Even though Winnipeg trailed four separate times during Saturday’s CFL game, the star back found a way to lead the Blue Bombers (8-0) to a 35-28 victory over the Calgary Stampeders (4-2) at McMahon Stadium. “That’s Zach Collaros for you,” said receiver Nic Demski, who returned to action after missing the last four games with an ankle injury and caught a pair of touchdown passes from Collaros. “He was MOP (Most Outstanding Player) last year for a reason and he’s doing a great job for himself this year as well. “When he (Zac) looks you in the eye and you know it’s your time, it just means the world. I love him leading this team and he’s doing a great job of doing it.” Kolaros completed 22 of 30 passes for 270 yards and also threw a pair of touchdown passes to Dalton Schoen. “He’s so smart and you pair that with his athleticism and vision,” said Winnipeg coach Mike O’Shea, who praised Kolaros for staying calm under pressure to keep drives alive. “He has unreal vision that allows him to do those things, for sure.” With Winnipeg trailing 28-25 in the fourth quarter, Kolaros engineered a 70-yard drive in seven plays, capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass to Schoen in the end zone. “We were trying to get up and prepare,” Collaros said when asked to describe his game-winning TD. “Dalton was telling me throughout the game, ‘Hey, I think I can slide this guy.’ I threw it away and was a little worried…that the fuse was going to play. I didn’t actually see the catch, but I’m sure he made a great fundamental catch.” Marc Liegghio had two goals and a single for the Bombers, who will look to keep their winning streak alive when they travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes next Thursday. Ka’Deem Carey ran for a pair of touchdowns for the Stampeders. They were the first two rushing scores allowed by the Bombers defense this season. “Unfortunately, they made more plays,” Calgary coach Dave Dickenson said. “It was back and forth. We had our chances, but we didn’t stop. We didn’t do the projects. “I am not at all disappointed with our players. I know they love to play the game. We have to play better, but I’m not disappointed in the team at all. I just feel like our team is going to step up and get better and that’s what we have to do.” After his team’s second straight loss to the defending Gray Cup champion Blue Bombers, Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell admitted Winnipeg is the better team right now. “That’s what I would say right now,” said Mitchell, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 219 yards. “I don’t think it will be at the end of the season. Hopefully that’s where we’re going up. If you lose to a team twice in a row, they are better than you. These are just the facts.” Rene Paredes had five field goals for the Stamps, including a career-long 53-yarder. The Stamps jumped out to an early 6-0 lead thanks to a pair of field goals — from 25 and 38 yards — by Paredes. Led by Collaros, the Bombers responded with a 10-play, 70-yard scoring drive that was capped by Demski catching a four-yard touchdown pass into the end zone with 33 seconds left in the first quarter. After Paredes opened the second quarter with his record-tying field goal, Demski responded with a 10-yard touchdown run to put the Bombers back on top. Paredes then made his fourth field goal, this time from 38 yards out, before Liegio responded with a 12-pointer of his own with just 37 seconds left in the first half. The seesaw battle continued as Carey ran for a two-yard score at 6:43 of the second quarter to cap a five-play, 67-yard drive. Undaunted, Collaros drove the Bombers 81 yards down the field in eight plays and finished things off by throwing a 26-yard strike to Schoen in the back of the end zone. Carey answered with another two-yard run along the goal line that capped a seven-play, 64-yard drive to give the Stamps a 25-24 lead. After a 59-yard single by Liegghio early in the fourth quarter, the Stamps went on another long drive, but had to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Paredes. The Bombers didn’t settle for three points on their next drive, as Collaros connected with Schoen once again for the game-winning score. Lieggio added a 40-yard field goal to secure the win for the Bombers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 30, 2022.
