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The Stampeders use four first-half touchdowns, stifling defence to rout the Blue Bombers and enjoy their own pre-Calgary Stampede party.
Published Jul 04, 2025 • 6 minute read
Vernon Adams Jr.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. celebrates with the MVP award after the Calgary Stampeders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the inaugural Stampede Bowl at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Thursday, July 3, 2025. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
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The Calgary Stampeders cowboy’d up for the inaugural Stampede Bowl.
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A dominant 37-16 victory over the mighty Winnipeg Blue Bombers is proof of that, as the home side got into the spirit of ‘The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’ early with the Thursday decision at McMahon Stadium.
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Four first-half touchdowns spurred on the Stampeders to the triumph, much to the delight of a strong showing of 22,485 fans in the stands.
It was quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. throwing his first TD of the season 43 yards to Clark Barnes on a brilliant long-march opening drive, and the Stamps never looked back from there.
After one of two pick-sixes by the Stamps’ defence, the QB followed with another TD strike to rookie receiver Damien Alford in the second quarter.
The precision and performance by Adams, especially early, helped him finish with 13-of-18 for 222 passing yards.
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Before halftime came another lengthy drive for the Stamps, punctuated by a two-yard TD bulldoze by running back Dedrick Mills.
The second interception return for a score by the defence insured the win in the fourth quarter.
And with that, just hours ahead of Friday morning’s much-ballyhooed Stampede Parade, the Stamps held their own mini-parade and celebration post-game with the newly minted Stampede Bowl.
Here are five takeaways from the first-ever Stampede Bowl at McMahon …
Clark Barnes
The Stampeders celebrate receiver Clark Barnes’ touchdown on Thursday. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
1) NOW THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
Ask any fan who’s been to McMahon the last few seasons and they will tell you the football just wasn’t all that fun.
That’s changed in a hurry early in 2025.
The Stampeders have fielded a product that’s got to have supporters not only smiling but believing they might actually have a winner again so soon after a few ugly CFL campaigns.
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Even if long-term success on the season isn’t in the cards for the Red and White, you can’t say it hasn’t started out with a bang.
It’s been fun, with this triumph over the Blue Bombers proof they’ve got something brewing. Especially since it was such a dominant night by the home side at McMahon.
The Stamps put together long scoring marches, with a couple of highlight plays offensively — Jalen Philpot’s 66-yard catch and run to set up a second-quarter score was the brightest. And two pretty pick-sixes by the defence definitely got the fans on their feet.
There’s no doubt the Stampede Bowl brought entertainment to Stamps Nation.
And it was even better if you’re a fan of a good-time off the field. Fireworks, a warm-weather night and the musical artists on hand for the evening — both Dawson Gray and Poison frontman Bret Michaels put on a show — added to the magnificent night.
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Calgary Stampeders vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Stampeders linebackers Micah Teitz and Jacob Roberts tackle Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira on Thursday. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
2) BOMB DIFFUSION
The Stampeders came into the season with heavy question marks on defence.
A complete turnover of starters — all 12 — tends to bring those on.
But … wow … has it ever worked for the Red and White.
On Thursday, the new unit held the CFL’s top quarterback, Zach Collaros, and the vaunted Bombers offence off the scoring board.
And for good measure, the ‘D’ intercepted the two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player for a couple of TDs.
Damon Webb turned in the first pick-six with a 30-yard pilfer and return in the opening quarter to help the home side pile up 29 first-half points on four TDs. Then it was Derrick Moncrief, with insurance in the fourth quarter when he thieved a poor decision by the Bombers QB and ran it back for a whopping 70-yard major.
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Both veteran defenders stepped in front of the intended receivers on those INTs, making Collaros look bad on the throws — quite the rarity for the top-shelf quarterback.
But it wasn’t just the turnovers that spelled the difference in the battle between the Bombers’ offence and the Stamps’ defence. The Red and White unit was simply solid, keeping Collaros & Co. out of the end zone time and again, as the Bombers settled for three Sergio Castillo field-goals in the first three quarters.
And that marks four straight games the Stamps’ defence hasn’t allowed a touchdown in the first three quarters of a contest.
It wasn’t until late in the game that the Bombers finally found paydirt on a sparkling four-yard sideline haul-in by receiver Jerreth Sterns. But by then, it was too little, too late.
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Vernon Adams Jr.
Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. throws a pass during the Stampede Bowl. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
3) ANYTHING YOU CAN DO …
The Stampeders knew the Bombers were coming in hot to trot in the run game. Running back Brady Oliveira knows how to hit the holes opened up by a dynamite offensive line. And it amounted to an early hit of rushing yards on the night.
But the hosts fought fire with fire, by firing hard into their own ground game. Stamps back Dedrick Mills got better as the first half progressed, thanks to holes opened by the Red and White o-line. And then that run game continued in the second half to help kill the clock, with Mills again spearheading the attack.
The team’s workhorse out of the backfield finished with 93 yards on 18 hauls. He now has 311 yards through four games.
“The goal is always to get 1,000 yards every season,” Mills said. “And so we’re just gonna see how this goes by the season.
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“Whatever the coaches call, I’m willing to run the ball. And just … you know … whatever yards I end up with the season is that.”
Meanwhile, Oliveira wasn’t a factor in the final three quarters, finishing with just 61 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Calgary Stampeders
The Stampeders celebrate their Stampede Bowl victory. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
4) TIMELY VICTORY
Given the schedule at hand, the Stamps needed a ‘W’.
Falling to 2-2 wouldn’t have meant the end of the world, but in the big picture, it might really hurt the Red and White.
That’s because after the Stampede Bowl, the Horsemen head to Regina to play the unbeaten Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-0) next Friday (7 p.m., TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
Then it’s off to Winnipeg for a rematch for what’s likely to be an ornery Bombers group, given what happened Thursday at McMahon.
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And in Week 9, it’s the East Division-leading Montreal Alouettes (3-1) coming to McMahon in Week 8.
It’s a daunting schedule, for certain.
But at 3-1, the game Stamps are looking oh-so good, buoyed by the fact they are 2-1 on the home turf, where you earn the praises of the fans and gotta-have-em points for the standings.
And you can throw away that home loss two weeks back to the Ottawa Redblacks, which was a washout given the monsoon-like conditions at McMahon.
Beyond that decision, the Stamps are 3-0 and have put together the turnaround campaign they envisioned with a reimagined mandate in the off-season.
At least, that’s where they are so far.
But it’s a start that brings on promise for a strong 2025 after missing the playoffs for the first time in two decades last year.
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Calgary Stampeders
The Stampeders celebrate with the Stampede Bowl trophy. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
5) BOWL SUCCESS
After decades of staying away from home during the Calgary Stampede, the Stampeders embraced a date to coincide with ‘The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth’.
And that proved to be a good thing.
Kudos to the Stamps and the Stampede for coming together to create and promote the contest on Sneak-a-Peek Night.
It was well attended, making for a great kickoff to the 10 days of the Stampede. The fans in the stands brought spirit to McMahon, making for great night at the stadium.
The win by the home side just made it all that much better.
Ya-HOO!
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels performs during the halftime show at the Stampede Bowl. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
Dawson Gray
Dawson Gray performs during the Stampede Bowl pre-game show. Photo by Gavin Young /Postmedia
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