Thursday night’s battle lived up to it’s billing.

The heavyweight bout came down to the very end, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers narrowly beating the Stampeders 26-24 at IG Field.

Late in the fourth, Eric Rogers was key in the Stampeders’ push to come out on top. He took a pass from Nick Arbuckle, fought off a pair of defenders and lunged into the endzone.

However, Calgary’s comeback attempt was cut short, as a deflected pass from Arbuckle was intercepted by Winston Rose with 1:38 remaining in the game.

Special teams loomed large in this game, as the Bombers used their unit to score a pair of return touchdown, force a fumble, and change the momentum in this game.

The home squad threw the first punch, with Justin Medlock kicking a field goal on their first drive and a punt return touchdown on the following Stampeders drive.

Nick Arbuckle and company would turn things around with a long drive at the end of the first quarter. A 40-yard grab by Reggie Begelton set up an Arbuckle 13-yard scamper for the touchdown.

On their next drive – and first of the second quarter – Arbuckle would force his way over the line from a yard out after Eric Rogers earned a defensive pass interference call in the endzone.

Down 14-10, the Blue Bombers weren’t ready to give up.

And their special teams unit provided the necessary push to regain the lead. After a Medlock field goal, Janarion Grant took off for his second punt return score of the night, this time an 83-yard run to the house.

Looking to make a play late in the half, the Stampeders special teams unit forced a fumble and recovered the ball deep in enemy territory. Unfortunately for the visitors, sophomore Marcus Sayles went up to intercept an Arbuckle pass intended for Eric Rogers in the endzone.

Medlock added a pair of field goals for Winnipeg in the second half and put them on top 26-17 late in the contest.

Despite the big time touchdown from Eric Rogers in the fourth quarter, the Stampeders weren’t able to convert on their final drive.

Next up for Calgary is a home date with the Montreal Alouettes on August 17th.