Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nic Demski (10) celebrates a touchdown against the Edmonton Elks during first half CFL action in Edmonton, Alta., on Saturday, September 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
5 Quick Hits from Edmonton and the Bombers win over the Elks Saturday night at Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium…
1. OPENING THOUGHTS: It had all the elements of a prototypical ‘trap game.’ And while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers did dip their collective cleats into the trap momentarily, they did manage to yank their limb out before the apparatus snapped shut.
Riding a three-game win streak and facing a quarterback making his first CFL start in Taylor Cornelius — and also heading into their first bye week of the season — the Bombers overcame all those factors in scratching out a 37-22 win over the Elks that keeps them atop the West Division. The Bombers are now 6-1, their best start since opening the 2011 season with a 7-1 mark. The Elks, meanwhile, dropped to 2-4 – all four losses coming at home.
2. ‘D’ IS FOR DANDY: The Bombers got touchdowns on their first two possessions of the game as Zach Collaros connected with Darvin Adams for a 12-yard score, while Nic Demski scored on a sensational 21-yard TD run.
But the Elks defence settled in after that and helped get Edmonton back in the game with an interception in their end zone and a forced fumble that led to a score.
The Bombers defence countered with two scores of their own in the second half that were the difference. Cornerback DeAundre Alford got things going in the third quarter, intercepting Cornelius and returning it for a Pick-6, his first career interception.
He gone 💨💨💨 #ForTheW
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) September 19, 2021
The Bombers defence wasn’t done there, adding a second TD two possessions later as Adam Bighill scooped up a Cornelius fumble — forced by Jackson Jeffcoat, his league-leading fifth of the season — and returned it three yards to put the visitors up 30-19.
3. THE KICKING ISSUES CONTINUE: The Bombers have rolled up the best record in the CFL through their 6-1 start, but it shouldn’t gloss over the continuing issues the club is having in the field-goal department.
Ali Mourtada’s CFL debut Saturday night did not go well, as he missed all three of his field-goal attempts – from 28, 51 and 44 yards, all of them wide right. He did connect on all three of his converts. But through seven games now the Bombers are just 8-of-16 in field-goal attempts as Marc Liegghio (5-of-8), Tyler Crapigna (3-of-5) and Mourtada (0-of-3). In 2019 Justin Medlock missed only six field goal attempts, going 37-43 and then followed that up by hitting 14-of-15 in the playoffs.
Harris also moved past Dick Shatto into 11th place on the CFL’s all-time combined yardage list (rushing, receiving and returning yards). Harris is now at 15,716; Number 10 on that list is Milt Stegall at 16,105.
5. QB NUMBERS: Zach Collaros improved to 10-1 as a Bomber and completed 19 of 24 passes for 252 yards with the TD strike to Adams and one interception. The Bombers also got another TD-sneak score by Sean McGuire, his sixth of the season.
Cornelius finished 19-of-33 for 243 yards with zero TDs and the three interceptions — two by Alford and one by Deatrick Nichols.
