Zach Collaros threw three landing passes and ran for a vital TD himself to steer the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 36-23 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Thursday.
The veteran quarterback, who was 25 of 30 for 334 yards, related on two landing strikes to Nic Demski, one for eight yards and one other for 60. Keric Wheatfall hauled in a 52-yard TD move.
Demski, who was a game-time choice with an injured ankle, prolonged his reception streak to 74 consecutive video games.
The Blue Bombers upped their file to 3-0 in entrance of a seventh consecutive sellout at Princess Auto Stadium. Edmonton remained winless at 0-3.
Winnipeg has received its final 13 conferences in opposition to Edmonton and are 16-2 in opposition to the membership since 2017.
“We’re not a damaged soccer group, I can let you know that,” Elks head coach Mark Kilam mentioned after their newest loss.
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“We’re a troublesome group that was on this recreation to the ultimate five-and-a-half minutes. The five-and-a-half minutes is the distinction between our group and Winnipeg’s group; a bunch that has been to the Gray Cup 5 years in-a-row. We’ve to determine a option to win video games on the finish of the sport. That was the distinction on this recreation.”
Followers bought an thrilling end.
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Winnipeg led 23-13 at halftime, however Elks quarterback Tre Ford got here out firing within the third quarter, hitting Kaion Julien-Grant with a 68-yard landing move at 2:01.
Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard adopted that up with a 41-yard area aim to tie the sport 23-23.
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Winnipeg responded by marching all the way down to Edmonton’s 22-yard line, however solely got here away with a 30-yard Sergio Castillo area aim at 2:36 of the fourth.
The Bombers then chewed up the clock halfway via the quarter, placing up an 11-play, 86-yard drive that Collaros capped by escaping from stress and working 13 yards into the tip zone with 5:42 left.
Castillo added a 23-yard area aim with 1:20 remaining.
Ford was 18 of 29 for 252 yards and no interceptions.
“We’ve bought to have the ability to convert on these second and longs,” Ford mentioned.
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“Not saying we’ve bought to do each single one, however we’ve bought to win a few of them, which goes to increase some drives — result in doable factors. And we had some good area place in a few of these conditions too and we weren’t in a position to get factors, so we’ve bought to play just a little bit higher offensively.”
Elks backup Cody Fajardo scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak. Blanchard was additionally good on area objectives from 38 and 29 yards and made his two converts.
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Castillo additionally booted a 35-yard area aim and made three of 4 convert makes an attempt.
Each groups scored on their second possession of the sport.
Fajardo busted over on a one-yard quarterback sneak, however Winnipeg responded with Demski’s eight-yard TD catch. Castillo missed the convert try to offer the Elks a 7-6 lead.
Blanchard booted a 38-yard area aim one minute into the second quarter.
The Bombers replied with Collaros crusing the ball to Wheatfall alongside the sidelines, who bought by his defender and bumped into the tip zone at 2:39.
Three minutes later, Collaros threw a deep move to Demski, who got rid of his defender and sped into the tip zone for a 60-yard rating. Castillo was good on his convert to make it 20-10.
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Each groups had been then hit by fumbles.
Edmonton didn’t capitalize however Winnipeg used its turnover for Castillo’s 35-yarder that made it 23-10 with underneath two minutes left within the first half.
Collaros was 16 of 18 passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns at halftime.
After Julien-Grant’s TD catch, Bombers defensive again Evan Holm intercepted Ford halfway via the third, however he was referred to as for move interference. Ford was sacked by Kyrie Wilson on the subsequent play.
Up subsequent
Bombers: Will go to the Calgary Stampeders on July 3.
Elks: Host the Ottawa Redblacks on July 6.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
