Bombers head to CFL West Division final with 35-14 win over Stampeders

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This article was published 10/11/2019 (2126 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY – It was a much different scene compared to a year ago.

It was around this time last season the Winnipeg Blue Bombers strolled into McMahon Stadium to play the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division final. By the end of the night, a familiar plot line would play out, the Bombers losing to the eventual Grey Cup champions, 22-14, ending what had been a promising 2018 campaign.

On Sunday, nearly a year later, the Bombers were in that same visitors locker room, only this time tears of disappointment were replaced by cries of joy. The Bombers had finally done what many in the CFL have been hard-pressed to do in recent memory: they went into Calgary and beat the Stampeders on their own turf.

The victory – a dominating 35-14 drubbing by the Blue and Gold – didn’t have the same stakes as a year ago, even if they were both do-or-die games. This time, the Bombers faced the Stampeders in the West semifinal after neither club was able to supplant the Saskatchewan Roughriders for top spot in the West.

Still, that didn’t make redemption over the league’s heaviest hitters feel any less sweet.

“It feels amazing because this is what football is all about. It’s a long season to get to this point, to have the right to play in a game like this and it’s s win-or-go-home, do-or-die feeling,” Bombers middle linebacker Adam Bighill said. “When you show up and win and you execute it’s the best feeling. We believed in each other here in the locker room all year long and this is the result and we’re far from done.”

The Bombers were rightfully considered underdogs against the Stampeders, even if they had a case against the claim. After all, Winnipeg might have had one fewer win to their name, boasting an 11-7 record compared to Calgary at 12-6. But they had won the season-series two games to one, including the most recent affair in a 29-28 victory at IG Field back on Oct. 25.

But that didn’t prevent the fact the Stampeders were seeking a fourth straight trip to the Grey Cup, while the Bombers had last fought for a title in 2011, eventually losing to the B.C. Lions. Not to mention a Grey Cup drought dating back to 1990. Calgary had also won its previous five games at McMahon Stadium, and their last five postseason games, too.

The Bombers put an end to that bid, of course, while also continuing a recent trend in the West semifinal, becoming the third straight year the road team was victorious.

“We felt like we had their number all year. We just knew that we had to come in here, execute, play smart football, play physical football and act like this is our stadium. I felt like we came in here and did that,” Bombers receiver Nic Demski said. “Now we got to go to Saskatchewan and take care of business there. We owe them some payback so we can’t wait to go in there and play some good football.”

For a moment – well, actually, the first two quarters – the game looked a lot like last year’s. Even the score was nearly identical by halftime, the Stampeders taking a 14-8 lead instead of the 14-6 edge they had in 2018. The hosts got two touchdowns by receiver Reggie Begelton, while the Bombers recorded a safety and two of four field goals on the night for Justin Medlock.

“We were going to see if Calgary was going to do something new. They had a couple new things with personnel that we didn’t adjust to quickly enough. But once we got our footing down and figured out what they were doing we kind of got a little more of a rhythm. It just felt a lot more comfortable on the field in the second half,” Bombers right guard Patrick Neufeld said.

Indeed, the final two quarters told a completely different story, with the Bombers flexing in all three phases of the game, outscoring their opponent 27-0 to put an end to Calgary’s season.

On offence, the Bombers instilled a dynamic quarterback duo, exploiting the strengths of both Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler. The two were seated beside each other in a post-game press conference, with each taking turns complimenting one another.

“This guy is a warrior, the toughest guy in the league,” Collaros said of Streveler.

“I just got to say him coming in and being able to fit in so seamlessly with our quarterback room… he fits in tremendously and I’m just happy for him,” Streveler said, returning the favour.

Collaros finished the game with a modest stat line – 11-for-21 passing for 193 yards – but he came up with big plays that were made even larger under icy conditions at McMahon. None were bigger than the 71-yard touchdown pass he delivered to Darvin Adams that broke open the game, putting the visitors up 25-14 just minutes into the fourth quarter.

Then there was the run attack led by Streveler, carrying the ball 13 times for 82 yards and one touchdown (he didn’t attempt a single throw). The 24-year-old’s performance was made all the more impressive by the fact he wasn’t a sure bet to play because of his health. Streveler was limited in practice all week, and as the game approached, reports he had a broken bone in his foot and was dealing with a high-ankle sprain.

Streveler had missed the final game of the regular season with the injuries, which he suffered the week before in a loss to Calgary. He said he had doubts he could play early on, but as he entered this week he was determined to hit the field.

“I just wanted to be out there with the guys because I know how much they fight, how hard they work and I know everyone is fighting through stuff right now,” Streveler said. “I just feel like I’m not any different than them in terms of just fighting to be out there. I’m going to do everything I can to be out there.”

Not to be overshadowed, the Bombers defence was certainly the heartbeat of the victory. They not only limited Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, the reigning league and Grey Cup MVP, they completely shut him down.

Mitchell was supposed to be the major edge for Calgary, a player who only seems to get better come playoffs. He entered the game with at least one touchdown pass in each of his last six playoff games and had gone 69 straight passes without a postseason interception.

On Sunday, Mitchell threw for just 116 passing yards and three picks, with Mike Jones, Nick Taylor and Mercy Maston each getting their hands on a pass. Two interceptions were committed in the second half, leading to 10 points for the Bombers, including a 24-yard touchdown run by Streveler. In fact, the Stampeders closed out the game with three straight turnovers, the last being on downs before the Bombers ran out the clock.

The Bombers looked like the more prepared team. They clearly took full advantage of a bye week to end the regular season. Now they’ll have to combat a similar edge for the Roughriders, who have rested all week, waiting to find out who they’ll play.

“I thought the staff did a great job and then the players take the plan and run with it on the field,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “I can’t thank our guys enough for the amount of work they did to make sure they used every little bit of time they had.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton