5 Takeaways as last-second field goal saves Calgary Stampeders, completes sweep of Winnipeg Blue Bombers

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Monster field goals have become a big part of the 2025 Canadian Football League season for the Calgary Stampeders.

A few working against them.

And others falling in their favour.

While a 63-yarder nearly knocked them down Saturday night — just as a 58-yarder did so two weeks ago at McMahon Stadium — the Stampeders were saved by a big one of their own from clutch veteran René Paredes.

The superstar kicker hit a 40-yard field-goal at the final whistle to drop the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a 28-27 CFL thriller.

“Same as every kick — been there 12 times (with walk-off field goals),” said the ever-humble Paredes, moments after the entertaining game that also saw Bombers counterpart Sergio Castillo nail a CFL record-tying 63-yard field goal with just 61 seconds remaining on the clock.

“I know what to do,” continued Paredes. “Had a chance, and I had to make the kick. Just happy for the guys — they fought all game.”

Paredes fought off a missed field goal for what could have been a dagger to the Bombers one drive earlier — his only bobble on a starry 4-of-5 night — to rebound for the winning points, which gave the Stamps more wins on the schedule than each of the last two seasons.

“It just feels great to beat a great Winnipeg team three times in one year,” said Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “We know we’re going to probably see them again in the playoffs so we’ve got to hopefully get it when it matters.

Their 6-3 record — thanks in beautiful part to that sensational season sweep — also gives them a big buffer on the third-place Blue Bombers (4-4) in the CFL’s West Division and keeps them on track to chase down the front-running Saskatchewan Roughriders (7-1), who visit McMahon after the Stamps bye-week for a contest on Saturday, Aug. 23 (5 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).

“It’s going to be a dogfight right till the end — it really will,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “I honestly think any team can beat another team.

“Obviously, I think the West games are a little bit more important than games against the East teams. But as long as win and try and protect your home turf, that’s the key.”
Here are 5 takeaways from Saturday’s win over the Bombers …

1) DOWN BUT NOT OUT

Early penalties and a solid Bombers game-plan out of the gate put the Stampeders behind the eight-ball on the evening.

The home side counted just 13 total yards on offence in the opening quarter and didn’t record their initial first down until the second frame, when they suddenly turned the tide on a big play.

Cool and composed after a tough start returning from a head injury that sidelined him from last week’s loss, Adams went over the top to find receiver Tevin Jones, who slipped away from defenders to reach the end zone. The TD play covered 78 yards to get the home side back in the game at 17-7.

“We were pretty bad in the first quarter,” Dickenson said. “They definitely had the momentum, but we were making a lot of mistakes, and really, we just hung in there. It really was that play to Tevin that started the offence figuring stuff out.”

“We started slow,” agreed Adams. “But my leadership doesn’t stop. I’m continuing to encourage my teammates and everyone around me, saying just, ‘Hey, let’s go, keep playing. The defence is holding up their end of the bargain, so let’s do our part now.’”

The Stamps then chipped away at the deficit from there, with Adams again hitting Jones on another TD strike — this one from just eight yards out — and slowly snatching momentum from the Bombers.

What followed was the four field goals from Paredes and two key singles by the home-side kicker and stronger play from the defence as the game wore on.

“We started slow, but we got going,” continued Adams, who finished with 300 passing yards and two TDs on a 17-of-24 effort. “We do want to finish a bit better. If we could turn one of those (field goals) into a touchdown, it’d be a little bit better for us.”

Nevertheless, it was a calm and collected response from the Stamps that turned what looked like a sure loss into the triumph.

A resilient bunch, for sure.

“We had a two-game losing streak, and it didn’t feel like we played that first quarter with any confidence,” Dickenson said. “I was just happy that the guys woke up and started playing better football.”

2) DEFYING ZACH’S ATTACK

Reports of Zach Collaros’ demise have been grossly exaggerated.

The two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player looked it Saturday against the Stamps in the wake of what’s been a bust year of sorts for him, especially when playing the Red and White.

The Bombers QB found his rhythm set up by an early mix of short passing plays that knocked the Stamps’ defence off-balance. Then Collaros helped himself out by escaping potential sack situations and finding receivers on the run and executing other plays with familiar success.

It looked like the Bombers were off and running to victory behind the superstar quarterback, who had

But then the Stamps’ defence stepped in and stopped Collaros on sacks by Jaylon Hutchings — with two — Charles Wiley and Jacob Roberts, who was a monster defensively with a team-leading 11 tackles, while the secondary took away time and space from the receivers.

And in the end, the Red and White stuffed the QB legend and the Bombers in the second half, surrendering just that massive field-goal late by Castillo.

“We just knew as a defence, just get stops, get stops, get stops and the offence will get going,” Hutchings said. “It’s a big deal (to come back and win). We know how to handle adversity.”

“The first half was not going our way, but the way we handled ourselves and the way we came back and stayed together speaks to the testament of this team.”

3) REVERSAL OF RUN

It wasn’t just Collaros finding his feet Saturday.

The last two meetings saw the Stamps get the better of the run game.

That went the other way this time around, with the Bombers — and star back Brady Oliveira — busting through big holes and rolling up the real estate on plenty of marches. Oliveira was also catching balls out of the backfield on both set and broken plays to give the Stamps fits.

But it was the Stamps workhorse Dedrick Mills eventually taking over in the ground game, with the home-side offensive line working out the early-game kinks to open holes for the rumbling runner.

And despite Oliveira’s terrific totals — 68 yards on the ground and 100 via the air — it was Mills with the last laugh with 105 yards — all rushing — and, more importantly, a big role in the victory.

“In the second half, I think defensively we tackled better,” Dickenson said. “We got more pressure on them, took away Oliveira who was having a big game and just kept grinding — a lot of resiliency from this team.”

4) REMEMBER ME … PAREDES?

Stamps star kicker Paredes took some heat last week for a rare sub-par day, when he went just 1-for-3 on field-goal attempts in the loss in Ottawa.

But the veteran was running hot against the Bombers, dropping three through the uprights for nine straight points — on field-goals of 14, 31 and 34 yards — in the second half to give the Stamps their first lead of the contest.

The only thing that stopped Paredes streak was his 46-yard miss with 3:15 left that gave the visitors life late and helped lead to the Castillo record-maker.

“I was thinking we were snake-bit with that 63-yarder after we got beat with that 58-yarder (July 24th) here,” Dickenson said. “It felt like we did take over the game in the second half, but we couldn’t quite figure out how to win it.”

Cue Paredes, though, getting his redemption with the win-maker.

“Clutch René,” Adams said. “I’m happy to have him on my side, so it’s good.”

Paredes has been forgotten in the Stamps’ grand scheme of things this year, but that’s not a bad thing, because it means Adams & Co. have been scoring touchdowns and not settling for field-goals.

“Our offence is pretty good,” added Paredes. “I’m not having the best season this year. But I’m going to keep grinding and working.

“This (game) probably helps me.”

5) LET US ENTERTAIN YOU!

There are those that pooh-pooh three-down football and prefer to blast the CFL … for whatever reason.

Some say it just doesn’t fill the entertainment bill.

That’s difficult to justify when looking back at this week’s slate of games just completed.

All four came down to the last play and were highlighted by wild finishes, including this one at McMahon.

And for Stamps fans, it was a build-up of excitement from the slow start to the terrific ending.

Even two of the team’s three losses have been in doubt until the final minute, making the franchise fun to take in again. Certainly, the 20,902 fans in attendance Saturday had to have gone home energized by the thrilling battle.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM