Return to form for Blue and Gold

It was the loudest Princess Auto Stadium has been all season.

Moments after fumbling a fourth quarter punt that put the Toronto Argonauts in scoring range, Winnipeg Blue Bombers returner Trey Vaval bounced back in a big way.

Argos kicker Lirim Hajrullahu misfired on a 40-yard field goal with nine minutes remaining and Vaval made the visitors pay by racing down to the opposite end zone to boost the home side’s lead to 29-14.

Vaval, who had four return touchdowns in his sensational rookie campaign last year, entered the contest ranked first in the CFL in punt-return yards and second on kickoffs — the only thing he was missing was his first score.

He checked that box at a perfect time.

Vaval’s heroics lifted the Bombers to a 30-21 win to improve to 3-2. The Argos fall to 2-3.

The victory allowed the Bombers to avoid losing a third straight game at home, which was hasn’t happened since 2016.

While Vaval made the biggest splash, it was perhaps quarterback Dru Brown who made the biggest statement. The 29-year-old looked as if he had never left Winnipeg.

No, he wasn’t perfect, but for someone who returned to the Blue Bombers just over two weeks ago, he looked right at home.

Brown, who was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Redblacks and got the start for an injured Zach Collaros, moved the ball effectively and, with the help of kicker Sergio Castillo, managed to outduel red-hot Argos quarterback Chad Kelly.

Brown completed 25-of-31 passes for 339 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but ultimately it was Castillo who finished most drives with five field goals (56, 53, 40, 17, 32).

Castillo only missed once — a 48-yarder with just over a minute remaining — but the mishap managed to score a clutch rouge to put the Bombers ahead 30-21, ruining Kelly and Co.’s dreams of marching down the field for a game-tying drive.

For the first time in 2026, the Bombers played three-phase football. The defence arguably deserves the most praise for keeping Kelly in check for large chunks of the contest.

In Toronto’s first four outings, Kelly was averaging 371 passing yards and three touchdown passes per game. The Argos were also situated second in scoring with 37.5 points per game.

While Kelly still produced 320 yards and two touchdowns with a 66.7 completion percentage, nothing came easy. He was sacked on three occasions — twice by defensive end Willie Jefferson, and once by safety Redha Kramdi — and fumbled on the Kramdi sack which led to a recovery by linebacker Tony Jones.

The Bombers led the entire way and took a 19-7 edge into half.

Brown hit the ground running on the opening drive with three consecutive completions to Ontaria Wilson to get down to Toronto’s four-yard line before the receiver coughed up the football.

The Bombers made up for the blunder two drives later when Brown connected with Tim White for a 35-yard score to grab a 7-0 advantage with just over three minutes left in the first.

Toronto struggled out of the gates, with their first four possessions resulting in three punts and a turnover before punching back with a four-play, 66-yard touchdown drive capped off with running back Sam Hicks scoring from three yards out.

Wilson was Brown’s go-to option, with 10 catches for 133 yards on 14 targets. Nic Demski added six grabs for 82 yards.

Toronto has surrendered the most air yards in the entire three-down loop and the Bombers took advantage.

Bombers running back Brady Oliveira contributed 69 rushing yards on 16 carries. The Argos produced just 47 ground yards with 30 of those coming from Hicks on six touches.

Damonte Coxie led the Boatmen with six catches but was ejected in the fourth quarter after slapping Bombers corner Major Williams on the side of the helmet after a catch.

Williams was busy with seven tackles, including one for a loss, and a pass knockdown.

After selling out 16 consecutive games at Princess Auto Stadium, Friday fell just short of a sell-out with 32,144 fans in attendance.

The Bombers head to the nation’s capital to play the Ottawa Redblacks (0-5) next Sunday.

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