Winnipeg Blue Bombers tame Hamilton Tiger-Cats 40-3

WINNIPEG — Zach Collaros returned from injury and threw for a season-high 367 yards, but the Winnipeg quarterback wasn’t highlighting his performance in a 40-3 Blue Bombers’ victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.

Collaros, who missed the previous two games with a head injury, completed 20 of 25 pass attempts with one touchdown and no interceptions in front of a 12th consecutive sellout of 32,343 fans at Princess Auto Stadium.

“The offensive line, I’m not sure what the rushing stats were, but we really leaned on them the whole game,” said Collaros, who also praised the defence.

“When the ball came the receiver’s way, I was fortunate enough to throw some of them pretty accurately, and they made the catches and (ran for more yards) afterward.”

Nic Demski, who led all receivers with seven catches for 114 yards, was happy to pump his teammate’s tires.

“Even when he’s not playing and not feeling well, he’s still helping out with the game plan, still the first one in, last one to leave,” Demski said of Collaros.

“He’s the ultimate pro. When you put that much detail in when you’re preparing for games, even when you’re not playing, you don’t miss a step when you’re back out there healthy. Kudos to him, man. For him to do this and lead our team to that success means a lot.”

Trey Vaval set the tone early with a 98-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown.

The rookie defensive back from Missouri said he’s never done that off an opening whistle in his career.

It marked his CFL-leading fourth return touchdown this season, including two from kickoffs, one on a punt return and last week’s franchise-record 128-yarder off a missed field goal by the Ottawa Redblacks.

“I trust myself and my abilities,” Vaval said. “I don’t really come at it thinking I’m going to do this and this. But I’m not surprised by what I’m doing. I’m not surprised by my blockers. That hole was big as putting a damn bus in there.”

Winnipeg (8-7) was tied for second in points in the West Division with the B.C. Lions and the Calgary Stampeders, although the latter had a game in hand on the Blue Bombers and Lions.

It was the lowest-scoring game of the season for Hamilton, which had a three-game win streak come to an end. (9-6). The Tiger-Cats have already clinched a home playoff game in the East Division.

“We got whipped from the opening kickoff to the end of game,” Ticats head coach Scott Milanovich said. “It was a three- or four-phase loss, including the coaching staff. They were more ready to play, that’s my responsibility.”

Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell went 21-of-32 in passing for 212 yards for no touchdowns and no interceptions.

He disagreed with one target of his coach’s finger pointing.

“Scott is going to come out and take blame, say it’s on him to get us ready,” Mitchell said. “It’s on players to realize that we are the ones that play the game. It’s not Xs and Os. We didn’t get beat by scheme.”

Winnipeg led 13-0 after the first quarter, 19-3 at halftime and 33-3 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Bombers’ second series of the game finished with a 44-yard touchdown catch by Dillon Mitchell, the first of the season for the club’s big off-season acquisition.

Backup Winnipeg quarterback Chris Streveler scored three rushing touchdowns, including two on one-yard carries in the third quarter and another eight-yard effort late in the fourth quarter when Collaros was rested.

Sergio Castillo kicked field goals from 24 and 38 yards and hit four of five converts.

Bombers running back Brady Oliveira rushed 15 times for 98 yards and contributed another four catches for 53 yards.

Former Winnipeg receiver Kenny Lawler had two receptions for 34 yards and was targeted nine times. Ticats tailback Greg Bell recorded 88 yards on 11 carries.

“They whooped our (butt), man,” Lawler said. “They had a great game, great game plan, those guys in front of their home crowd. Yeah, put it on us.”

Lawler said he hit his head on the turf in the second quarter, but was feeling OK.

Hamilton’s first scoring attempt with under five minutes left in the first quarter was a wide 47-yard field-goal attempt by Marc Liegghio, although he was good on a 55-yarder that hit the crossbar and bounced through.

UP NEXT

Tiger-Cats: Visit the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Blue Bombers: Visit the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, Oct. 11.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2025.