Demski eyes breakout in Calgary

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This article was published 17/10/2019 (2153 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Nic Demski has a good feeling about this weekend.

After recording 11 catches on 16 targets for 117 yards in the past three games, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver feels due for a breakout game. No better time than the present, either, as the Bombers (10-6) get ready to play the Calgary Stampeders (10-5) at McMahon Stadium on Saturday in the first game of a home-and-home series that could have major consequences in the CFL’s West Division standings.

“I feel something brewing up here in the last couple weeks. I want to finish this season hard so I can go into the playoffs even harder,” said Demski, who has 38 receptions for 492 yards and three touchdowns in 2019. “My goal is catch every ball that comes my way. If they keep throwing me the ball, then I’m going to make the most of it. Whatever comes my way, I’m going to be ready and do the best I can.”

The Bombers still have a shot for first place in the West. They’ll have to beat Calgary twice to get there, as well as have the Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-5) lose two of their final three games. A pair of wins against the Stampeders, however, would cement second place and a home playoff game in the West semifinal.

Zach watch

Newly acquired quarterback Zach Collaros took more reps with the offence during Thursday’s closed practice but head coach Mike O’Shea remained quiet when asked whether he’d be on the roster Saturday in Calgary. The Bombers aren’t required to issue their depth chart until late Friday morning, but one has to think he’ll get the chance to dress. Whether he’ll get any game action, however, is much harder to predict.

Injury update

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O’Shea said he was hopeful receiver Darvin Adams and fullback Mike Miller would be able to play. Adams missed the first two days of practice, putting his status in doubt, but is now expected to suit up. Miller, who needs just one more special-teams tackle to become the CFL’s all-time leader, remains questionable. Strong-side linebacker Anthony Gaitor will miss a third straight week.

Bowman retires

Adarius Bowman has officially called it a career after 11 seasons in the CFL. Bowman started his career in Saskatchewan in 2008, playing nine games for the Roughriders, but it was in Winnipeg where he blossomed into a star receiver. Bowman played two seasons with the Bombers, including a 2009 campaign where he caught 55 passes for 925 yards and six touchdowns. He moved on to Edmonton in 2011, playing seven seasons with the Eskimos and was named a division and league all-star three straight years (2014-16). He returned to the Bombers last season, but after a slow start was traded to the Montreal Alouettes. After being unable to find a new CFL home, Bowman has left the game and taken a job in commercial insurance in Edmonton.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.