Big Blue bounce B.C.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ first game of 2025 can aptly be described in one word.

Whoa.

An impressive 34-20 triumph over the visiting B.C. Lions in front of a sellout crowd of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday unfolded perfectly for the Bombers, whose most likely path to a victory was thought to be in a low-scoring defensive affair.

Backup quarterback Chris Streveler damned that notion, matching a career-high with three touchdown passes while completing 15 of 24 passes for 246 yards on a night the offence lost running back Brady Oliveira early.

“Just kind of an emotional day for me, personally, thinking about what it took to get back here, with the rehab and the injury and having my daughter here for her first game,” said Streveler, who is a little over nine months removed from major knee surgery.

“I don’t know why, that was just hitting hard for me. Having those emotions and then being able to lock in and focus and just being out there with guys I love to play with, playing three-phase football. Everybody was making their plays. What a way to start the season.”

It wasn’t always pretty, but no one was expecting it to be with starting pivot Zach Collaros sidelined while serving a one-game suspension.

The Bombers, who had a Week 1 bye, spoiled the return of Lions head coach Buck Pierce, while quarterback Nathan Rourke continues to struggle against the Blue and Gold.

Rourke is 0-5 in his career against Winnipeg as the Lions dropped to 1-1 on the season.

“I’m never going to try and break down a score,” said head coach Mike O’Shea, “but did I believe we could win the game? Yeah. No doubt.”

This was the first of two meetings between these West Division foes, the second to take place June 21, at BC Place in Vancouver.

Let’s break this one open.

Sizzling start

The Bombers wasted no time lighting fireworks.

After receiving the opening kick, the offence drove the field in chunks, stringing together a tidy four-play, 80-yard drive that saw Brady Oliveira amass 49 yards on two carries and Streveler find Nic Demski twice, including on a 20-yard strike in the back of the end zone to draw first blood for the hosts.

As the crowd erupted, Oliveira quietly went to the locker room. The league’s reigning Most Outstanding Player suffered an upper-body injury and did not return. Head coach Mike O’Shea did not provide an update on his status after the game.

Despite not having their top running back, the Bombers continued to pound the rock. A nine-play 88-yard drive that bled more than five minutes from the clock was capped by a sensational 38-yard score by rookie running back Matthew Peterson, who broke a pair of tackles and juked another defender before scampering into the end zone in the second quarter.

Peterson, who was a key piece in a draft-day trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, finished with 23 carries for 130 yards.

The 24-year-old said he’s proud of his performance.

“Yes, I am,” said Peterson. “At the end of the day, though, what they’re going to see is Winnipeg Blue Bombers Matthew Peterson. It’s a team thing first. My game, if it wasn’t for those five guys in front of me… it wouldn’t be the same.”

Right guard Patrick Neufeld was listed as a game-time decision but was cleared to play, which was a huge boon for the run game.

Winnipeg recorded 438 yards of net offence, while amassing 201 rushing yards and averaging 7.2 yards per play.

Demski had four catches for 53 yards and two touchdowns, while Keric Wheatfall caught five passes for 127 yards and a score.

“Everything in our mind is next-man-up mentality,” said Demski. “Everybody has to prepare like a starter. We don’t treat people like backups. We’re all a family, and we all have one goal to get to. So, when one man goes down – of course, it’s a crappy situation when a guy, especially Brady, goes down – but at the end of the day, we still got a football game to go out there and play.

“We had to make sure Matt was good to go, and Matt did a great job stepping up and coming into the role tonight.”

RELENTLESS DEFENCE

As for the Lions, the offence couldn’t get it going in the first half for the second week in a row.

They had 179 yards of net offence against the Elks entering halftime in Week 1 and were held to 133 yards through two quarters on this night— 77 of which came on the final drive of the half, as Rourke connected with receiver Ayden Eberhardt on a 49-yard heave, which eventually set up a two-yard touchdown plunge from the quarterback.

The Bombers made life miserable for the quarterback, who either found himself with no options to throw to or running for his life.

Rourke, who was 12-for-27 for 248 yards with one touchdown and one interception, didn’t complete his first pass until six minutes remained in the opening frame. His second completion didn’t come until 2:30 remained in the second quarter. The Lions pivot entered the locker room four-for-13 for 67 yards and one interception.

His fourth throw of the night was a tad high for receiver Justin McInnis, who tipped the ball into the hands of Bombers defender Marquise Bridges.

The Bombers capitalized with a 49-yard field goal from Sergio Castillo. Castillo went two-for-three on this night, also converting on a 50-yard kick in the third quarter.

SUSTAINED OFFENSIVE SUCCESS

First-year offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan is already developing a reputation for putting together an effective game plan to start a half.

Backed up deep in their own territory on their opening drive of the second half, the Bombers quickly dug themselves out of a hole with a seven-play 108-yard drive capped by a Streveler touchdown pass to Keric Wheatfall.

“I thought he called a great game, man,” Streveler said of Hogan. “Really, just proud of him, and just first time calling a game, man, and he called some big-time plays. I’m appreciative of the opportunities that he gave me to make some plays in there, and the way that he was able to help put guys in position to be successful and distribute the ball.

“I thought he did a tremendous job, and just a great guy, and just so happy for him and excited to build on this.”

Just like last week, the Lions’ offence came alive out of the break.

The visitors replied instantly, as Rourke found receiver Keon Hatcher on a 77-yard bomb up the left hash for a touchdown. Hatcher became a problem for the Bombers defence in the second half, racking up four grabs for 150 yards, but the hosts held strong otherwise, maintaining the club’s lead from start to finish.

Rourke was injured in the fourth quarter and did not return. Backup Jeremiah Masoli went seven-for-10 for 84 yards and an interception that was again recorded by Bridges.

A RETURN GAME!?

It really was a victory in all three phases for Winnipeg.

For one, the Bombers appear to have a return game again.

Rookie defensive back Trey Vaval put together a standout debut, amassing 146 yards on nine returns. The 24-year-old showcased his exceptional shiftiness and speed on several occasions to set Winnipeg up with favourable field position.

“Very happy for him,” said O’Shea. “He seemed to be all over the place, and he plays hard. He certainly, in my mind, he punches way above his weight class. He’s got that good mindset in terms of how hard he likes to play the game. It’s pretty cool.”

The Bombers’ return game was uninspiring a season ago, as the club ranked seventh in average field position, last in total kick return yards and were one of three teams without a return touchdown last season, while it flipped through four different players in search of a spark.

After Streveler found Demski for a second touchdown on a four-yard toss to extend Winnipeg’s lead to 34-20, it was running back Michael Chris-Ike who forced a fumble with a big hit on Lions returner Stanley Berryhill that was recovered by the hosts.

Winnipeg did not lose momentum again.

POINT-AFTER

Demski now has a catch in 72 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the CFL.

Meanwhile, it was a milestone victory for head coach Mike O’Shea, who now has 108 for his career, tying him with Dave Ritchie for seventh all-time.

joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jfreysam