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July 7, 2020

Top 10 Exclusive : TD Machines

Winnipeg Blue Bombers slotback Milt Stegall jokes with photographers as he leaves the field after the Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger Cats 28-7 during CFL action in Hamilton Sunday Oct. 27, 2002. Stegall caught his 23rd touchdown to break the league record for most touchdowns in a season. (CP PHOTO/Kevin Frayer)

The Winnipeg Football Club has 90 years of history to celebrate, dating way back to the days of leather helmets and the Great Depression.

Over that time there have been countless great plays authored by superstar players… and average Joes, too. There have been memorable games featuring iconic moments and, dating back to 1930, this franchise has captured a Grey Cup championship 11 times.

Each week Ed Tait of www.bluebombers.com cracks open the record book, dusts off the archives and dives deep into our collective memory banks for our Top 10 Exclusive list.

This week: TOP TD MACHINES

Nobody did it better than Milt Stegall, the Winnipeg Football Club and Canadian Football Hall of Famer who tops the CFL’s all-time TD list.

The legendary receiver crossed the goal line 147 times in his career, which is 10 more than George Reed and Mike Pringle. Here’s a look at the Top 10 TD machines in Bombers history…

  1. Milt Stegall, 1995-2008: 147 – It’s not just that Stegall finished his career 10 touchdowns clear of Reed and Pringle. Consider how untouchable that record seems now – Andrew Harris has 76 career TDs (46 rushing, 30 receiving) with B.C. and Winnipeg and his total is highest among active players.
  2. Charles Roberts, 2001-2008: 79 – He was so gifted for so long before the sudden end of his days in Winnipeg and his trade to B.C. in 2008. ‘Blink’ added another five TDs during his short stint with the Lions to give him 84 career scores.
  3. Leo Lewis, 1955-66: 75 – Retired as the Bombers’ all-time TD leader in ’66 and held that record until Stegall and Roberts arrived decades later.
  4. Gerry James, 1952-63: 63 – Held the Bombers record for 19 TDs in a single season (1957) before Stegall set a league record with 23 in 2002.
  5. James Murphy, 1983-90: 62 – During his eight years with the Bombers he hit double-digits in TDs four times.
  6. Ernie Pitts, 1957-69: 55 – The astonishing thing about this total is Pitts switched from receiver to defensive back in 1965 and played five more seasons on defence, otherwise this number would have been higher.
  7. Willard Reaves, 1983-87: 53 – Played only five years with the Bombers before leaving for the NFL, but they were productive seasons as he averaged over 1,000-yards and 10 TDs over that span.
  8. Rick House, 1979-84; 1989-91: 49 – One of the grittiest receivers in Bombers history, he also had a knack for the end zone, including a career-best 10 TDs in 1981.
  9. Joe Poplawski, 1978-86: 48 – One of the best Canadians in club history, Poplawski also kicked 14 converts and eight field goals in his Bombers career.
  10. Jeff Boyd, 1983-87: 47 – His days with the Bombers covered the same time-frame as Reaves and he was equally productive, including a 14-TD campaign in 1985.