The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (13-4) hosted the Edmonton Elks (4-14) on Saturday night in their final home game of the regular season. The Blue Bombers clinched first place in the Western Division on Friday night after the Lions lost to the Stampeders.
In addition, this was the third and final meeting against the Elks this season. They beat them twice and, on this night, completed the sweep. This was Edmonton’s final game of the season.
In the first quarter, Winnipeg struck first when running back Brady Oliveira scored a three-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 10:33 left. Edmonton’s offense went out for their first series of the game. It was short-lived. Winnipeg blitzed Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford. Jackson Jeffcoat knocked the ball out of Ford’s hand with Adam Bighill scooping it up on his way to scoring a 26-yard touchdown. It was 14-0 Winnipeg with 9:50 left of the first quarter.
Later in the first quarter, Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford completed a short pass to Emmanuel Arceneaux, who had blockers ahead of him for a gain of 77 yards at the Blue Bombers’ 5-yard line. Three plays later, Edmonton backup quarterback Taylor Cornelius scored a 1-yard touchdown with a quarterback sneak.
It was now 14-7 Winnipeg with 3:31 left of the first quarter. On the final play of the first quarter, Edmonton kicker Dean Faithfull converted a 43-yard field goal which made it 14-10.
In the second quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo kicked a 24-yard field goal that made it 17-10 with 7:54 left. Later in the second quarter, Winnipeg tacked on more points when running back Brady Oliveira plowed his up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown which made it 24-10 with 2:02 left.
Late in the second quarter, Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford threw a 32-yard pass to Eugene Lewis at the Blue Bombers’ 10-yard line. Two plays later, backup quarterback Taylor Cornelius scored a 1-yard touchdown using the quarterback sneak. Winnipeg led Edmonton 24-17 at halftime.
Winnipeg had 160 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 9 of 11 passes (81%) for 90 yards. Running back Brady Oliveira had 12 carries for 61 yards, and two touchdowns, and wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky made two catches for 36 yards. Winnipeg’s defense had three sacks and one fumble recovery in the first half.
Edmonton had 181 yards on offense. Quarterback Tre Ford completed 6 of 8 passes (75%) for 144 yards. Running back Kevin Brown had three carries for 36 yards, and wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux made one catch for 77 yards.
In the third quarter, Edmonton punter Jake Julian punted the ball 58 yards toward returner Janarion Grant inside the endzone where Grant conceded the single point. It was now 24-18 Winnipeg with 8:58 left.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros threw a short pass to Brady Oliveira for a gain of 17 yards at the Elks’ 6-yard line. On the next play, Collaros found Rasheed Bailey for the touchdown which made it 31-18. After the touchdown, Winnipeg made some substitutions.
Late in the third quarter, Dru Brown was the new Winnipeg quarterback. He threw two passes in the final 32 seconds 45 yards at the Elks’ 16-yard line to start the fourth quarter.
Two plays into the fourth quarter, Dru Brown threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Greg McCrae for a 38-18 lead with 13:38 left of the game. On the kickoff, Edmonton returner Deontez Alexander got great blocking ahead of him for a 98-yard touchdown. It was now 38-25 Winnipeg with 11:08 left.
Later in the fourth quarter, Winnipeg quarterback Dru Brown threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Rasheed Bailey for a 45-18 lead with 8:04 left. For the rest of the fourth quarter, Winnipeg’s defense stopped Edmonton from scoring any more points. The Blue Bombers defeated the Elks by the final score of 45-18.
Winnipeg had 371 yards on offense. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 13 of 16 passes (81.3%) for 125 yards, and one touchdown. Backup quarterback Dru Brown completed all seven passes for 94 yards, and two touchdowns.
Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira had a great game with 14 carries for 72 yards, two touchdowns, and one catch for 17 yards. Wide receiver Kenny Lawler led the receivers with six catches for 98 yards. Winnipeg’s defense made 28 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Edmonton had 322 yards on offense. Quarterback Tre Ford completed 12 of 22 passes (54%) for 288 yards, and two carries for 14 yards. Running back Kevin Brown had five carries for 41 yards and wide receiver Eugene Lewis led the receivers with seven catches for 158 yards. Edmonton’s defense made 48 tackles.
The Blue Bombers conclude the 2023 season next Friday at the Calgary Stampeders at 9 pm on CFL+. Subscribe to Fubo to watch all of the 2023 CFL Season. Purchase CFL tickets today on StubHub and Viagogo.
