Demski, Oliveira each surpass 100-yard mark

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This article was published 10/06/2023 (848 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Momentum can change hands very quickly in the CFL.

So can the football.

Just ask Nic Demski, who was playing in his 100th career game on Friday when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers outlasted the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 42-31 at IG Field.

The first play of the night for the Bombers offence was a handoff to Demski who was quickly met by Ticats linebacker Jameer Thurman.

The defender ripped the ball out of Demski’s arms to give possession to the Ticats.

Not exactly the start to the season that the Winnipegger had in mind.

“It was definitely easier to have a hiccup like that when you come back to the sidelines and nobody’s yelling or pointing fingers, the coaches included. I mean, there’s a lot of trust here,” said Demski, now entering his eighth year in the league and fifth with his hometown club, in a postgame interview.

“It definitely helped. If I was a young rookie it might’ve been a different story.”

Fortunately for him, he was given a mulligan. Two plays later, Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell gave the ball right back by tossing an interception to Demerio Houston. The Bombers would take full advantage of Mitchell’s error as quarterback Zach Collaros capped a six-play drive with a 17-yard strike to the corner of the end zone to Demski.

The 29-year-old now has 33 total career touchdowns. He finished the first two quarters of play with five catches for 111 yards before being held to a two-yard grab in the second half.

“I’ve put in a lot of time, a lot of work into this. So, just to be out here for 100 games, and be at home wearing this Winnipeg Blue Bombers jersey, it does mean a lot,” said Demski.

“And then kind of a side to my individual accomplishment, to get 100 yards in my 100th game, it does touch home. I’m just happy and thankful for my teammates making enough plays for me to go out there and do it.”

As for another 100 games, Demski isn’t ruling it out.

“I hope so, man. That’s the plan. We’ll see, we’ll see. Football is obviously a physically demanding sport, a mentally demanding sport, but I love it here, I love this building, so if everything goes smooth, hopefully I do have another 100 in my back pocket.”

His quarterback, who also threw first quarter touchdowns to Rasheed Bailey and Drew Wolitarsky, sure hopes Demski does.

Dalton Schoen was second in receiving on the night with five catches for 60 yards.

”Yeah, Nic’s an unbelievable player. One of my favourite teammates I’ve ever had,” said Collaros.

”It’s an unbelievable accomplishment and a testament to him and the way he takes care of himself and the love he has for the game and for his teammates. Pretty cool to get him a touchdown there to start the game off, he did a great job all night.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea had high praise for the receiver as well.

“It’s the same thing I say every time, he’s good. Very versatile, as good an athlete that you’ll find on the field. He can make guys miss, he can pull away from guys, he’s strong to break tackles, he’s got excellent hands, really smart, understands the game and how he fits in it. Yeah, he’s pretty damn good,” said O’Shea.

You couldn’t have asked for a better night from the Winnipeg duo as fellow Oak Park High School product Brady Oliveira led the charge on the ground. The fourth-year pro had 22 carries for 115 yards and a touchdown while adding 58 receiving yards.

“Brady’s gonna continue to get better with the more and more experience he has. He’s been playing with us for what seems like a long time now,” said Collaros.

“He’s a great football player running the football, and catching the football I always tell you guys he’s underrated in that aspect.”

Oliveira had his longest run of the night in the third quarter when he scampered for a 28-yard gain.

“I think personally, I get better as I go. The more touches I get, I start to heat up and I wear on the defence,” said Oliveira. “I’m not a flashy back by any means, but I’m durable and I damn near weigh 230 pounds so I’m going to run through you for four quarters. In the second half is when I usually wear on them and really start to gash them and I think I did that today.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31