{"id":824859,"date":"2026-07-25T08:14:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T08:14:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/824859\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T08:14:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T08:14:21","slug":"brown-bombs-as-bombers-blasted-winnipeg-free-press","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/824859\/","title":{"rendered":"Brown bombs as Bombers blasted \u2013 Winnipeg Free Press"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown took Friday night\u2019s \u2018Christmas in July\u2019 theme a little too seriously.<\/p>\n<p>He wasn\u2019t carrying around a red sack, but he did giftwrap four interceptions to the Calgary Stampeders in what ended up being a 52-30 loss for the Blue and Gold in front of a sold-out crowd.<\/p>\n<p>The result dropped the Bombers, now 1-3 at home this season, to 4-3. Calgary improved to 3-4 and now has a chance to win the tiebreaker when the sides meet for a final time on Oct. 10 at Princess Auto Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crop-CP176665079.jpg\" data-pswp- data-pswp-width=\"1024\" data-pswp-height=\"1621\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crop-CP176665079.jpg\" alt=\"THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods&#13;&#10;                                 Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown threw four interceptions in the Bombers 52-30 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in Winnipeg, Friday.\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p> Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown threw four interceptions in the Bombers 52-30 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in Winnipeg, Friday.<\/p>\n<p>The Stampeders should\u2019ve closed the game out at the end of the third quarter, but they were also feeling generous. Leading 39-20 in the final minutes of the third, Calgary defensive back Ben Labrosse picked off Brown in Winnipeg territory.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of sealing the deal, that\u2019s when things got interesting. As he was being taken down to the turf, Labrosse made arguably the biggest boneheaded play of the season by attempting to toss the ball to a nearby teammate, only for diving Bombers receiver Ontaria Wilson to snag it out of the air to regain possession.<\/p>\n<p>Four plays later, Bombers running back Brady Oliveira scored a 45-yard rushing touchdown to cut Calgary\u2019s lead to 39-27.<\/p>\n<p>Early in the fourth, the Bombers would make it 39-30 after rookie defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth strip-sacked Stamps pivot Vernon Adams Jr. to set up a Sergio Castillo field goal.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s as close as the home side would get.<\/p>\n<p>Labrosse would make up for his crucial error and intercept Brown for a third time \u2014 the third-year Canadian defensive also got the best of Brown in the first quarter on an underthrown ball to the end zone to Wilson \u2014 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the contest.<\/p>\n<p>Labrosse, a 26-year-old out of McGill, had zero interceptions in 28 career games heading into Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crop-CP176665071.jpg\" data-pswp- data-pswp-width=\"2048\" data-pswp-height=\"1583\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crop-CP176665071.jpg\" alt=\"THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods&#13;&#10;                                Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Willie Jefferson sacks Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.  in the first half.\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Winnipeg Blue Bombers&#8217; Willie Jefferson sacks Calgary Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.  in the first half.<\/p>\n<p>Stamps running back Dedrick Mills added a late rushing touchdown to cement the final score.<\/p>\n<p>While Labrosse was the focus of the second half, the opening two quarters belonged to Stamps returner\/running back Tyreik McAllister who was an end zone magnet.<\/p>\n<p>He scored on a 17-yard run on Calgary\u2019s opening drive, then hit pay dirt twice in the second quarter with a 56-yard catch \u2014 where he was wide open \u2014 and a missed field goal return after Castillo misfired from 58 yards out.<\/p>\n<p>The Bombers started the evening stuck in mud by punting on their first three drives before Brown threw his first INT of the game.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the onslaught from McAllister, they managed to hang in there early on thanks to their two local standouts: receiver Nic Demski and Oliveira.<\/p>\n<p>Demski got the crowd on their feet after catching an inaccurate screen pass with one hand before rattling off 37 yards to score Winnipeg\u2019s first touchdown of the evening.<\/p>\n<p>Then with under six minutes to go in the half, Oliveira scampered ahead for a 13-yard score \u2014 his first since Week 4 \u2014 to make it a 22-14 lead for the visitors.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crop-CP176665073.jpg\" data-pswp- data-pswp-width=\"2048\" data-pswp-height=\"1377\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/crop-CP176665073.jpg\" alt=\"THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods&#13;&#10;                                Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nic Demski celebrates his first-half touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders in Winnipeg on Friday.\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Winnipeg Blue Bombers&#8217; Nic Demski celebrates his first-half touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders in Winnipeg on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Stamps kicker Jude McAtamney and Castillo would then trade 50-yard field goals for the scoreboard read 25-17 at the break.<\/p>\n<p>A few plays before Castillo\u2019s drilled a three-pointer, the Bombers lost their best offensive lineman: Jarell Broxton. On a 21-yard rushing play by Oliveira, a Stamps defender rolled up on Broxton from behind. He was down on the field for several minutes before walking gingerly off the field.<\/p>\n<p>Broxton, the highest paid American O-lineman in the CFL, did not return to the game.<\/p>\n<p>The Stamps wasted no time punching the Bombers in the mouth in the third as Adams found Canadian receiver Jalen Philpot for a 69-yard touchdown. Three Bombers got a hand on Philpot, but none were able to take him down.<\/p>\n<p>The beatdown continued minutes later when Bombers punter Jamieson Sheahan had a punt blocked. It would lead to Adams throwing another touchdown \u2014 this time a seven-yarder to receiver Tevin Jones to go up 39-20.<\/p>\n<p>Adams was brilliant, completing 18-of-27 attempts for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Dating back to last season, the 33-year-old out of Oregon has thrown 269 passes without an interception. His incredible streak almost came to an end with nine minutes left in the third when Bombers linebacker Kyrie Wilson had a glorious opportunity to pick off a high throw, but he failed to haul it in.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779296989_228_onsports-tile-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Brown, who was 2-0 in his previous starts this season and owned a career 4-0 record against Calgary, had his worst showing since returning to Winnipeg via trade last month. He completed 24-of-40 throws for 249 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4426857_web1_CP176665069.jpg\" data-pswp- data-pswp-width=\"2048\" data-pswp-height=\"1553\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4426857_web1_CP176665069.jpg\" alt=\"THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods&#13;&#10;                                Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval returns a punt against the Calgary Stampeders during the first half in Winnipeg on Friday.\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>THE CANADIAN PRESS\/John Woods<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval returns a punt against the Calgary Stampeders during the first half in Winnipeg on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>Brown\u2019s blunders spoiled a top-notch performance by Oliveira, who had 128 rushing yards on 14 attempts and two touchdowns. You\u2019d have to go back to Sept. 21, 2024, against Edmonton to find the last time Oliveira had a pair of rushing scores in a game.<\/p>\n<p>Mills had 60 rushing yards on 10 attempts. Wilson led the Bombers in receiving with 95 on seven grabs. Philpot had 128 on four catches for the Stamps.<\/p>\n<p>The Bombers host the B.C. Lions on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/taylor-allen-mug.jpg\" class=\"author-portrait\" alt=\"Taylor Allen\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Taylor Allen<br \/>Reporter<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/breakingnews\/2026\/07\/24\/mailto:taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca\" class=\"social\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/breakingnews\/2026\/07\/24\/tel:204-697-7285\" class=\"social\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/biographies\/taylor-allen\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/about-us\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/free-press-101\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"block-non-subscriber\">Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winnipegfreepress.com\/subscribe\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"block-subscriber\">Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown took Friday night\u2019s \u2018Christmas in July\u2019 theme a little too seriously. He&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":824860,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":["post-824859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=824859"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824859\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/824860"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=824859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=824859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=824859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}