DeAundre Alford and Adam Bighill recorded defensive touchdowns as the league-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers fought their way past the Edmonton Elks 37-22 Saturday.
Winnipeg got off to a blazing start by scoring on its first drive, going 80 yards in nine plays, capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from QB Zach Collaros to Darvin Adams.
Collaros went 19 of 24 passing for 252 yards, a TD and an interception.
The Bombers doubled their lead on their next drive as Nic Demski ploughed his way through several defenders for a 21-yard rushing major to make it 14-0.
Winnipeg kicker Ali Mourtada missed a 28-yard field goal attempt before Edmonton’s Sean Whyte nailed a three-pointer from 44 yards out to make it 15-10 at the mid-mark.
The Blue Bombers had 250 yards of offence in the first half to the Elks’ 125. QB Taylor Cornelius passed for 106 yards in the first half in his CFL debut as he replaced Trevor Harris, who was placed on the six-game injured list with a neck injury.
Cornelius finished the game with 19 completions on 33 pass attempts for 243 yards and three interceptions.
Edmonton surged into the lead early in the third quarter with an unconverted 19-yard TD run by Wilder.
However the Bombers regained the lead as Alford picked off Cornelius and took it back 22 yards for the touchdown. A two-point convert made it 23-16 for Winnipeg.
TO THE HOUSE!<br><br>Pick 6⃣ for Alford!<a href=”https://twitter.com/Wpg_BlueBombers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Wpg_BlueBombers</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFLGameDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#CFLGameDay</a> <a href=”https://t.co/r7se5trTkT”>pic.twitter.com/r7se5trTkT</a>
—@CFL
Whyte responded with a 32-yard field goal before Mourtada missed his third field goal attempt of the game from 44 yards.
After Whyte kicked a 19-yard field goal, Winnipeg put the game away with a one-yard TD plunge by Sean McGuire.
Both teams have a bye next week. The Elks’ next game will be in Ottawa on Sept. 28, while the Bombers will be in B.C. on Oct. 1. Winnipeg and Edmonton will then play each other again in a home-and-home series.
More Stories
It’s ‘a labour of love’ on and off the rink as Ontario roller derby team preps for playoffs in U.S. | CBC News
FIBA Men’s 3X3 Basketball World Tour: DAY 2 – Utsunomiya
CBC Sports Late Night: 2024 Athletics Wanda Diamond League – Shanghai – Suzhou