Bombers Triumph Over Stampeders with Two Touchdowns by Brown

Rasheed Bailey of the Calgary Stampede said it was one of his best touchdowns ever.

In a game that Winnipeg didn't need to win, Bailey's 68-yard touchdown run into the end zone after starting quarterback Dru Brown tipped a ball gave the Blue Bombers the momentum they needed to defeat the Calgary Stampeders 36–13.

Bailey, who concluded the season with six touchdown catches to give him 20 for his four-year career with the Bombers, remarked, "That play represents the whole year." It will undoubtedly rank among my career's best touchdowns. You notice all the guys around you; that's true leadership, true love, and true effect.

"That’s what that touchdown means to me."

The Stampeders had taken a 13–12 lead prior to Bailey's game-winning reception late in the third quarter. Cole Tucker's first CFL touchdown, a 21-yard pass from quarterback Jake Maier, completed a six-play, 78-yard drive.

Regarding his team's prompt action, Winnipeg coach Mike O'Shea stated, "I think Rasheed Bailey might have been the spark." "You will never witness a better touchdown catch and run than that one.

"He ignited the entire bench." When the guys saw that, they were ecstatic."

With 1:38 left in the game, backup quarterback Dakota Prukop completed the scoring with a one-yard dash into the end zone after Brown had completed a touchdown pass to Brendan O'Leary-Orange.

Brown, who completed 13 of 17 passes for 278 yards, added, "It was a lot of fun." "I think in the second half, we were able to roll through some good plays (that were) called in the right situation and well executed."

Sergio Castillo scored the Blue Bombers (14–4) with five field goals.

In the CFL playoffs, Winnipeg has already secured a bye through the first round and will host the Western Final on November 11th, against either the B.C. Lions (12-6) or the Stampeders (6-12).

The remaining points for Calgary came from two field goals that Rene Paredes kicked for the Stamps.

"We were outcoached and outplayed," Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson remarked. The more physically fit group was them. When we grabbed the lead, we were barely hanging on, and they quickly recovered. Hopefully, our people are prepared to work and try again.

The Stamps have already guaranteed themselves a postseason spot, and they will play the Lions in the West Division semifinal the following weekend in Vancouver.

Running back Brady Oliviera of Winnipeg completed the season's milestone with an eight-yard run on the opening play from scrimmage, needing just two more yards to do so.

Only playing in the first quarter, Oliviera was the Blue Bombers' nomination for most outstanding Canadian and most excellent player. Later in the game, he made a few more appearances. With eight carries for 36 yards in the end, he concluded the season with an amazing 2,016 yards from scrimmage—leading the league.

In the first quarter, which was covered in snow, Castillo scored all six points for Winnipeg after he made two field goals, one from 51 yards out and the other from 23 yards out.

Just 39 seconds into the second quarter, Castillo added a 30-yard field goal to increase Winnipeg's lead to 9-0 after the snow ceased.

The Stamps moved into Winnipeg territory on Calgary's subsequent drive as Tucker hauled in a 32-yard reception. However, the drive was cut short six plays later when Paredes missed a 45-yard range goal wide to the left.

The Stamps eventually got on the scoreboard at 8:28 of the second quarter when Parades hit on a kick through the uprights. At 14:02, Castillo made a 42-yard field goal to put the Bombers ahead 12-3 at halftime.

Following a 35-yard field goal by Paredes for the Stamps early in the third quarter, Prokop led the Bombers into Calgary territory and drove them to the 29-yard line. However, Stampeders defender Adarius Taylor forced the Winnipeg quarterback to fumble the ball and recovered it, ending the scoring threat.

After that, Maier planned the drive that resulted in Tucker's touchdown reception.

The Bombers led 26-13 after Bailey's spectacular catch-and-run touchdown with 2:49 remaining in the third quarter. 51 seconds into the fourth quarter, O'Leary-Orange caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Brown.

After that, at 5:07, Prukop rushed for his one-yard touchdown to complete a late 12-play, 85-yard drive, which was started by Castillo with a 40-yard field goal.

Before the game, Micah Awe, a linebacker for Calgary, needed just three defensive stops to surpass Alex Singleton's record of 123 single-season tackles set by the team in 2017 and 2018.

With 13 defensive tackles at the game's conclusion, Awe's season total of 134 is now the third-highest in CFL history, only surpassed by Solomon Elimimian's 144 in 2017 and 143 in 2014.

"It feels good," Awe remarked. I continue to aim high for myself. In my opinion, we most likely won if I had 13 tackles and I was 13 for 13. That didn't occur tonight, so I still need to make more tackles."

The Canadian Press originally released this information on October 27, 2023.