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“It was a weird one,” Nic Demski said. “That’s what makes CFL fun, man. Those last three minutes, it was a roller-coaster. Guys stayed locked in. Obviously mistakes on our side. We’ve just got to fix that and make it not so crazy.”
Published Aug 15, 2025 • 3 minute read
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo (14) and Jamieson Sheahan (left) watch as Castillo’s kick goes through the uprights for the game-winning field goal against the Ottawa Redblacks during second half CFL action in Winnipeg Thursday, August 14, 2025. Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods /Winnipeg SunArticle content
Sergio Castillo vaulted from vaunted villain status to hero status in a matter of mere seconds.
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Castillo kicked the game-winning field goal with no time remaining on the clock as the Blue Bombers escaped with a 30-27 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday night.
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”I was excited because I got another chance,” Castillo said. “You miss one and you want another chance and we were fortunate we got another chance.”
Prior to Castillo nailing the 47-yarder, the veteran kicker missed a 57-yard boot wide to the left.
And that is where things went haywire in the crazy, fun league.
Redblacks return man Kalil Pimpleton caught the ball in the end zone and scooted down the far sideline for a 117-yard return for a touchdown. The point after tied the game 27-27 with 53 ticks remaining on the clock.
“I should have made the kick,” Castillo said. “With every kick you have the full intention of making it, but I just hit it clean when I should have aimed right-centre.”
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On the ensuing Winnipeg possession, Collaros was intercepted at the Ottawa 21-yard line on a long attempt for Nic Demski. The visitors then went two and out and kicked the ball back to the Bombers with 18 seconds remaining when the offence hit the field for one additional fro in this to and fro battle.
A Collaros scramble for 17 yards, followed by an 11-yard pass to Demski to the Ottawa 39-yard line, set Castillo up to restore his good name for the 32, 343 in attendance.
“I feel fortunate and blessed,” Castillo said. “Props to long snapper Ian Leroux and props to holder Jamieson Sheahan for making it easy for me. I was fortunate to get another shot to kick the winner.”
“I am really proud of the group tonight,” added Bombers running back Brady Oliveira. “(After Ottawa returned) the touchdown, we still had so much belief on the sidelines, with the understanding that 18 seconds was a lot of time and were going to go down there and score points. We have got the best kicker in the league and we fully trust him to nail those kicks and that is exactly what he did.”
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Oliveira notched his first touchdown of the season on a four-yard run early in the fourth quarter. He ran the ball 10 times for 35 yards and caught four passes for 29 yards.
Oliveira called the CFL the ‘crazy, fun league.’
Demski agreed.
“It was a weird one,” the receiver said. “That’s what makes CFL fun, man. Those last three minutes, it was a roller-coaster. Guys stayed locked in. Obviously mistakes on our side. We’ve just got to fix that and make it not so crazy.”
Demski caught six catches for 128 yards. Demski passed ex-Bombers receiver Jeff Boyd (5,110 yards) for ninth on Winnipeg’s all-time receiving list with a 36-yard catch early in the second quarter. Clarence Denmark is eighth overall with 5,478 yards. Demski caught six passes for 128 yards.
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Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea was asked why he went for the field goal, as opposed to punting the ball deep and pinning Ottawa near the shadow of it own goalpost, thereby relying on the defence to make a final stand.
“Because Castillo is good from that distance,” O’Shea said.
So. It was an easy decision, then?
“An easy decision,” O’Shea said.
Collaros went 24-for-34 for 298 passing yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Chris Streveler scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter.
Jerreth Sterns caught four balls for 50 yards and one touchdown. Keric Wheatfall caught four balls for 68 yards.
Castillo booted three field goals. His longest successful attempt was a 53-yard boot in the first quarter.
Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown went 12-for-21 for 166 yards with one touchdown. Brown went to the turf holding his left knee with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter. He did not return.
“We won’t know anything until we get some imaging,” Ottawa head coach Bob Dyce said about Dru’s injury.
Backup quarterback Dustin Crum went 11-for-17 for 125 yards and two touchdowns. He ran one in from four yards away and tossed an eight yarder to Justin Hardy late in the fourth quarter.
William Stanback paced the Ottawa ground game with eight carries for 50 yards.
Lewis Ward kicked two field goal for the visitors. Ward’s longest kick was 46 yards.
The Bombers are in Montreal to face the Alouettes next Thursday.
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