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Features July 3, 2025

Stampede Bowl Champions

Nothin’ But A Good Time!

Indeed it was, Bret Michaels.

The legendary rocker finished off his four-song, halftime concert at Thursday’s tilt at McMahon Stadium with that banger, the homeside already up 29-6 on the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Red & White kept rocking and rolling en route a decisive 37-16 victory, winning the inaugural Stampede Bowl before more than 22,000 fans, hoisting a brand new trophy in a postgame celebration.

Calgary – coming off a bye week – improved to 3-1 as they handed Winnipeg, also now 3-1, their first loss of the season.

Vernon Adams Jr. threw his first TD as a Stamp, one of two on the night for him, and finished with 222 yards. He was named the game’s MVP, collecting a commerative belt buckle.

Damien Alford, meanwhile, had his first CFL TD catch, while Clark Barnes also scored.

Dedrick Mills ran for his league-leading fifth major of the season, and the defence was somply stellar, Damon Webb and Derrick Moncrief each having a pick-six in the victory, as the Stamps held the potent Bombers offence in check.

 

STAT PACK

QB Vernon Adams Jr.: 13-of-18, 222 yards, 2 TDs

RB Dedrick Mills:  18 carries for 93 yards, 1 TD

WR Jalen Philpot: 2 receptions for 75 yards

Click for full game stats

 

The Stamps were surgical on their first drive, finding the endzone on a six-play, 72-yard drive.

They converted a third-and-one when Quincy Vaughn came in at pivot and picked up two yards (one of many short yardage situations he made good on), before Adams Jr. aired one out to Barnes who caught it at the six-yard line and dragged a pair of defenders into the endzone.

 

Jake Thomas was flagged for roughing the passer on No. 3 on the play, Calgary adding a rouge off the foot of Parades on the kickoff.

Brady Olivera had 36 yards on six rushes as Winnipeg answered back with three points from kicker Sergio Castillo, the visitors pushed back to a second-and-16 after a holding penalty and stopped short of a first down, having to settle for the field-goal.

Mark Vassett booted a 68-yard punt that Trey Vaval caught in the endzone and ran it out but was stopped at the six-yard line.

Webb sat on a route by Nick Demski a few plays later and then exploded to pick off Collaros, taking it 30 yards to the house to increase the lead to 15-3.

 

Alford hauled in his first career touchdown to complete a long, 12-play, 98-yard drive in the second quarter with a lovely route.

Adams Jr. eluded a sack and scrambled with his head up before finding Alford early in the possession deep in Calgary’s zone, with Vaughn converting another third-and-one, and Mills running for 27 yards on back-to-back scampers en route to the major.

 

With under three minutes to go in the half, Adams Jr. aired one out for Philpot, who hauled it in and then danced around three Winnipeg defenders but was finally brought down at the two-yard line for a 66-yard gain.

Mills would then punch it in.

 

Winnipeg got a field goal with one second left before halftime.

With 3:29 left in the third quarter, Castillo kicked a 29-yard field goal after a lengthy Winnipeg drive stalled out.

Vassett got Calgary another point early in the fourth to stretch the lead to 21 points.

On the next possession, Moncrief got Calgary’s second pick-six, going 70 yards untouched after intercepting Collaros on a sideline-pass attempt.

 

The Bombers got a late TD with 2:28 to go.

THEY SAID IT

UP NEXT

The Stamps take on the 4-0 Riders in Regina next Friday before returning home to face the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, July 24.