Zach Collaros makes season debut in Blue Bombers 27-14 win over B.C. Lions
Thirteen seasons into his CFL career, Zach Collaros isn't taking football for granted.
So when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback ran out of the tunnel for his first game of the season on Saturday, he made sure to soak in the atmosphere.
"When you're younger, you think you're gonna do it forever," said Collaros, who threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Bombers thumped the B.C. Lions 27-14.
"I still feel good and think that I'm gonna do it forever. I know at some point it's gonna come to an end, but I don't think anytime soon. But I think as you get older, you gain a little more wisdom and things like that, and you try to just cherish every moment and just be present all the time."
The 36-year-old American was suspended for Winnipeg's first game of the season — a 34-20 win over B.C. — last week for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request.
Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea said he was "so happy" to see his No. 1 quarterback on the field Saturday.
"When football gets taken away — and it doesn't matter what for — it hurts the guys," he said. "So to see him back playing, doing something he loves to do, and being in a spot that he feels really comfortable at, I'm more excited for the man."
Collaros wasted no time finding his form. Just over seven minutes into Saturday's game, the veteran escaped the pocket under pressure and hurled a rainbow into the far corner of the end zone where Dalton Schoen jumped up to make the grab.
The 15-yard touchdown pass capped a 72-yard, 12-play scoring drive.
"Not playing for a long time, you don't doubt yourself, obviously, but it's nice to know I can still do this," Collaros said of the play.
He connected on 18 of his 25 attempts across the night and had two interceptions.
On the other side of the ball, Jeremiah Masoli was 25-for-44, passing for 281 yards with one major and two interceptions in his first-ever start for the Lions (1-2).
"Definitely room for improvement," the 36-year-old American said of the performance. "It was good to be out there and just putting some long drives together with the boys. But the opportunities that we had and missed, we've got to be able to cash in on those versus a good team."
Masoli replaced Nathan Rourke as starter after Rourke suffered a core injury last week.
The Canadian QB dressed for the rematch, but spent the game on the sidelines wearing a ball cap instead of his helmet.
Winnipeg (2-0) was also without one of its stars as Brady Oliveira sat out with a shoulder injury he picked up against the
Lions.
Sergio Castillo made good on two field goals for the visitors, including a 55-yard strike, and Sean Whyte kicked two for B.C. His longest of the night was 43 yards.
Interceptions plagued both sides, but the Bombers were better able to capitalize on the picks Saturday.
Midway through the second quarter, Masoli -- who signed with the Lions as a free agent in February — tossed a harried pass to running back James Butler, who fumbled the ball. Jamal Parker was there to pick it up and sprint 57 yards the other way for the Bombers' second major of the night. Castillo hit the convert and Winnipeg took a 17-3 lead.
With the Lions down 20-6 early in the fourth quarter, Masoli sailed a pass to Ayden Eberhardt deep in the end zone, only to see it picked off by Evan Holm.
B.C. challenged the play, saying there was no catch, but a review upheld the call on the field.
"Once again, we took points off the board down deep, surefire points," O'Shea said.
On the next drive, Collaros chucked a pass way up field to Keric Wheatfall for a 48-yard gain.
The Bombers continued to build and Collaros capped the drive with a five-yard dish to offensive lineman Tui Eli in the end zone.
Another convert from Castillo gave Winnipeg a 27-6 advantage.
The Lions refused to go quietly, though.
Late in the fourth quarter, Robert Carter Jr. nabbed Collaros' pass inside Winnipeg territory and the Lions capitalized, with Masoli firing a seven-yard dart to Jevon Cottoy just over the goal line.
The QB then handed off to Butler, who rushed in for a two-point convert that sealed the score at 27-14.
"That was big, for sure. We wanted to for our pride, just to know that we can get it in there," Masoli said. "Obviously we
marched down a couple times and weren't able to get it in.
"It changes the complexion of a game when you're not able to score and give some help to your defence. But there's some good stuff we did tonight that we can build on. And that was one of them."
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