On Saturday night at IG Field, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers took on the Edmonton Elks for the second time this year. In their first meeting, the Blue Bombers beat the Elks 24-10. Winnipeg needed a win to clinch home-field advantage for the Western Final, and unlike their first meeting, this game was all Winnipeg.
In the first quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros took a couple of steps back from the pocket and threw a 31-yard touchdown to Nic Demski to go up 7-0 with 11:01 left. On Edmonton’s first possession, they went two-and-out but came away with a single point on a John Ryan 57-yard punt that went into the endzone, and Janarion Grant conceded. It was 7-1 Winnipeg with 9:01 left.
On the second Winnipeg play, backup quarterback Dakota Prukop threw a 37-yard pass to Nic Demski. Two plays later, quarterback Zach Collaros threw the defense off with a nice pump fake before throwing a 25-yard touchdown to Dalton Schoen for a 14-1 lead with 6:12 left.
After the Elks went two-and-out, Winnipeg moved the ball, led by Zach Collaros throwing three passes for 44 yards and a couple of runs by Brady Oliveira for ten yards as the first quarter ended, and Winnipeg faced second down on Edmonton’s 25-yard line to begin the second quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros found Dalton Schoen for a 25-yard touchdown. Schoen did a good job creating separation before making the catch, and it was 21-1 with 14:47 left.
When Edmonton got the ball back, they found the endzone. On the fifth play, quarterback Taylor Cornelius had great protection and threw a 59-yard touchdown to Dillon Mitchell. Mitchell beat a Winnipeg defender to make the catch and walked into the endzone, cutting Winnipeg’s lead 21-8 with 11:55 left.
Four plays into Winnipeg’s next possession, quarterback Zach Collaros threw a ten-yard pass to Dalton Schoen. Then, in an interesting twist, Collaros came out, and Dakota Prukop went in for Winnipeg. Different quarterback, same results. Prukop had plenty of time in the pocket and threw a 24-yard touchdown to Brady Oliveira for a 28-8 lead with eight minutes left.
Edmonton had a few opportunities to respond, but Winnipeg’s defense held them off and led 28-8 at halftime. Winnipeg’s offense had 342 yards, while Zach Collaros was 11/13 for 193 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, which came late in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 6/12 for 102 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Dillon Mitchell had three catches for 83 yards and one touchdown as part of Edmonton’s 155 yards on offense.
In the third quarter, Edmonton kicker Sergio Castillo made a 16-yard field goal, cutting Winnipeg’s lead 28-11. Unfortunately, those were the last points scored by Edmonton for the rest of the game. Late in the third quarter, Winnipeg marched down to Edmonton’s 27-yard line to end the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 24-yard pass to Rasheed Bailey at the Elks’ three-yard line. On the next play, running back Brady Olivera muscled his way into the endzone for a three-yard touchdown, extending their lead 35-11 with 14:02 left.
Later in the game, Winnipeg kicker Marc Liegghio made a 43-yard field for a 38-11 lead with 8:11 left. After Winnipeg’s defense stopped Edmonton on third down, third-string quarterback Dru Brown threw a 65-yard touchdown to Dalton Schoen for a 45-11 lead with 3:33 left. Finally, Winnipeg kicker Marc Liegghio made a 37-yard field goal for a 48-11 lead with 1:51 left. Edmonton had the ball for the rest of the game and ran out the clock. The Blue Bombers tied a franchise record with their 14th win of the year and clinched home field for the Western Final. Meanwhile, Edmonton dropped to 4-12.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros was 15/19 for 241 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Brady Olivera had 14 carries for 61 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Dalton Schoen had seven catches for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
Winnipeg’s defense allowed 267 yards, 44 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, two pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries. Winnipeg visits the BC Lions next Saturday at 10 pm on ESPN+.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 11/24 for 137 yards, one touchdown, and six carries for 44 yards. Running back Ante Milanovic-Litre had eight carries for 47 yards, while wide receiver Dillon Mitchell had six catches for 107 yards and one touchdown.
Edmonton’s defense allowed 503 yards, 46 tackles, four pass breakups, and one interception. Edmonton is off next week.
