Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-11 · by Jeff Hamilton The Canadian Press
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers secured an important victory against the Calgary Stampeders with a score of 33-28 on Saturday, improving their record to 8-8 and keeping them in contention for a playoff spot. Quarterback Zach Collaros returned from injury, contributing significantly with 19 completions out of 27 attempts for 349 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. With this win, the Bombers now control their own playoff fate, needing to secure victories in their last two games against Edmonton and Vancouver to clinch a spot.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have saved their season.
asserted
Bombers → save → 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.
asserted
Bombers → spark → 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.
asserted
victory → improve → 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.
asserted
club → ensure → 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.
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who → have → Monday
The season series is the first tiebreaker, meaning the Stampeders and Roughriders will have to finish with a better record than Winnipeg.
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Stampeders → mean → Winnipeg
Winnipeg now controls its own destiny.
asserted
Winnipeg → control → 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.
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Bombers → clinch → Lions
The Elks (12-4) and Lions (10-6) have already clinched playoff berths.
asserted
Elks → clinch → berths
The Stampeders could have clinched with a victory.
uncertain
Stampeders → clinch → victory
Instead, they fall to 8-9 and will need some help down the final stretch.
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they → fall → stretch
If the Roughriders defeat the Alouettes on Monday, they will officially clinch a playoff spot.
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they → defeat → 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.
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Bombers → mean → 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.
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Collaros → return → yards
The Bombers put up 392 net yards on offence, with Ontaria Wilson, Nic Demski and Trey Vaval adding touchdowns.
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Wilson → put → touchdowns
Sergio Castillo rounded out the scoring with four field goals, connecting from 45, 48, 44 and 33 yards.
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Castillo → round → yards
Dorian Singer led all receivers with 166 yards on five receptions.
asserted
Singer → lead → receptions
Running back Brady Oliveira had eight carries for 40 yards.
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Oliveira → have → yards
Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw 283 yards on 29-for-43 passing, along with one touchdown.
asserted
Jr. → throw → 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.
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Vaughn → total → score
Rene Parades was 3-for-4 on field goals, missing from 46 yards out.
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Parades → miss → goals
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.
asserted
Bombers → open → frame
The defensive battle continued into the second quarter, with the two sides exchanging field goals, including a 56-yarder from Parades.
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sides → continue → 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.
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minutes → threaten → 40
But Collaros’ pass sailed over Demski and into the arms of Stampeders’ defensive back Ashton Miller-Melancon for an interception.
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pass → sail → interception
The Stamps cut it to 10-9 with another Parades field goal, this time from 43 yards.
asserted
Stamps → cut → 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.
asserted
Collaros → connect → halftime
Singer reeled in a 45-yard pass on the serie’s opening play to give him 97 yards on two receptions through two quarters.
asserted
Singer → reel → quarters
Vaval opened the second half by returning the kickoff 88 yards to pay dirt.
asserted
Vaval → open → dirt
Vaval’s second return touchdown of the season put Winnipeg up 24-9.
asserted
touchdown → put → Winnipeg
Minutes later, McMahon scampered for a six-yard touchdown to make it a one-score game, 24-16.
asserted
it → scamper → touchdown
McMahon added another TD on the Stampeders next drive, reeling in an eight-yard toss from Adams.
asserted
McMahon → add → Adams
A failed two-point convert made it 24-22 Bombers heading into the fourth quarter.
asserted
it → fail → quarter
Two more Castillo field goals restored Winnipeg’s lead to 30-22.
asserted
goals → restore → 30
With 1:42 remaining, Castillo put the game away with a 33-yarder.
asserted
Castillo → remain → yarder
The Stampeders made it exciting with a one-yard score, but a second failed two-point convert sealed the game.
asserted
convert → make → game
Blue Bombers: Visit the Edmonton Elks on Friday.
asserted
Bombers → visit → Friday
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2026.
asserted
report → publish → Press
The Aporia
