Sergio Castillo’s 38-yard walk-off field goal rescued Winnipeg in the CFL season opener, as the Blue Bombers edged the Calgary Stampeders 30-28 at McMahon Stadium. Trailing 28-27 with 64 seconds left, Zach Collaros drove Winnipeg into field-goal range before t
CALGARY — The finish came with the game still tugging at the balance of momentum. Calgary led 28-27 with 64 seconds remaining when Zach Collaros dropped a 27-yard throw to Ontaria Wilson, putting the Blue Bombers into field-goal range.
Sergio Castillo came on and drilled a 38-yard walk-off field goal to lift Winnipeg to a 30-28 win over the host Calgary Stampeders in the CFL season-opener for both teams on Friday at McMahon Stadium.
Winnipeg’s Sergio Castillo produced 11 points overall, including two of the team’s three punt singles. The Blue Bombers also got touchdowns from Tim White, Brady Oliveira and Bryce Perkins, with Collaros finishing 17 of 28 for 233 yards, including a touchdown pass and one interception.
Calgary kept answering. Derek Mills and backup quarterback Quincy Vaughn each scored short-yardage touchdowns, and Erik Brooks added a touchdown catch. Vernon Adams Jr. went 17 of 27 through the air for one touchdown throw for the Stampeders.
Even as the kick decided it, the final minutes were shaped by a late comeback that was nearly complete — and then caught again by Winnipeg’s nerves of steel. Castillo padded the Winnipeg lead early in the fourth quarter with a 21-yard field goal to make it 27-21.
Adams was sacked three times in the quarter, but with three minutes to go he drove Calgary’s offence out of the end zone downfield. The Stampeders ended a 15-play, 104-yard drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown by Adams to draw level, and McAtamney added the go-ahead point.
But Winnipeg didn’t fold. Collaros marched the Blue Bombers back into field-goal range and Castillo made sure this one would not slip away.
Earlier, the game had the feel of two teams trading blows. Winnipeg led 24-21 midway through the third quarter when Collaros threw to Whyte in the end zone. only for Calgary to lose a challenge for offensive pass interference on the play. The Stampeders then conceded the third punt single of the game, leaving them trailing by three.
Calgary had a 28-27 edge late, after a first half defined by a running backs duel. Mills, the CFL’s leading rusher in 2025, ran for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Oliveira added 75 yards and a touchdown. Mills finished with 112 yards and Oliveira posted 113.
Winnipeg scored on its opening drive. Calgary countered with back-to-back touchdowns, then the Blue Bombers struck again to take a 15-14 lead. Adams found Brooks for a 22-yard touchdown throw with two minutes remaining in the half.
In the second quarter. Oliveira’s 21-yard run moved the ball to Calgary’s doorstep with three minutes remaining. where backup quarterback Perkins scored his first CFL touchdown. Trey Vaval. the CFL’s outstanding special teams player and rookie in 2025. set up that score with a 54-yard return to Calgary’s 25.
On Winnipeg’s second drive. Clarence Hicks. who led Calgary in sacks last season with 12. brought down Collaros to force a punt. Adams and Jalen Philpot then connected on a 51-yard passing play to get to Winnipeg’s 25-yard line. Jason Woodbey’s roughing-the-passer penalty cost Winnipeg as Mills punched it in from first-and-goal.
Vaughn scored for Calgary on a one-yard plunge to start the second quarter, and Mills spurred that drive with four carries for 37 yards. Oliveira capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a 19-yard scamper to the end zone on Winnipeg’s first possession of the game.
There were also misses and absences that hung over the sidelines. Calgary’s Jude McAtamney kicked four converts but missed a 45-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter in front of an announced crowd of 17,743 at McMahon Stadium.
Calgary was missing veteran kicker René Paredes (groin) and defensive linemen Folarin Orimolade (Achilles) and Jaylon Hutchings (hamstring). Paredes’ run of 247 consecutive CFL games since his 2011 debut ended when McAtamney of Derry, Northern Ireland, drew in for Paredes on Friday.
The night at McMahon was unsettled even before kickoff, with the temperature at 14 C and winds gusting up to 57 km/h that changed direction during the game.
For both teams, the result carried extra weight because of what came before: Winnipeg had been swept by Calgary in three meetings in 2025, and Calgary finished last season 11-7 to take third in the West Division ahead of Winnipeg’s 10-8.
Winnipeg ended its 2025 run by falling 42-33 to the Montreal Alouettes in the East semifinal, while Calgary lost 33-30 to the B.C. Lions in the West semifinal.
The Blue Bombers now turn to a home-opener on Thursday against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers Calgary Stampeders Sergio Castillo Zach Collaros Vernon Adams Jr. Derek Mills Brady Oliveira Erik Brooks Jude McAtamney