WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have saved their season.
Sparked by the return of quarterback Zach Collaros, the Bombers narrowly defeated the Calgary Stampeders 33-28 in front of a full house at Princess Auto Stadium on Saturday.
The victory improved Winnipeg's record to 8-8, putting them right back in the mix for one of four playoff spots coming out of the CFL's West Division.
With the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-12) and Ottawa Redblacks (0-16) officially out of playoff contention, ensuring a crossover to the East, all but one Western club will make the post-season.
The Bombers have the season series over the Stampeders and Saskatchewan Roughriders, who are 8-7 and will travel to play the CFL-leading Montreal Alouettes (12-3) on Thanksgiving Monday.
The season series is the first tiebreaker, meaning the Stampeders and Roughriders will have to finish with a better record than Winnipeg.
Winnipeg now controls its own destiny.
The Bombers can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over their final two games — on the road against the Edmonton Elks on Oct. 16, with the season-finale Oct. 23 in Vancouver versus the Lions.
The Elks (12-4) and Lions (10-6) have already clinched playoff berths.
The Stampeders could have clinched with a victory. Instead, they fall to 8-9 and will need some help down the final stretch.
If the Roughriders defeat the Alouettes on Monday, they will officially clinch a playoff spot. That means Calgary would have to win their regular-season finale against the Lions next week and hope the Bombers lose their final two games.
Collaros returned after missing two games with a head injury and went 19-for-27 passing for 349 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
The Bombers put up 392 net yards on offence, with Ontaria Wilson, Nic Demski and Trey Vaval adding touchdowns. Sergio Castillo rounded out the scoring with four field goals, connecting from 45, 48, 44 and 33 yards.
Dorian Singer led all receivers with 166 yards on five receptions. Running back Brady Oliveira had eight carries for 40 yards.
Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw 283 yards on 29-for-43 passing, along with one touchdown.
Calgary's offence totalled 400 net yards, with running back Deonta McMahon scoring a pair touchdowns, including a six-yard scamper, with quarterback Quincy Vaughn punching in a one-yard score. Rene Parades was 3-for-4 on field goals, missing from 46 yards out.
After the Stampeders opened the scoring late in the first quarter with Parades' 20-yard field goal, the Bombers answered back with an 18-yard touchdown to Wilson on the ensuing drive to take a 7-3 lead into the second frame.
The defensive battle continued into the second quarter, with the two sides exchanging field goals, including a 56-yarder from Parades.
Winnipeg threatened to add to its lead with just more than five minutes remaining before halftime, earning a new set of downs at Calgary's 40. But Collaros' pass sailed over Demski and into the arms of Stampeders defensive back Ashton Miller-Melancon for an interception.
The Stamps cut it to 10-9 with another Parades field goal, this time from 43 yards.
Collaros connected with Demski for a 25-yard touchdown on the very next drive to give the Bombers a 17-9 edge at halftime. Singer reeled in a 45-yard pass on the series' opening play to give him 97 yards on two receptions through two quarters.
Vaval opened the second half by returning the kickoff 88 yards to pay dirt. Vaval's second return touchdown of the season put Winnipeg up 24-9.
Minutes later, McMahon scampered for a six-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game, 24-16. McMahon added another TD on the Stampeders' next drive, reeling in an eight-yard toss from Adams.
A failed two-point convert made it 24-22 Bombers heading into the fourth quarter.
Two more Castillo field goals restored Winnipeg's lead to 30-22. With 1:42 remaining, Castillo put the game away with a 33-yarder.
The Stampeders made it exciting with a one-yard score, but a second failed two-point convert sealed the game.
Up next
Stampeders: Host the B.C. Lions on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Blue Bombers: Visit the Edmonton Elks on Friday.
