Winnipeg’s Sergio Castillo delivers perfect kicking performance as both teams struggle to find the end zone in preseason clash

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers relied on a flawless kicking performance from Sergio Castillo to defeat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 15-9 in a defensive struggle at Princess Auto Stadium on Saturday afternoon. In a game where neither team found the end zone, Castillo connected on all five field goal attempts to lead Winnipeg to victory in this Week 2 preseason contest.

Game Flow and Scoring

The Blue Bombers controlled the tempo early, taking a 3-0 lead in the first quarter when Castillo nailed a 19-yard field goal. Saskatchewan answered in the second quarter with Brett Lauther’s 31-yard kick, but Winnipeg responded with two more Castillo field goals – a 50-yarder and a 41-yarder – to take a 9-3 halftime advantage.

The third quarter belonged to Saskatchewan as they added their second field goal of the game, a 26-yard attempt by Lauther, cutting the deficit to 9-6. However, the fourth quarter saw Winnipeg pull away with two more Castillo field goals from 18 and 21 yards respectively, while Saskatchewan managed just one more score – an 18-yard field goal by Brian Garrity.

Offensive Standouts

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Offense

Passing Leaders:

• Zach Collaros: 13/10, 93 yards, 96.0 efficiency rating
• Chase Artopoeus: 6/5, 43 yards, 101.4 efficiency rating
• Terry Wilson: 8/6, 72 yards, 102.1 efficiency rating

Rushing Leaders:

• Quinton Cooley: 5 carries, 36 yards (7.2 avg)
• Brady Oliveira: 2 carries, 11 yards (5.5 avg)

Receiving Leaders:

• Reggie White Jr.: 4 targets, 3 catches, 27 yards
• Keric Wheatfall: 3 targets, 3 catches, 28 yards
• Jaylen Hall: 2 targets, 2 catches, 23 yards

Saskatchewan Roughriders Offense

Passing Leaders:

• Jake Maier: 13/8, 80 yards, 47.0 efficiency rating
• Jack Coan: 6/3, 58 yards, 84.0 efficiency rating
• Tommy Stevens: 3/2, 21 yards, 86.8 efficiency rating

Rushing Leaders:

• Thomas Bertrand-Hudon: 6 carries, 41 yards (6.8 avg)
• A.J. Ouellette: 3 carries, 26 yards (8.7 avg)

Receiving Leaders:

• Brayden Misseri: 3 targets, 3 catches, 51 yards
• KeeSean Johnson: 3 targets, 2 catches, 30 yards
• Morgen Runge: 1 target, 1 catch, 25 yards

Defensive Impact Players

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Defense

Top Tacklers:

• Jonathan Jones: 4 total tackles
• Dexter Lawson Jr.: 3 total tackles
• Russell Dandy: 3 total tackles

Turnover Leaders:

• Cam Allen: 1 interception, 18 yards

Saskatchewan Roughriders Defense

Top Tacklers:

• Rolan Milligan Jr.: 5 total tackles (4 solo)
• Aubrey Miller Jr.: 5 total tackles (2 solo, 3 assists)
• Marcus Sayles: 4 total tackles, 1 quarterback sack

Turnover Leaders:

• Alex Gubner: 1 fumble recovery

Key Game Statistics

The statistical battle was relatively even, with Winnipeg holding slight advantages in several key categories:

• Total Offense: Winnipeg 310 yards vs Saskatchewan 297 yards
• First Downs: Winnipeg 20 vs Saskatchewan 16
• Passing: Winnipeg 257 yards vs Saskatchewan 197 yards
• Rushing: Saskatchewan 100 yards vs Winnipeg 77 yards
• Turnovers: Even at 1 each
• Time of Possession: Saskatchewan 26:43 vs Winnipeg 26:42

The Deciding Factor

The difference in this game came down to execution in the red zone and field goal accuracy. While Saskatchewan attempted five field goals and connected on just three, Winnipeg’s Sergio Castillo was perfect on five attempts, including impressive makes from 50 and 41 yards out.

Saskatchewan’s struggles were compounded by their inability to convert scoring opportunities into touchdowns. Despite reaching the red zone multiple times, the Roughriders failed to find the end zone and settled for field goal attempts throughout the contest.

Looking Ahead

For Winnipeg, this preseason victory showcases their depth at multiple positions, with several quarterbacks contributing effectively and the special teams unit performing at a high level. The Blue Bombers will look to build on this momentum as they continue preparing for the regular season.

Saskatchewan showed flashes of offensive potential, particularly in the ground game with strong performances from their running backs. However, the Roughriders will need to improve their red zone efficiency and passing game consistency as they head into their final preseason preparations.

Both teams will take valuable lessons from this defensive battle as they fine-tune their rosters and game plans for the upcoming CFL season.