Jason Halstead/CFL.ca
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Edmonton Elks 48-11 on Saturday night at IG Field.
The win, combined with the BC Lions loss to the Toronto Argonauts earlier in the day, meant Winnipeg has guaranteed themselves first place in the West Division. Along with the division title, the Blue Bombers will host the Western Final on Nov. 13.
Winnipeg found the end zone on their first four drives of the game and never looked back in front of a rowdy hometown crowd.
Quarterback Zach Collaros reached the 4,000 passing yard mark by completing 15 passes for 241 yards. He found Nic Demski for a touchdown early in the first quarter to get his team rolling.
Dalton Schoen recorded three touchdown receptions, while Brady Oliveira had one of his own. Schoen finished the game with 162 receiving yards. Oliveira also provided 61 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
The loss officially eliminated the Elks from playoff contention.
Quarterback Taylor Cornelius threw for 137 yards with a touchdown and receiver Dillon Mitchell caught six passes for 107 yards in a losing effort.
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Winnipeg began the first quarter with the football and the offence wasted little time making their way down the field. Collaros completed passes to Brendon O’Leary-Orange and Dalton Schoen to move into Edmonton’s half of the field. Two plays later Collaros found Nic Demski for a 31-yard touchdown to complete the 70-yard opening drive.
Edmonton was forced to punt on their first drive of the game, but it resulted in a single to make it 7-1.
With Dakota Prukop taking over under centre and the Elks anticipating the quarterback sneak on second and short, Prukop dropped back and found Demski for a 37-yard reception to put the Bombers deep in Edmonton territory.
When Collaros took back over, he targeted rookie Schoen for a 25-yard touchdown reception to extend their lead to 14-1.
The Bombers closed out the first quarter with seven plays and extended their lead on play number eight to start the second quarter when Collaros once again completed a pass to Schoen for the major.
Cornelius would get the Elks back on the board on their very next drive by finding Mitchell for a 59-yard touchdown pass. The score cut the Bombers lead to 21-8.
The back-and-forth continued on the following drive. Lengthy runs from Demski and Greg McCrae helped set up a 24-yard touchdown pass by Dakota Prukop to Oliveira to make it 28-8.
A defensive pass interference call on the Bombers and a third and short conversion allowed Edmonton to move onto Winnipeg’s half of the field. However, the Blue Bomber defence stepped up to force a punt late in the second quarter.
Elks defensive back Jeff Richards would pick off a Collaros pass with :45 seconds left in the quarter to close out the half.
The Elks began the second half with the football and put together a 12-play drive but had to settle for 16-yard field goal from the leg of Sergio Castillo.
The teams traded possession to close out the third quarter.
Winnipeg carried over an 11-play drive into the fourth quarter that ended in a Brady Oliveira three-yard touchdown run.
After being forced to punt on their next possession, the Elks held the Bombers to a two and out. On the ensuing punt, Bombers defensive back Jamal Parker recovered a fumble to give the Blue and Gold the ball back. Marc Liegghio would later nail a 43-yard field goal to make it 38-11 Winnipeg.
Backup quarterback Dru Brown threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Schoen late in the fourth quarter and Liegghio split the uprights again to secure the 48-11 win.
The Blue Bombers now head out on the road next week to take on the BC Lions. The Elks return home to host the East Division leading Toronto Argonauts.
