Friday Night Football and Fireworks

Friday August 1st, 2025

 Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs Toronto Argonauts

It was my first day back to work after packing up the camping trip and coming home. I was tired and sore from hiking and paddling my way through the Whiteshell. Tanned skin, bleached eyes. The day started early and all I wanted from the moment I woke up today was to go right back to sleep.

But when I walked up to Princess Auto Stadium I was all smiles.

I don’t know how many tickets sold but the deep roar at TRUE NORTH and BLUUE during the national anthem tells me it’s a sell out. 

It’s country night. Cowboy hats are much more welcome than they were in the last game against the Stampeders. Tonight, the Blue Bombers are settling a rematch against the Toronto Argonauts who knocked the life out of the boys in blue in the last game.

Starting quarterback Zach Collaros is out with a hurt neck leaving Chris Streveler to start. The Bombers are set to return the first kickoff of the game and we’re off to redeem ourselves for the shellacking we took in Toronto just a week ago.

The opening kickoff bounces off the returner’s chest. Mayhem ensues and eventually he’s able to dive on the ball. What a start, the fans are uneasy.

When the Blue Bombers cleanly fielded their first punt return of the game the crowd erupted in a sarcastic atta-boy cheer.

The first play on following drive was a pass swatted up at the line, intercepted and brought back for a touchdown. The stadium announcer mistakenly credited the interception to Collaros rather than Streveler, causing further groans from the irritated crowd. 

The first kickoff after the Toronto pick-6 was returned the distance by Trey Vaval, 93 yards for a tying touchdown with just over eight and a half minutes to go in the first quarter. We’re in it. The fans are on their feet and ready for anything. 

Two things are evident for Winnipeg: starting quarterback Zach Collaros gets hurt often and Bomber fans are continually less and less confident in backup pivot Chris Streveler. 

That is until he rushed the first offensive touchdown of the game for Winnipeg. We come and go with our speculations. 

Vaval, in the last 2 minutes of the half, was back to receive a punt. Sure enough he took that punt return back for a touchdown, his second return touchdown of the game. It’s not often you see a kick off returned for 6, not often you see a punt go back either. He became just the fifth player in CFL history to return and punt as well as a kickoff for a touchdown and the first Blue Bomber to ever do it.

Between both teams there have been five touchdowns in the first half; 2 were on special teams, 2 were by defense, one was by an offense when Strevvy snuck one in.

A last-minute drive went well enough to give the Argos a field goal. 31-13 at half.

I don’t know who he is but someone in the crowd at every game toots a horn each time an opponent catches a kickoff or a punt. Wherever they are, bless them.

Late in the fourth the Argos scored a touchdown, bringing themselves within 6.

37-31.

The ensuing kickoff was handled poorly, the Bomber returner- not Vaval- simply watched the ball as it bounced in front of him and the Argos recovered it in Bomber territory.

2nd and 10 for the Argos on the following drive and the Bombers picked it off. Special teams and defense have run this game.

The Blue Bombers hung on to take the win 40-31.

After the game the team set off fireworks over the darkened crowd. It was a festive way to finish off a good game and a good night in Winnipeg.