By Jim Bender
The final score was secondary to the event.
Winnipeg’s Grey Cup banner was unveiled before a crowd of 29,376 fully-vaccinated fans at IG Field on Thursday night.
It was the largest crowd assembled in one place in Canada since the start of the pandemic for the first game of the Canadian Football League season. It was also the first of a COVID-shortened 14-game season.
It was the Blue Bombers’ first CFL game in 621 days. Their last match was when they beat the Ticats in the 2019 Grey Cup. Their banner was unveiled to fireworks and loud cheers in a short ceremony before the game.
CFL is back, baby.
Then there was the final score.
Quarterback Zach Collaros led the Bombers to a well-deserved 19-6 victory in what was an historic evening for the CFL and the Bombers after emerging from the pandemic shutdown.
“I’m just so happy for CFL fans and for the players, guys who didn’t know what they were going to do here for the last 600 days,” Collaros said. “A lot of things were up in the air and we couldn’t get a straight answer for a long time, really. To be able to come together and get things done tonight for the City of Winnipeg and for the fans to be able to celebrate what we accomplished in 2019 tonight, it’s amazing that we’re here tonight.”
Collaros completed 18 of 28 passes for 217 yards, including touchdown tosses of 25 and 28 yards to wide receiver Kenny Lawler.
“Wins aren’t easy to come by in this league, so we got a win and we’ve got to be happy about it,” he said. “It was a total team effort and our defence was just unbelievable.’
Collaros was helped by running back Brady Oliveira, who rushed 126 yards in his first start as an injury replacement for Andrew Harris.
“Lived out a childhood dream,” Oliveira said. “Me being from Winnipeg, I used to come to games here as a kid, sit in the stands and watch a game and now that I’m able to experience it and go out there and soak it all in, I had so much fun out there tonight. It was truly amazing, a game I will remember for the rest of my life and this is only the beginning right now.”
He will never forget coming out of the tunnel, either.
“So hard to explain to you the feeling that I got running out of the tunnel today. It was crazy,” he said. “Just like the atmosphere, it was loud, so many people in the stands. Obviously, me being from Winnipeg, again, a childhood dream for me to run out that tunnel for the home opener, my first career start. But I’ll tell you this. I was so hungry today. I’ve been so hungry coming off that injury in 2019, I just had one thing in mind: when I get the ball, I just want to run violent and run physical and do my job and make them not want to tackle me.
New placekicker Tyler Crapigna converted both majors and kicked a 15-yard field goal. Hamilton also conceded a safety touch.
Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed a 37-yard TD toss to wide receiver Jaelon Acklin. A two-point convert attempt failed.
“We just flat out weren’t good enough. Too sloppy,” said Hamilton head coach Orlondo Steinauer.
Winnipeg will play host to the Toronto Argonauts at IG Field next Friday.
HASHMARKS: Bombers played without three key starters due to injury – RB Andrew Harris, REC Darvin Adams and LB Kyrie Wilson.
