Bombers gittin ‘er done

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This article was published 18/09/2021 (1451 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON —It’s the result the Blue Bombers wanted, but they didn’t get it done the way they had hoped.

What looked like it was going to be a blowout ended up being a back and forth fight until the last few minutes of the fourth quarter. Turnovers by Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, who finished the night completing 19 of 24 passes for 252 yards, a touchdown, a pick and a fumble, and a horrendous debut by American kicker Ali Mourtada almost set the stage for the Edmonton Elks to pull off the upset at Commonwealth Stadium. The announced attendance for the night was 23,310, but there was nowhere near that many fans in the stands as new vaccination rules and a state of emergency in Alberta owing to their high COVID-19 numbers likely kept many from attending.

The Bombers ended up pulling away with a 37-22 victory to stay on top of the CFL standings with a 6-1 record, while the struggling Elks drop to 2-4. However, it was a performance that won’t have many people in Bomberland feeling ecstatic. 

“We came out of the gates very quickly and then we did give them some life. There was a couple quarters in a row where it just didn’t feel great, but our defence managed to score which is always fantastic,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “… But, you know, it certainly didn’t feel like a clean game for a couple of quarters there, but we’re not going to complain about it.”

It started out perfectly, though, as Winnipeg’s opening drive was everything offensive coordinator Buck Pierce could’ve dreamed of. Nine plays, 75 yards, and everybody got involved as Collaros utilized three different receivers on the series before capping it off by hitting Darvin Adams from 12 yards out for the opening score. Adams had scored two plays earlier, but Edmonton head coach Jaime Elizondo threw the challenge flag and got the play overturned as Adams pushed off which ended up only delaying the inevitable.

The Elks, led by CFL newcomer Taylor Cornelius at quarterback who was making his first career start in replace of an injured Trevor Harris, started the game with a two and out before punter Hugh O’neill booted a pathetic 23 yard punt. The Blue and Gold took advantage with a six-play, 49-yard drive that was finished off by a Nic Demski 21-yard touchdown run that he had no business scoring on as essentially everyone on Edmonton’s defence got a hand on him but no one brought him down. The score made it 14-0 with 4:41 left in the first quarter.

After another two and out by the Elks put the Bombers in prime position to score a third touchdown in the first frame, but Collaros underthrew a pass to Adams in the endzone and it was picked off by Elks corner Trumaine Washington. It was the first of two costly turnovers by Collaros in the first half. In the second quarter, Bombers defensive back DeAundre Alford forced Edmonton receiver Derel Walker to fumble and Winnipeg recovered, but two plays later, Collaros gave it right back as he was strip-sacked in his own end. Edmonton only needed one play to take advantage as running back James Wilder Jr., the league’s leading rusher, found paydirt from nine yards out to score his first rushing TD of the year.

The Bombers responded with a strong drive, but it was spoiled by Mourtada missing a 28-yard field goal wide right. Winnipeg should’ve been up big at the half, but two turnovers and a missed gimme of a field goal forced the Bombers to settle for a 15-10 advantage.

In Edmonton’s first five games, they had only forced one turnover.

“I think guys were definitely frustrated, myself included with a few things,” said Collaros on the feeling at the half.

“But like I say every week, you have to snap and clear (your mind) and move on to the next play, the next drive, all those things. We got together today and said ‘Let’s win this half and win the game’ and that’s what we did.”

Cornelius, who’s first six completions on the night went to six different receivers, marched the Elks down the field in their first drive of the second half before Wilder Jr. busted out a 19-yard run to give Edmonton a 16-15 advantage. Even though the game took an unexpected turn, the Bombers didn’t flinch.

“A lot of times when these kinds of things happen to teams, there’s finger pointing but that’ll never happen on this team,” said Bombers running back Andrew Harris.

“That’s something that myself as a leader that I’m proud of and our coaching staff, that’s their mantra. It’s a group effort in all aspects and we’re always going to come with that attitude.”

The Bombers had their chance to regain the lead on their next drive as Mike O’Shea gave Mourtada a shot at a 51-yarder, but the kick sailed wide right. 

Just over a minute later, the cries for a reliable kicker were put on the backburner as Alford came up with another huge play, picking off Cornelius and taking it back 20 yards for a touchdown to regain the lead for Winnipeg. Collaros topped it off by hitting Adams on the two point convert to make it a 23-16.

The Elks would respond with a field goal, and the Bombers attempted to answer that with a field goal of their own, but Mourtada missed yet another kick to the right, this time from 44 yards away. Even though Mourtada struggled, O’Shea said the 31-year-old Foxboro, Mass., native who previously kicked in the Indoor Football League still has his trust. The bright side was Mourtada didn’t miss any extra points.

“Well, we didn’t miss by much. I know we missed a couple. I did trot him out from some decent distance, too, and I will keep trotting him out from that distance,” O’Shea said.

“He’s got a good, strong leg. He’ll refine it.”

But once again, the Bombers defence took away the sting of Mourtada’s struggles. The Elks were backed up in their own end when Bombers defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat knocked the ball away from Cornelius. Linebacker Adam Bighill scooped it up at the three yard line and forced his way into the endzone to make it a 30-19 Winnipeg lead at the end of three quarters.

There’s no kicking issues in Edmonton as Sean Whyte, who was a perfect 3/3 on the night, hit a 20-yarder that was setup by a 40-yard scamper by backup quarterback Dakota Prukop to make the score 30-22. That’s as close as the Elks would get. The Bombers would put the game out of reach as backup quarterback Sean McGuire, who leads the CFL in rushing scores with six, put the finishing touches on a six play, 51-yard drive with three minutes left to arrive at the game’s final score of 37-22.

Cornelius finished his debut 19-for-33 for 243 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions as Alford picked him off again in garbage time.

“I just love getting my hands on the ball and tonight, it happened twice,” Alford said. “… I just want everybody in the league to know who No. 45 is… I just want to let everyone know that I’m here for a long time and I want to go down as one of the best corners in the league.”

Harris ran 19 times for 97 yards, outdueling Wilder Jr. who carried the rock 14 times for 71 yards.

The Bombers are on a bye this week and don’t return to action until Oct. 1 when they play the B.C. Lions at B.C. Place.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31