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Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Nic Demski (10) makes the go-ahead touchdown catch as Toronto Argonauts’ Alexander Teubner (33) pressures during second half CFL Eastern semifinal football action in Toronto, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Frank Gunn \/ The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Blue and Gold shocked the Toronto Argonauts 25-22 at BMO Field and will now face the mighty Montreal Alouettes on Saturday in the East Division final.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, if that\u2019s how you want to frame it,\u201d responded head coach Mike O\u2019Shea when asked by the Free Press if his team committed a robbery.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think what\u2019s really important about this one is that idea, that concept of throughout a course of a game one phase might not be rolling. And it\u2019s up to the other two phases to have their back and I thought this was a great example of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before looking ahead to the matchup in Montreal, let\u2019s revisit this one with a playoff edition of 5 Takeaways.<\/p>\n
DRU DAY<\/p>\n
Dru Brown and the offence had a perfect opening drive.<\/p>\n
Then they started handing out turnovers like Halloween candy.<\/p>\n
Brown threw a pair of interceptions, with rookie Dorian Singer the intended target on both occasions. Singer fell on the first pass, while Brown\u2019s throw was too high on the second.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Dru Brown (4) throws to Nic Demski for the go-ahead touchdown catch during second half CFL Eastern semifinal football action against the Toronto Argonauts, in Toronto, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Frank Gunn \/ The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Brown was also strip-sacked, allowing Toronto to take over at Winnipeg\u2019s 29-yard line.<\/p>\n He then overthrew a wide-open Tim White deep downfield on what should have been an easy touchdown.<\/p>\n And that was all in the first half.<\/p>\n Fortunately for Brown, the Bombers\u2019 defence stood tall, holding the Argos to just nine points off turnovers.<\/p>\n With the defence and special teams making game-changing plays (more on that in a minute), the offence was given an opportunity to win the game late. To its credit, the unit put its struggles behind it and delivered.<\/p>\n \u201cOffence got the points early. Couldn\u2019t do it in the second or third quarter. We came in at halftime and told them we just need them to do something,\u201d said defensive end Willie Jefferson.<\/p>\n \u201cDru came out and did what he had to do in the fourth quarter and put the ball in the right place, a beautiful play to (Nic) Demski \u2026 We didn\u2019t want it to be that close, but a win is a win \u2026 It was amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown completed 18 of 30 passes for 206 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was 0-for-6 in the fourth quarter before executing the game-winning drive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of guys that have played a lot of football in this league and know how funky it can get,\u201d said Brown.<\/p>\n \u201cAs long as you\u2019re in striking distance, you always have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n DEMSKI THE DIFFERENCE-MAKER<\/p>\n Nic Demski wasn\u2019t expecting to play.<\/p>\n He was a game-time decision with an ankle injury, and things weren\u2019t looking promising the night before kickoff.<\/p>\n But the 32-year-old receiver arrived at the stadium early Saturday, tested the ankle on the field with a trainer and got the green light to tough it out.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Nic Demski (10) celebrates his go-ahead touchdown catch with teammate Tommy Nield (83) during second half CFL Eastern semifinal football action, in Toronto, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Frank Gunn \/ The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Considering what he went on to accomplish, it\u2019s hard to believe he was even in doubt.<\/p>\n The Winnipegger led all receivers with four grabs for 72 yards. More importantly, he made one of the biggest catches of his 11-year career, hauling in a 23-yard pass in the back corner of the end zone with 44 seconds left. He followed that by also catching the two-point conversion to make it 25-22.<\/p>\n \u201cI woke up this morning and I had it on my mind that I was gonna play this game. I just had the mentality that nothing was going to stop me from playing this game today and I\u2019m very happy I made that decision,\u201d Demski said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was funny, my girl came out to this game, and she was like \u2018How did you do that?\u2019 But honestly, this is probably the most poised I\u2019ve been in a game. I was just calm and there was just something about it where I knew I could perhaps be the difference-maker.\u201d<\/p>\n BIG PLAY FLETCH<\/p>\n The Bombers\u2019 defence knew it needed to make an impact to keep the game within reach.<\/p>\n Receiver Tim White had just fumbled, giving the Argos possession near midfield. That\u2019s when defensive lineman Cam Lawson looked at his teammates on the sideline and urged them to get the ball right back.<\/p>\n Rookie defensive lineman Michael Fletcher was clearly listening.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Brady Oliveira (20) dives for an extra yard under heavy pressure from the Toronto Argonauts during second half CFL Eastern semifinal football action, in Toronto, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (Frank Gunn \/ The Canadian Press)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The 25-year-old from Flint, Mich., has been known to take his share of penalties, but he showed what he\u2019s capable of by making one of the biggest plays of the season.<\/p>\n Chad Kelly was preparing to launch a pass downfield when Fletcher came around the edge and knocked the ball loose. Fellow rookie defensive lineman David Reese scooped it up and sprinted 58 yards for a touchdown, cutting Toronto\u2019s lead to 19-17 at the end of the third quarter.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a great feeling to come through for the team,\u201d said Fletcher.<\/p>\n With Winnipeg\u2019s offence doing next to nothing for almost three full quarters, Fletcher\u2019s swipe at Kelly was desperately needed.<\/p>\n KELLY LEAVES EARLY<\/p>\n Argos quarterback Chad Kelly injured his shoulder on the play.<\/p>\n He was in obvious discomfort afterward but stayed in the game, leading Toronto to a field goal on its next drive.<\/p>\n Kelly eventually left with 10 minutes remaining, with Nick Arbuckle taking over.<\/p>\n Losing Kelly was a massive blow, but he wasn\u2019t exactly having a great day at the office.<\/p>\n He completed 18 of 30 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown. Arbuckle struggled in relief, going 2-for-6 for 25 yards.<\/p>\n The two quarterbacks combined for 218 passing yards, Toronto\u2019s fewest in a game all season.<\/p>\n ROUGH DAY FOR FORMER BOMBERS<\/p>\n No one felt worse after the game than Janarion Grant.<\/p>\n The Argos led 22-17 with less than two minutes remaining when their star return specialist fumbled a punt after getting tripped up by Nick Hallett.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not as though Hallett punched the ball out. Grant simply lost his grip, allowing Thiadric Hansen to pounce on it and give the Bombers possession at Toronto\u2019s 52-yard line.<\/p>\n Five plays later, Brown hit Demski and the rest was history.<\/p>\n A devastated Grant did not speak to reporters after the game.<\/p>\n \u201cJanarion Grant is a Hall of Fame returner,\u201d said O\u2019Shea. \u201cThose things happen to Hall of Fame returners.\u201d<\/p>\n Grant wasn\u2019t the only former Bomber who made a costly mistake.<\/p>\n Chris Kolankowski, Winnipeg\u2019s starting centre for the past three seasons, now serves as an extra blocker for Toronto. He was the one beaten by Fletcher on Reese\u2019s touchdown.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen 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. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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 Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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