Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo, centre facing, celebrates his game winning field goal with teammates over the Montreal Alouettes during second half CFL football action in Montreal on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

MONTREAL - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers came to Montreal on Saturday afternoon with a mission: to clinch top spot in the CFL’s West Division.

Thanks to Sergio Castillo’s 51-yard field goal on the final play of the game, the Bombers accomplished just that, defeating the Alouettes 28-27 in front of a sold-out crowd at Percival Molson Stadium.

Trailing by two as time wound down in the fourth quarter, veteran kicker Castillo booted his fifth field goal of the game to help Winnipeg (11-7) clinch its fourth straight division title and home-field advantage for the West Division final.

“We’ve done it a bunch of different ways,” Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea said. “The statistics will say that it is important, but if we didn’t get this win, I would have said it was unimportant.

"I don’t think we’re going to put too much stock into it. It just gives us some time to get healthier and keep working.”

Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros went 24-for 32, throwing for 331 yards and one touchdown.

“What a turn of the events there the last few minutes,” Collaros said. “It started to rain or hail a little bit with some swirling wind. (Castillo) made a huge kick for us. He’s done it time and time again."

Wide receiver Nic Demski finished with a touchdown on 90 yards, allowing him to surpass 1,000 yards for the second straight season.

Alouettes starting quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 16 of his 20 passes for 171 yards and one passing touchdown in just under three quarters of action. Backup quarterback Davis Alexander took over behind centre late in the third quarter, finishing 7-of-9 passing for 100 yards and one rushing touchdown.

“We showed up tonight,” Fajardo said. “We showed that we weren’t going to lay down for anyone. Our philosophy going into this game was this was our first real playoff game against a really good team that was going to give us everything they got. We took them to the wire, so I’m proud of the guys.”

Montreal (12-5-1) had already clinched top spot in the East Division, a feat they accomplished for the first time since 2012.

Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette had five tackles, giving him 103 on the season. In so doing, he became just the seventh Alouette to ever surpass 100 tackles in a single season. He also added his fifth sack in the contest.

Alexander opened the fourth quarter with a one-yard rushing touchdown. The play came after he completed a 39-yard pass to Tyjon Lindsey, making his season debut for the Alouettes.

The Alouettes also wasted no time getting on the scoreboard to start the third quarter. Fajardo connected with Cole Spieker for a 47-yard reception to give Montreal a 20-9 advantage. Two plays later, Walter Fletcher rushed three yards into the end zone, capping off a seven play, 84-yard drive.

After missing a 49-yard field goal attempt earlier in the quarter, Castillo was successful from 25 yards out to open the scoring for Winnipeg just over 10 minutes into the opening frame.

Montreal responded with a Jose Maltos' 45-yard field goal to knot the score with 90 seconds left in the first quarter.

Montreal scored the first touchdown of the game thanks to a two-yard pass from Fajardo to Charleston Rambo just over five minutes into the second quarter to give the Alouettes their first lead of the game. Rambo’s fifth touchdown of the season was made possible thanks to a 30-yard run by Sean Thomas Erlington and a 26-yard reception by Kaion Julien-Grant earlier in the drive.

“Montreal’s offence took what we were giving them and hit us on some shots,” O’Shea said. “It’s not anything that you’re concerned about.”

Castillo added a field goal from 53 yards out to trim Montreal’s lead to one. However, Maltos connected on a 34-yard field goal to give Montreal a 13-9 lead as time expired in the first half.

Winnipeg scored its first touchdown of the game late in the third quarter. Collaros led the Blue Bombers on a three-play, 81-yard drive, resulting in a nine-yard touchdown pass to Demski.

The Blue Bombers added another major midway through the fourth quarter, thanks to a two-yard rush by backup quarterback Terry Wilson. Winnipeg’s ensuing two-point convert attempt failed, preserving the Alouettes’ 27-25 lead.

“The good news about losing a game like this is that it stings,” Fajardo said. “When you get to your next opportunity, you want to do everything you can to shut the door.”

UP NEXT

Alouettes: Host the East Division final on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Blue Bombers: Host the West Division final on Saturday, Nov. 9.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2024.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2024