WINNIPEG — If someone had told Matthew Peterson he'd carry the ball for 130 yards and a touchdown in his CFL debut, the Blue Bombers running back was candid in what his response would have been.
“I'm confident, you know. I would have said, 'You're damn right,'" he said with a smile, repeating the line for greater effect. "No, I'm glad I could just come out here and just do my thing and make sure that the offence still flows.”
Winnipeg defeated the B.C. Lions 34-20 in their season opener on Thursday without starting quarterback Zach Collaros and star running back Brady Oliveira.
Collaros was serving a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. He was replaced by Chris Streveler, who threw two of his three touchdown passes to Nic Demski.
Streveler completed 15 of 24 pass attempts for 246 yards and one interception in front of a sellout of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium.
“Just guys leaning on each other and making their plays,” Streveler said. “Matt (Peterson) stepping up, having a great game. Guys making plays when the ball comes their way. And the great thing is, there’s still improvements to be made.”
Winnipeg opened the game with a four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
Oliveira, the CFL's reigning most outstanding player and top Canadian, burst out of the gates for a 43-yard gain, the longest carry of his career.
Streveler followed up with a 20-yard TD pass to Demski in the end zone at 2:29, marking his 72nd consecutive game with at least one reception. Oliveira went to the locker room after the score.
The Bombers (1-0) announced he wouldn't return because of an upper-body injury. There was no update after the game.
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke left the game midway through the fourth quarter after an apparent injury. He was 12 of 27 passing for 249 yards with one TD and one interception. He also ran two yards for a score.
Rourke was replaced by Jeremiah Masoli as the Lions fell to 1-1.
“I'm not sure exactly what it is,” Rourke told reporters after the game of the possible injury to his midsection.
“I won't speculate, but it was affecting the way I was throwing it. I couldn't throw it, so I thought it was better for the team if I took myself out at that point because I wasn't able to generate enough power on the ball.”
He said he's optimistic he'll be ready to go when the Lions host the Bombers in a June 21 rematch.
Keric Wheatfall had Winnipeg's other TD reception, finishing with five catches for 127 yards.
Sergio Castillo booted field goals from 49 and 50 yards for Winnipeg, but missed from 47 yards out. He made three of his four convert attempts and the Bombers also picked up a point off a punt single.
Keon Hatcher caught a 77-yard TD pass for the Lions and finished with four catches for 150 yards. Sean Whyte hit field goals from 21 and 37 yards and connected on two converts.
The Bombers led 10-3 after the first quarter, 18-10 at halftime and 28-20 heading into the fourth.
“I believe in our guys' ability to fight and make plays down the stretch,” Lions head coach Buck Pierce said.
"They've got to understand it's a game of opportunities and we didn't start the way that we wanted to start the game or the first half, for that matter.”
After Demski's opening touchdown, the Bombers boosted their lead thanks to a turnover. Defensive back Marquise Bridges intercepted a tipped Rourke pass attempt, leading to Castillo's 49-yarder and a 10-0 lead at 8:39.
Rourke, who was pressured by Winnipeg's defence all game, ran for 36 yards to get his team to Winnipeg's 13-yard line but the Lions settled for Whyte's 21-yarder at 10:23.
The five-foot-nine 208-pound Peterson ran 38 yards for his touchdown at 7:25 of the second quarter. Winnipeg got the punt single four minutes later to go up 18-3.
Rourke ran two yards for a score with nine seconds remaining in the half.
After Wheatfall's 30-yard TD catch at 7:57 of the third quarter, Hatcher made an over-the-shoulder grab for his 77-yard score. Whyte's 37-yard field goal squeezed the score to 28-20 at 11:28.
Demski hauled in a four-yard TD catch in the corner of the end zone at 3:48 of the fourth.
Winnipeg got another turnover off a fumbled B.C. kickoff return, but Castillo went wide on his field-goal attempt and the ball was run out.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
