Whitehead scores in season debut as Blue Bombers shut out Lions

WINNIPEG — Lucky Whitehead ended up being the lucky charm the Winnipeg Blue Bombers needed this week.

Whitehead caught a 19-yard touchdown pass in his season debut and Sergio Castillo booted six field goals to help the Blue Bombers upset the B.C. Lions 25-0 and snap their two-game losing skid on Thursday.

The last time B.C. was shutout was a 45-0 Blue Bombers’ victory in Winnipeg on Oct. 23, 2021.

“Everything was amazing. To just come out that tunnel, from the start, it all felt perfect and right,” said Whitehead, who finished with six receptions for 56 yards.

Whitehead played the past three seasons with the Lions but wasn’t re-signed. He inked a deal in early July with the Blue Bombers, the team he began his career with in 2019.

Castillo connected on field goals from 37, 60, 32, 51, 32 and 11 yards. It was his second successful kick from 60 yards this season, making him the only kicker in CFL history to hit twice from 60-plus yards in a career.

The victory in front of 31,589 fans at Princess Auto Stadium moved Winnipeg’s record to 3-6 and evened their season series with B.C. at one win apiece.

The Lions dropped to 5-3. The fewest points they had scored this season prior to Thursday's game was 24, recorded in two separate games.

Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. left the game after being sacked at 2:29 of the fourth quarter and appeared to injure his right knee. He was replaced by Jake Dolegala.

“The initial assessment from what they told me it’s probably something on the order of weeks, not months or longer, so that’s the good news part of it,” B.C. Lions head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell said.

“It would be irresponsible to say that’s 100 per cent. He needs to get some tests done and all that, but it does not look season-ending or anything like that.”

Adams was 8-of-17 passing for 74 yards and was sacked four times.

Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros completed 27 of 33 pass attempts for 295 yards with one TD and no interceptions.

Winnipeg rookie receiver Ontaria Wilson led all receivers with seven catches for 112 yards. Running back Brady Oliveira rushed 17 times for 100 yards.

B.C. placekicker Sean Whyte didn’t attempt any field goals.

The Lions finished with four first downs and 102 yards of net offence.

“Like coach (Mike O’Shea) said, as long as he’s been in the league coaching, he’s only seen that four times,” Bombers rush end Willie Jefferson said.

“That’s a big testament to our defensive staff, our coaches and just the defence all-around. The back end, the linebackers and the D-line just locking in, stopping a real potent offence.”

Winnipeg led 3-0 after the first quarter, 13-0 at halftime and 19-0 heading into the fourth quarter.

B.C. started the game with three straight two-and-outs.

“They’re a better team than we gave them credit for,” Lions defensive back T.J. Lee said. “We knew that, but they came out and played a better game. Fair and square they won.”

Adams was intercepted by Bombers defensive back Tyrell Ford with 6:05 left in the opening quarter. Winnipeg used the turnover for a Castillo 37-yard field goal.

Winnipeg’s next drive got to the Lions’ 13-yard line, but backup quarterback Chris Streveler was denied on third and one and the Bombers turned the ball over on downs.

Castillo hit his 60-yarder to make it 6-0 at 10:27 of the second.

Whitehead’s 19-yard TD catch with 28 seconds left in the half was secured when he dove over the goal line for the 13-0 lead.

When it looked like Whyte was lining up for a 48-yard field-goal attempt early in the third quarter, he booted a nine-yard onside kick and Bombers linebacker Tanner Cadwallader grabbed the ball.

Castillo then knocked through field goals from 32, 51 and 36 yards to make it 22-0 at 1:24 of the fourth quarter.

After Dolegala took over, the Lions turned the ball over on downs and Castillo chipped through an 11-yarder.

“I think we got our butts beat, is what I think happened, from start to finish,” Campbell said. “We could not get anything going and you don’t see that too often in the CFL, so I’ll credit them.”

POOR FIRST HALF

The Lions went into the game as the CFL’s top-ranked offence, but were held to two first downs and 59 yards of net offence in the first half.

Adams was sacked twice and completed six of 11 pass attempts for 46 yards with the pick by Ford.

By comparison, Collaros was 20-of-23 passing for 213 yards and one TD in the first half and ran once for 17 yards before sliding.

SECOND SEASON DEBUT

Lions receiver Keon Hatcher returned to action from an Achilles injury he suffered in B.C.’s division final loss to Winnipeg last season.

He caught three passes for 28 yards.

UP NEXT

Bombers: Go on their first bye week of the season.

Lions: Travel to play the Edmonton Elks on Aug. 11.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2024.