a three-yard run by Dedrick Mills, who finished with 14 carries for 97 yards.

Paredes made one field goal from 30 yards. Winnipeg conceded a single on a punt by Cody Grace.

Collaros completed 20 of his 28 pass attempts for 231 yards with two touchdowns.

Maier was 14-of-25 passing for 122 yards with one interception.

Calgary led 10-1 after the first quarter, the score was tied 11-11 at halftime and Winnipeg led 18-11 after the third.

Paredes put the first points on the board with his 30-yarder 4:09 into the first quarter.

Winnipeg appeared to force a turnover when Bombers defensive back Evan Holm knocked down a pass in the end zone on third and two that was intended for Stampeders receiver Rysen John. However, Winnipeg was called for illegal contact.

Calgary continued from Winnipeg’s 11-yard line and Mills finished the drive with his three-yard TD run at 11:42 to go up 10-0. He had seven carries for 74 yards in the opening quarter.

Winnipeg got a point as time expired when Sheahan’s punt hit the goal line pylon for a single.

The Bombers then gave the visitors a point by conceding a punt single four minutes into the second quarter for the 11-1 score.

The energy in the stadium improved after Castillo connected on his 47-yarder at 11:40, then McCrae got behind coverage and scored his touchdown with a minute and a half to go in the half.

After both teams traded punts and couldn’t find the red zone, Houston intercepted Maier.

Winnipeg ensured its victory with a 15-play, 99-yard drive that used up almost 10 minutes on the clock and ended with Castillo’s 12-yarder at 13:03.

0-FOR-7

The Stampeders have now lost their last seven games in Winnipeg. Calgary’s last win at IG Field — a 29-10 victory — was on July 7, 2017.

UP NEXT

The Bombers travel to Ottawa to take on the Redblacks in a July 15 afternoon game. The Stampeders are in Saskatchewan to face the Roughriders the same night.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2023.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Blue Bombers pull ahead in second half to defeat Stampeders 24-11

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