Stampeders and Bombers meet for first time since turning-point game on July 21
CALGARY — July 21 was a turning point for both the Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Coming off a bye week, the Stampeders bounced back from a 26-26 tie in Ottawa to the Redblacks on July 8 to beat the Bombers on their home turf in Winnipeg 33-18. Fast forward two months and Calgary has now won nine decisions in a row, while running their unbeaten streak to 11 straight games.
“We’re happy with where we are, we’re just not satisfied with it,” said Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who leads the league with 22 touchdown passes this season to go with just six interceptions to help Calgary (10-1-1) to a CFL-best record. “We’re going to continue to hold onto first place (in the CFL’s West Division) and continue that hot momentum going into the playoffs.”
That loss in late July for the Bombers marked the end of Drew Willy’s tenure as Winnipeg’s starting quarterback. Matt Nichols subsequently took over as the starter and has helped guide the Bombers to seven straight wins to improve their record to 8-4, moving them into third place in the West Division behind the B.C. Lions (8-3).