Bombers outlast Stamps in first test of the season

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers didn’t let the weight of expectations hold them down in Cowtown.

Did they have a flawless showing at McMahon Stadium on Friday night?

Not quite.

But it’s safe to say the Bombers — featuring a much-improved roster after spending big in free agency — passed the first test of the season with flying colours, outlasting the Stampeders 30-28 in a nail-biter that was decided on the final play.

“These early season victories are more important than you think,” Bombers defensive tackle Jake Ceresna told the Free Press after the game.

“To come in here, get a victory, and be in the right column going forward, it’s huge. We’ve got to build on this, but we’ve got to get better. We have so much work to do.”

The Bombers will try for a similar result when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1) — fresh off a 30-27 overtime loss to Montreal — on Thursday (7:30 p.m.).

Before the attention shifts to the Tabbies, there’s plenty to unpack from Week 1. Let’s get into it with five takeaways.

CERESNA RULES

That was one of the finest debuts in franchise history.

The Bombers signed Ceresna to a two-year deal worth close to $500,000 this winter for a reason, and the soon-to-be 32-year-old showed exactly why against the Stamps.

He finished with three sacks, including two on Calgary’s final drive (more on that in a minute), along with five tackles.

Clearly, blue and gold are his colours because you’d have to go back to July 27, 2024, to find the last time the eight-year veteran recorded a multi-sack performance. He was limited to 11 games with Edmonton last season.

“Sometimes they fall for you, and they were falling for me tonight,” said Ceresna.

“My thought process going in was just trying to play the whole game and stay healthy. That’s all I was really worried about, and then I went out there and had a good game, too, I guess.”

He wasn’t the only one.

Defensive end Willie Jefferson turned back the clock, recording a sack, two knockdowns, a fumble recovery and two tackles.

“Willie makes my job easier, right? Anytime you’re playing with a hall of famer, they have to worry about him, too,” said Ceresna.

“Willie’s an unbelievable talent, he’s unreal, and it’s just an honour and a privilege to be able to play with him.”

Jefferson hasn’t lined up alongside a pass rusher as talented as Ceresna since longtime friend Jackson Jeffcoat retired following the 2023 campaign.

CONDELL’S CREW

We finally got a chance to see what a Tommy Condell offence is all about.

Condell has made a living in the CFL for nearly two decades as a coach who heavily favours the passing game, but if Friday is any indication, he has adapted to fit Winnipeg’s style.

He’d be crazy not to, considering the Bombers boast the league’s best running back in Brady Oliveira.

While Oliveira did most of the damage with 15 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown, the offence remained balanced, with quarterback Zach Collaros making plays when necessary.

His stat line doesn’t jump off the page — 17-of-28 for 233 yards, one touchdown and one interception — and he didn’t complete a pass longer than 30 yards. But the 37-year-old converted several second-and-long situations and, as expected based on what was seen during training camp, showed immediate chemistry with Tim White, who led the team with five catches for 60 yards and a score.

The longest completion of the night came when they needed it most.

Trailing by one with a minute remaining, Collaros connected with Ontaria Wilson for a 27-yard gain that eventually set up Sergio Castillo’s game-winning field goal as time expired.

“That whole last series from the kick return on, it showed just a good understanding and excellent execution,” O’Shea told the Free Press.

D-WHAT?

The Stampeders trampled the Bombers in the first half.

Superstar running back Dedrick Mills rushed for 95 yards on 11 carries in the opening 30 minutes, helping Calgary take a 21-16 lead into the break.

“We shot ourselves in the foot and took a few penalties. It cost us,” said O’Shea.

“We played much smarter and got after it in the second half. Obviously, we got a lot of pressure and converted those into sacks in the second half, which was awesome.”

In the final two quarters, it was a much different story, with Ceresna and Co. holding Mills to just 27 yards on five attempts.

Things were looking up until the Stamps, trailing 27-21, took possession at their own six-yard line with 3:41 remaining.

Even though Ceresna brought down quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. twice on the drive, Calgary kept chugging along to stay alive — highlighted by Adams converting a second-and-14 from his own two-yard line with a 15-yard completion to Jalen Philpot.

“For them to make those plays, if you’re a fan of football, you should like this,” said O’Shea.

“It was a good game. It was fun to match and fun to be a part of.”

OFF THE SNIDE

The Bombers had no answer for the Stampeders a year ago, losing all three meetings between the West Division foes.

While it’s great to put an end to the drought, it’s also worth noting Calgary was far from full strength.

Defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings, arguably the Stamps’ best player, sat out with a hamstring injury. He signed a three-year deal last week after being released by the Minnesota Vikings.

A CFL All-Star in 2025, Hutchings had three sacks and 10 tackles in those three victories over the Blue and Gold.

Another key piece of Calgary’s dominant defensive line, Folarin Orimolade, was also sidelined as he continues to work his way back from an Achilles injury.

They both practised last week and it should be only a matter of time until they suit up on game day.

And don’t forget about one of the best kickers in CFL history, René Paredes, who opened the season on the six-game injured list.

His replacement, Global kicker Jude McAtamney, misfired on a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter that ultimately could have changed how this one ended.

ATTENDANCE WOES

You couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2026 season.

Hamilton and Montreal battled into overtime on Thursday, followed by the Bombers and Stamps delivering a classic on Friday.

The only thing that would have made those games better is if there were more people in the stands.

The Tiger-Cats drew just 18,577 fans for their opener, a significant drop from their 2025 average attendance of 22,858.

And while McMahon Stadium would barely pass as a high school venue in some parts of the United States, you’d still hope Calgary could attract more than 17,743 fans for Week 1.

Numbers like these only reinforce how important the CFL’s new broadcasting partnership — with games distributed across Bell Media, DAZN and YouTube beginning next season — could become with the league set to make $500 million over six years.

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