WINNIPEG — Trey Vaval set the tone early with a 98-yard opening kickoff return for a touchdown in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 40-3 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.
The rookie defensive back scored a CFL-leading fourth return touchdown this season, including two from kickoffs, one on a punt return and last week’s franchise-record 128-yarder off a missed field goal by the Ottawa Redblacks.
Winnipeg (8-7-0) was tied for second in points in the West Division with the B.C. Lions and the Calgary Stampeders, although the latter had a game in hand on the Blue Bombers and Lions.
A three-game win streak came to an end for Hamilton (9-6-0), but the Tiger-Cats have already clinched a home playoff game in the East Division. Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, who was back under centre after missing the previous two games with a head injury, threw for a season-high 370 yards.
He completed 20 of 25 pass attempts with one touchdown and no interceptions in front of a 12th consecutive sellout of 32,343 fans at Princess Auto Stadium.
Ticats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was stymied by an aggressive Winnipeg defence. He went 21-of-32 in passing for 212 yards for no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Winnipeg’s second series of the game finished with a 44-yard touchdown catch by Dillon Mitchell, the first of the season for the club’s big off-season acquisition.
Blue Bombers backup quarterback Chris Streveler scored three rushing touchdowns, including two on one-yard carries in the third quarter and another eight-yard effort late in the fourth quarter when Collaros was rested.
Sergio Castillo kicked field goals from 24 and 38 yards and hit four of five converts for Winnipeg.
Hamilton’s first scoring attempt with under five minutes left in the first quarter was a wide 47-yard field-goal attempt by Marc Liegghio, although he was good on a later 54-yarder that hit the crossbar and bounced through.
Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira rushed 15 times for 98 yards and contributed another four catches for 56 yards.
His teammate Nic Demski caught a game-high seven passes for 114 yards.
Former Blue Bomber Kenny Lawler had two receptions for 34 yards for Hamilton and was targeted nine times. Ticats tailback Greg Bell mustered 88 yards on 11 carries.
Winnipeg led 13-0 after the first quarter, 19-3 at halftime and 33-3 heading into the fourth quarter.
Collaros strung together eight consecutive passes in the opening quarter for 130 yards.
Castillo booted a pair of field goals in the second quarter when Liegghio made his 54-yarder.
Hamilton had the ball on Winnipeg’s eight-yard line with 20 seconds remaining in the first half, but Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson tipped Mitchell’s pass for a turnover on downs.
UP NEXT
Tiger-Cats: Visit the Toronto Argonauts next Saturday.
Blue Bombers: Final bye week of the season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2025.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
