– Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns in his breakout performance as Stampede Bowl MVP – Calgary’s defense recorded two pick-six touchdowns from Damon Webb and Derrick Moncrief – Dedrick Mills rushed for 93 yards and his CFL-leading fifth touchdown of the season
Game Recap:
The Calgary Stampeders delivered a dominant 37-16 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the inaugural Stampede Bowl at McMahon Stadium on Thursday night. Vernon Adams Jr. threw his first touchdown passes as a Stampeder and was named the game’s MVP, while Calgary’s defense torched Winnipeg’s high-powered offense with two interception returns for touchdowns. The victory improved Calgary to 3-1 on the season, while Winnipeg suffered their first loss to drop to 3-1.
Results
Team
1
2
3
4
OT
T
Outcome
WPG
3
3
3
7
0
16
Loss
CGY
15
14
0
8
0
37
Win
Game Highlights Video:
Watch the full game highlights above to catch all the key plays from Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Calgary Stampeders.
Calgary Stampeders Performance:
The Stampeders put together their most complete performance of the season, with Adams Jr. efficiently managing the offense while the defense created short fields and scoring opportunities through timely turnovers.
Top Defensive Players: – Damon Webb: HB – 8 tackles, 1 interception returned for TD – Jacob Roberts: LB – 8 tackles – Tyler Richardson: LB – 6 tackles – Derrick Moncrief: LB – 5 tackles, 1 interception returned for TD – Adrian Greene: DB – 5 tackles
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Performance:
The Blue Bombers struggled to find their rhythm offensively, with Collaros throwing two costly interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in a game where they were constantly playing from behind.
Top Defensive Players: – Tony Jones: LB – 8 tackles – Terrell Bonds: DB – 3 tackles – Jamal Parker: DB – 3 tackles – Kyrie Wilson: DB – 3 tackles – Willie Jefferson: DE – 2 tackles
Following this Week 5 action, the CFL standings show Saskatchewan leading the West Division at 4-0, while Montreal tops the East at 3-1. Calgary’s victory keeps them in second place in the competitive West Division alongside Winnipeg, both at 3-1. The Stampeders’ defense continues to impress as the league’s second-best scoring unit, limiting what had been the CFL’s second-highest scoring offense.
The Stampede Bowl showcased Calgary’s potential as a legitimate contender in the West Division, with Adams Jr. finally finding his comfort zone in the Stampeders’ system. Meanwhile, Winnipeg will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their upcoming bye week before a Week 7 rematch with Calgary.
How will Vernon Adams Jr. build on this breakthrough performance as Calgary heads to face undefeated Saskatchewan next week? Can the Blue Bombers bounce back from their first loss and regain their early-season form? What are your thoughts on this game? Share your comments below.
Mark Perry is the founder and editor of CFL News Hub. A dedicated and experienced football analyst, he has been providing comprehensive coverage of the sport since 2018.
