By Canadian Press

Fair paces Stamps to 31-10 pre-season win over Blue Bombers

May 31, 2024 | 10:17 PM

WINNIPEG — Campbell Fair’s five field goals lifted the Calgary Stampeders to a 31-10 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in CFL pre-season action Friday.

Running backs Peyton Logan and LeVante Bellamy recorded touchdowns for Calgary in a match that was delayed a half hour because of severe weather in the area.

Winnipeg is auditioning punt and kick returners this season as the team couldn’t afford to keep veteran Janarion Grant, who signed with the Toronto Argonauts.

Chris Smith made coaches take notice when the Blue Bombers running back took a punt return 109 yards for a touchdown.

Smith’s score at 12:38 of the second quarter had 24,297 fans cheering for the Kansas product at the newly renamed Princess Auto Stadium.

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The Stampeders dressed a number of offensive and defensive starters, while the Bombers sat most of their regulars.

Calgary quarterback Jake Maier opened the game and three other hopefuls had their turns under centre. Veteran kicker Rene Paredes didn’t suit up.

Winnipeg sat offensive stars such as quarterback Zach Collaros, all four of its starting receivers and running back Brady Oliveira, who missed training camp because of an injury but is expected to play in next week’s season opener.

Fair made field goals from 30, 34, 27, 15 yards and 18 yards and was good on two converts. Calgary also notched a safety.

Stampeders receiver Cam Echols topped all pass catchers with eight receptions for 160 yards.

Winnipeg also got points from a Sergio Castillo 42-yard field goal.

Calgary led 3-0 after the first quarter, 11-7 at the halftime and 18-10 heading into the fourth.

Maier guided the Stampeders to Fair’s 30-yarder at 9:30 of the first.

The starter only played the opening quarter, completing four of five pass attempts for 92 yards.

Matt Shiltz took over from Maier for the second quarter and was 5-of-13 passing for 101 yards.

The Bombers used quarterbacks Terry Wilson and Darren Grainger as the team searches for a third passer behind Collaros and Chris Streveler.

Fair made it 6-0 five minutes into the second quarter before Smith’s TD gave the home squad the lead.

Calgary added a safety with 1:39 left in the quarter when linebacker Micah Teitz pulled down Grainger in the end zone. Fair then booted a 27-yarder with a minute remaining for the 11-7 edge.

Lightning and rain rolled into the area during halftime, causing the delay of the second half.

Quarterback Logan Bonner put together a drive capped by Logan’s 16-yard catch-and-run TD at 3:24 of the third quarter.

Castillo’s 42-yarder made it 18-10 at 7:29.

Fair hit his fourth field goal from 15 yards out 33 seconds into the fourth.

After Wilson was intercepted by Calgary defensive back Tyler Richardson, quarterback Kyle Vantrease was at the helm and the drive ended with Fair’s 18-yarder at 7:00 to make it 24-10.

Bellamy pushed in for a one-yard score at 8:33.

UP NEXT

Bombers: Host the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday in their season opener.

Stampeders: Host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Friday in their season opener.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2024.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press