The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-0) hosted the Edmonton Elks (0-3) on Thursday night from Princess Auto Stadium to kick off Week 4 of the CFL season. Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea won 12 in a row against Edmonton and 16-8 overall. That streak would continue on Thursday night, but it did not come easily.
First Quarter:
Edmonton got the ball to start the game. After going two-and-out on their first series, the offense got moving. Quarterback Tre Ford completed two passes for 35 yards, including a 29-yarder to Arkell Smith. Running back Justin Rankin had two carries, and wide receiver Kaion Julien-Grant’s 14-yard run put Edmonton on Winnipeg’s one-yard line. Backup quarterback Cody Fajardo came in to score the touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 6:54 left to cap off a six-play drive for 65 yards.
Winnipeg’s offense was quiet early in the first quarter. It took a while for them to get going. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw four passes for 45 yards, and a roughing the passer penalty on Edmonton moved the ball to Edmonton’s eight-yard line. On the next play, Collaros threw a low pass to Nic Demski, who made the catch to score the touchdown. Kicker Sergio Castillo missed the extra point and Winnipeg trailed Edmonton 7-6 to cap off an eight-play drive for 68 yards.
Edmonton’s offense moved the ball up to Winnipeg’s 31-yard line. However, a holding penalty moved them back ten yards. Edmonton headed into the second quarter with a 7-6 lead. They had 113 yards on offense (59 yards passing, 54 yards rushing), while Winnipeg had 62 yards on offense (61 yards passing, 1 yard rushing).
Second Quarter:
In the second quarter, Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard made a 38-yard field goal to take a 10-6 lead with 13:55 left. Winnipeg’s offense took control of the second quarter. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed two passes for 18 yards to Edmonton’s 54-yard line. Then, he threw the ball right into the hands of Keric Wheatfall for a 52-yard touchdown, and a 13-10 lead with 11:59 left to cap off a three-play drive for 70 yards.
In their next series, Winnipeg running Quinton Cooley rushed for two yards. Then, Collaros threw the ball to Nic Demski, who broke a tackle on his way to scoring a 60-yard touchdown. It was now 20-10 Winnipeg with 9:09 left.
After Edmonton went two-and-out, Winnipeg’s special teams gave them a gift when the ball went off the shoulder of Trey Vaval and it was recovered by D.K. Bonhomme. However, Edmonton would give the ball right back two plays later when Winnipeg defensive back Redha Kramdi punched the ball out of Justin Rankin’s arm and it was recovered by James Vaughters on their 35-yard line. The turnover would lead to kicker Sergio Castillo making a 36-yard field goal for a 23-10 lead with 1:42 left.
Edmonton had a chance to get on the board late in the second quarter. Quarterback Tre Ford’s pass to Kaion Julien-Grant was incomplete after the ball hit the fingertips of Grant and he could not complete the catch. Despite not getting the touchdown, kicker Vincent Blanchard made a 29-yard field goal, and they trailed Winnipeg 23-13 at halftime.
First Half Stats:
Winnipeg had 242 yards on offense (232 yards passing, 10 yards rushing), 12 first downs, 1 for 1 in the red zone, and the team had no penalties. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 16 of 18 passes (88%) for 232 yards, and three touchdowns.
Running back Matthew Peterson had four carries for eight yards, and wide receiver Nic Demski made three catches for 82 yards, and two touchdowns, while Keric Wheatfall made three catches for 62 yards, and one touchdown. The defense made one sack for 13 yards, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Edmonton had 173 yards on offense (114 yards passing, 72 yards rushing, 13 yards lost), 10 first downs, 1 for 1 in the red zone, and the team was penalized two times for 25 yards. Quarterback Tre Ford completed 10 of 13 passes (77%) for 114 yards.
Running back Javon Leake had six carries for 38 yards, and wide receiver Steven Dunbar Jr. made four catches for 50 yards. The defense made one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery.
Third Quarter:
Edmonton was able to get back into the ballgame after shutting out Winnipeg in the third quarter. Running back Justin Rankin ran for six yards, and quarterback Tre Ford ran for six yards to their 42-yard line. On the next play, Winnipeg blitzed Tre Ford. However, they forgot to cover one man, and Ford found him throwing a 68-yard touchdown pass to Kaion Julien-Grant.
Edmonton now trailed Winnipeg 23-20 with 12:48 left to cap off a three-play drive for 80 yards. Late in the third quarter, Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard made a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 23-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter:
Winnipeg returned the favor by shutting Edmonton out in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw a 45-yard pass to Keric Wheatfall to Edmonton’s 22-yard line. After two incomplete passes, kicker Sergio Castillo made a 30-yard field goal for a 26-23 lead with 12:24 left.
On their next possession, Winnipeg ran 10 plays for 73 yards. Then, quarterback Zach Collaros avoided Edmonton’s blitz. With an open field in front of him, Collaros scored a 13-yard touchdown for a 33-23 lead with 5:16 left.
Late in the fourth quarter, Winnipeg kicker Sergio Castillo made a 23-yard field goal for a 36-23 lead with 1:22 left. Winnipeg’s defense did not allow Edmonton’s offense to generate any momentum at all. The only time Edmonton’s offense got close to the endzone was with under a minute left of the game. They were unable to find the endzone and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Edmonton Elks by the final score of 36-23.
Final Stats:
Winnipeg had 421 yards on offense (334 yards passing, 94 yards rushing, 7 yards lost), 23 first downs, 2 for 3 in the endzone, and the team was penalized two times for 15 yards. Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 25 of 30 passes (83%) for 334 yards, three touchdowns, one carry for 13 yards, and one touchdown.
Running back Matthew Peterson had 12 carries for 65 yards. Wide receiver Nic Demski led the receivers making five catches for 97 yards, and two touchdowns, while Keric Wheatfall made three catches for 62 yards, and one touchdown. The defense made 35 tackles, one tackle for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Edmonton had 313 yards on offense (252 yards passing, 93 yards rushing, 32 yards lost), 17 first downs, 1 for 1 in the endzone, and the team was penalized four times for 50 yards. Quarterback Tre Ford completed 18 of 29 passes (62%) for 252 yards, one touchdown, and one carry for six yards.
Running back Javon Leake had seven carries for 42 yards, while Justin Rankin had seven carries for 30 yards. Wide receiver Kaion Julien-Grant led the receivers making five catches for 115 yards, and one touchdown, while Steven Dunbar Jr. made five catches for 55 yards. The defense made 43 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble.
Next week, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers visit the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday at 9 pm on TSN, CBS Sports Network, and CFL+. The Edmonton Elks host the Ottawa Redblacks on Sunday at 7 pm on TSN, CBS Sports Network, and CFL+.
