MONTREAL – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers needed a win or a tie to win the West Division on Saturday afternoon, and despite the rain and wind that picked up in the final seconds, they managed a field goal to defeat the Montreal Alouettes 28-27 at Percival-Molson Memorial Stadium.

Zach Collaros completed 24 of 32 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown, Kenny Lawler added 105 yards on four receptions, and Nicolas Demski scored a touchdown while adding 90 yards for the Bombers.

Cody Fajardo threw for 171 yards and a touchdown, Walter Fletcher rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown, and Cole Spieker had three receptions for 71 yards in the loss.

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The road team got on the scoreboard first while Sergio Castillo had a 25-yard attempt after missing one earlier in the game, but José Maltos responded for the Alouettes as his 45-yard kick tied the game and gave Montreal its first points.

In the second quarter, Castillo regained his usual rhythm as he slipped his kick attempt just inside the left upright from 47 yards out to regain the lead.

But the home team regained the lead with force. Sean Thomas Erlington exploded for 30 yards before Fajardo connected with Kaion Julien-Grant for 26 yards, ending the drive with a reception of Charleston Rambo for his fifth touchdown of the season and his return to the lead.

Winnipeg continued to put points on the board, but was unable to convert plays for seven points and settled for another Castillo field goal, this time from 53 yards out.

One of Montreal’s strongest defensive players, Tyrice Beverettebrought down Collaros to force a punt and give the Alouettes one last offensive shot before halftime, and Maltos took a 35-yard attempt through the uprights as the clock expired with Montreal leading by four points.

Late in the half, Montreal extended its lead to double digits, as a drive sparked by a 47-yard reception from Spieker put the Alouettes at the Winnipeg 11-yard line, and Walter Fletcher passed a kick block to score a three-yard touchdown.

While Winnipeg put together a strong drive that allowed them to reach the Montreal 10-yard line on their next drive, they once again relied on Castillo to secure them points, which he did with a 15 yard shot.

The Bombers defense did its job forcing a double on the next drive, and Winnipeg found a spark on offense as Kenny Lawler beat his defensive back for a 72-yard gain, and Nicolas Demski closed the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, making the game a one-point affair.

With Davis Alexander replacing Fajardo, he looked solid to start the fourth quarter as he found Tyjon Lindsey for 39 yards, before Alexander himself scored the touchdown to restore an eight-point lead to the Alouettes in the final third.

Winnipeg responded with just over eight minutes remaining as Lucky White Head returned a punt 54 yards to the Montreal 18-yard line and a 16-yard reception from Keric wheat fall put Terry Wilson in position to rush for a touchdown.

Trying to tie the game, Winnipeg’s two-point conversion was blocked by Dionte Ruffin, but after a back-and-forth between the two teams, the Bombers found themselves back on the field with two minutes remaining to be able to to close this two-point gap.

Castillo tried to give the Bombers the lead with a 61-yard kick attempt, but the swirling winds that had been a problem throughout the game for Percival Molson pushed the kick just wide.

The wind also impacted the Alouettes’ final punt, as the speed picked up and caused the kick to fall sideways and out of bounds.

With six seconds left and the weather getting better as it started to rain, Castillo came out one last time, and this time got his redemption from 51 yards out by kicking a game-winner and the Bombers won the game. Western Division.