3 stats that defined Winnipeg's Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend win over Calgary
THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
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WINNIPEG - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers held off the Calgary Stampeders to win 33-28 at home on Saturday evening. Zach Collaros returned to lead his team to a crucial result as Winnipeg tries to secure a playoff berth in the final weeks of the regular season.
Collaros was clinical from the start, throwing for 349 yards and two touchdowns as he connected with his top receivers for a handful of big plays. The Winnipeg defence kept a usually strong Calgary offence at bay for much of the first half, while Trey Vaval scored on special teams for the hosts.
CFL.ca brings you three key stats from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' win over the Calgary Stampeders on Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend.
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0 - CALGARY FIRST-HALF TOUCHDOWNS
Even though the Stampeders had 20 minutes of first-half possession to the Blue Bombers' nine, it was Winnipeg who went into the locker room with a 17-9 lead.
The Stamps could only muster one red zone trip across their six first-half possessions as the Winnipeg defence forced their opponent into field goal attempts and punts.
1 - WINNIPEG SPECIAL TEAMS TOUCHDOWN
With Calgary sticking around throughout the contest it was a special teams score that gave Winnipeg some breathing room and helped them to a pivotal division win.
Vaval returned the second half's opening kickoff 88 yards to the house to extend Winnipeg's lead to 24-9. Though the Stamps would fight back to make it a two-point game late in the third, they were unable to complete the comeback, with Vaval's touchdown proving to be crucial.
4 - ZACH COLLAROS BIG PLAYS
Collaros was looking downfield all night long, and he finished Saturday's game with four passes for 30 yards or more.
While Calgary worked the clock, Winnipeg used big plays to find scores quickly. Collaros fired off long balls on the Bombers' two first-half touchdown drives, connecting with Dorian Singer for 52 yards in the first quarter and then finding him in the second for a 45-yard completion. Between those two plays, a 41-yard pass to Tim White helped set up a Sergio Castillo field goal.