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Published Aug 21, 2025 • 3 minute read
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) throws the ball during first half CFL action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal on Thursday. Photo by Christopher Katsarov /The Canadian PressArticle content
They lost their best pass catcher, Nic Demski, in the second quarter. They lost another receiver, Jerreth Stearns, before half-time.
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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were so thin at that position in Montreal on Thursday, backup quarterback Chris Streveler pulled on a pair of receiver gloves and trotted onto the field for the second half.
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The man the Bombers really leaned on, though, was more predictable.
Winnipegger Brady Oliveira churned out a combined 210 yards as his team ground out a 26-13 win, getting their second half of the season off on the right foot and improving to 6-4 heading into the most challenging part of their schedule.
Injury-riddled Montreal, down to its fourth-string quarterback in James Morgan, fell to 5-6.
Winnipeg’s six wins is the same as second-place Calgary (6-3) in the CFL West. The Stampeders take on 8-1 Saskatchewan on Saturday.
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Up next for the Bombers, the annual back-to-back set with the first-place Riders, beginning with the Labour Day weekend game in Regina a week from Sunday.
The contributions for Winnipeg came from everywhere, but none more significant than from its homegrown tailback.
Oliveira cracked the 100-yard for the first time this season, cranking out 137 yards on 16 carries, a gaudy 8.6-yard average.
He also pulled down nine passes for 73 yards, hitting his stride at a good time.
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“That was a fun one, putting this thing on our back,” Oliveira told the CJOB radio post-game show, crediting his offensive line and teammates. “Just really proud of this entire team. We faced a ton of adversity and we never flinched. Not once. That’s what you’ve got teammates for.”
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“He just keeps getting better and better,” quarterback Zach Collaros said of his running back on TSN right after the game. “His toughness just wears on everybody.”
Collaros completed 27 of 31 passes for 263 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions, while Sergio Castillo was a perfect four-for-four on field goals.
“We did face some adversity, losing Nic Demski, for one, the heart and soul of our offence,” Collaros said. “Can’t say enough about Chris Streveler. It’s not every day you see a quarterback come in and get asked four or five times to block the defensive end… pretty awesome.”
The Winnipeg defence held the Alouettes to one touchdown and 16 first downs, as Evan Holm intercepted a pass for the second straight week, Willie Jefferson knocked down two more passes and linebacker Tony Jones followed up an 11-tackle game with another nine.
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“Pretty gritty,” head coach Mike O’Shea told CJOB. “Brady was awesome… right when you need it. To be able to move the ball like that when you have to is awesome.”
O’Shea also tipped his cap to lesser lights like Streveler, who blocked on some run plays, and No. 3 quarterback Terry Wilson, who barged 16 yards for a first down on short yardage.
The teams exchanged early field goals
Collaros capped the Bombers’ next drive by hitting Demski for the two-yard scoring strike and giving his team a 10-3 lead.
The home side responded, using some trickery – a reverse and deep pass from receiver Tyler Snead to Alexander Hollins, fooling rookie corner Trey Vaval just enough – to cover 44 yards.
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Their untested quarterback finished it off with a four-yard touchdown toss to Snead and it was tied at 10.
It was 16-10, Winnipeg, at the half.
Collaros went into halftime having hit on 19 of 22 passes for 203 yards,while Oliveira produced 101 combined first-half yards, 55 of them on the ground.
Montreal cut the lead to three going into the fourth quarter.
That’s when the Bombers put together a 10-play 81-yard march, capped by a bulldozing Oliveira’s three-yard touchdown, restoring their 10-point lead.
When Jefferson knocked down his second pass of the game on a third-and-four with some six minutes go, the Bombers were well on their way.
Vaval picked off a late desperation pass and the Blue and Gold stuffed win No. 6, lumpy as it was, into their bags for the flight back to Winnipeg.
paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca
X: @friesensunmedia
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