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Features June 5, 2026

Stamps Fall In Thriller Against Blue Bombers

The Stampeders kicked off the season with their home-opener in a thriller of a Western Division clash against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium on Friday evening, but ultimately fell 30-28 in the final seconds of the game.

The Stamps got big performances out of QB Vernon Adams Jr., who put his side ahead late before Winnipeg scored the game-winning field-goal with no time left on the clock, and running back Dedrick Mills in the loss.

On the defensive side of the ball, DE Clarence Hicks picked up his first sack of the season and DL Tre’Mon Morris-Brash snagged his first interception in the Red & White.

STAT PACK

Vernon Adams Jr. – 17-for-27, 239 yards, TD

Dedrick Mills – 16 carries, 112 yards, TD, one reception, three yards

Jalen Philpot – five receptions, 96 yards

Erik Brooks – two receptions, 54 yards, TD

Tre’Mon Morris-Brash – one INT

Winnipeg struck first off a Brady Olivera run to take a 7-0 lead in the first.

The Stamps offence responded in the second quarter with a 11-play, 78-yard drive that ended with pivot Quincy Vaughn punching in the two-yard touchdown for the first of the season.

Mills, the reigning rushing crown winner from 2025, finished off the following offensive drive with a one-yard run to the endzone to give the Stamps their first lead of the night.

The bruising tailback was just getting warmed up, on the next offensive drive Mills made a huge 39-yard rushing play to the Winnipeg 40-yard line.

A couple plays later, Adams Jr. connected with Erik Brooks for a 22-yard touchdown to extend the Stamps lead to 21-16 at half.

Rookie DL Morris-Brash made his presence felt in the third quarter, picking up his first interception off a ball that was tipped off DL Elijah Hills.

Down six in the fourth quarter, big play VA came out throwing a dime to Brooks for a huge 32-yard gain that put the Stamps on the Blue Bombers four-yard line. The pivot finished off the drive scoring a three-yard rushing touchdown to put the Stamps up 28-27 with a couple minutes left in the fourth.

The Blue Bombers closed out the game with a walk off field goal to play spoiler in Calgary.

THEY SAID IT

NEXT UP

The Stamps return to McMahon Stadium following a bye in Week 2 to face off against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 20 with kickoff set for 5 p.m. MT.

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