It looks like there's still some work to do.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers gave up 10 points in both the first and second quarters and lost 26-15 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Friday night at Investors Group Field in the final pre-season game for both teams.

“I don't think it was good enough,” said Winnipeg head coach Mike O'Shea when asked to comment on what he saw from his team. “We lost and that's why I don't think it was good enough.”

“The good thing is we've got a lot of tape to look at and to evaluate these guys. You saw from camp and from the first exhibition game and this one – there's going to be some tough decisions. That's what this is for.”

Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros, who completed 14-of 17 passes for 183 yards in a quarter-and-a-half of work, hooked up with Bakari Grant on a 15-yard touchdown pass on the Tiger-Cats first possession.

Running back Ray Holley added an eight-yard touchdown scamper and Justin Medlock kicked four field goals.

Cameron Marshall and Paris Cotton had short touchdown runs for the Blue Bombers.

“We got a lot of cleaning up to do and to tune up what we need to get better at,” said Cotton. “I like the effort from our offense. We just need to execute a little bit better.”

Drew Willy got the start and completed 11-of-17 passes for 142 yards including a dandy 45-yarder to Clarence Denmark which helped set up Marshall's touchdown run.

“Every competitor wants to win every game,” said Willy who played the entire first half and part of the third quarter. “It's important to get that winning mindset. They're a good football team and give them credit but at the same time we did some things on offense and defense and special teams that isn't winning football. We just need to take a look at the film. Guys in the locker room were upbeat. They're ready to fix the mistakes and get ready for day one.”

Winnipeg kicker Lirim Hajrullahu missed a 36-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half which would have cut the Tiger-Cats lead to 20-10.

Hajrullahu also failed to deliver on the convert from the 32-yard line after Cotton's touchdown run.

Winnipeg has 73 players on the roster and must have that number down to 46 by Saturday at 9 p.m.

That list does not include the 10-man practice roster.

Winnipeg will open the 2015 CFL season against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Regina on Saturday, June 27th


photos by Merle Peters