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CTV News
an hour ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Elks look for bright spots as defence struggles to stop opponents
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) throws against the Edmonton Elks during first half CFL action in Winnipeg Thursday, June 26, 2025. It's last in several categories, that Edmonton Elks defence. Ninth of the nine Canadian Football League teams through four weeks of action in: Points allowed: an average of 35 per game, one spot behind the Toronto Argonauts, who've given up 28 per game. The best? The Winnipeg Blue Bombers with an average of 19; Net offence allowed: 1,294 yards for an average of 431 yards per game, the next worst being the Ottawa Redblacks with 365 yards. Best in the CFL: the Montreal Alouettes at 308; Passing yards allowed per game: 330. In eighth spot, the Saskatchewan Roughriders with an average of 303. Best: the B.C. Lions with 193; Other categories, too, including yards allowed per play (7.94), passing completion percentage (79.6%) and passing touchdowns allowed (nine.) I'll spare you more numbers on the rush defence, which falls somewhere in the lower-middle of the CFL pack stats-wise. It's not to say the Elks without the ball are completely inept. The defensive unit has shown signs of dominance, even against last week's opponent – the West Division-best Blue Bombers – when they held quarterback Zach Collaros and his multi-pronged offence to zero points and 23 net yards of offence, and managed to sack him. Jake Ceresna was the one who got through to take down Collaros for the Elks' lone sack of the night. The all-star rush end spent a good chunk of time in the Blue Bombers' backfield on Thursday. 'That's where the teeth are, up front,' rookie Elks head coach Mark Kilam told reporters after practice on Tuesday, adding the coaching staff has been 'pretty vocal about them, behind closed doors, getting the front going.' 'The whole defence functions better when the 'D' line is getting after it.' Blue Bombers vs. Elks Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nic Demski (10) reaches out for the touchdown against the Edmonton Elks during first half CFL action in Winnipeg Thursday, June 26, 2025. (John Woods/THE CANADIAN PRESS) But when Edmonton's offence has trouble gaining traction on successive series while Winnipeg's feasts on their tiring defensive opponents, the statistical numbers – and points – can pile up. Collaros expertly dissected the Elks the other three quarters of the 36-23 Blue Bombers win, making 25 of 30 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. The Elks are winless at 0-3 with the visiting Ottawa Redblacks up next on Sunday. 'We've got to find ways to keep the offence on the field, especially when our defence is holding us in the game in that third quarter,' Kilam said, echoing comments he made last week about the need for the offence to extend drives. 'They were playing some really good ball in the third quarter. We've got to find ways to keep the engine going.' 'We've got to find ways to keep the offence on the field, especially when our defence is holding us in the game in that third quarter.' — Mark Kilam Overall, the Elks defence has given up more than 400 yards of net offence, including 300-plus passing yards, to opponents in each of its first three games of the season. And in each of the games against the Blue Bombers, Alouettes and Lions, six opposing receivers have caught passes for double-digit yardage. Kilam said while he wants the Elks to focus on improving, there's a need to find finish. 'You're trying to get better every week, and I didn't want the players to lose sight of that,' Killam said. 'That being said, we have to grow late in the game. We have to find ways to make plays late in the game to win games.' Elks add defensive lineman The Elks announced Wednesday they've added American defensive lineman Tyreek Johnson to the practice roster. Johnson, 26, was on the roster of the National Football League's New York Jets last season but did not see action. The native of Sumter, S.C., played 26 U.S. college games at the University of South Carolina, making 26 total tackles and 2.5 sacks before signing as an undrafted free agent with the Jets.
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Oliveira returns to Bombers in time to visit Stamps in Week 5 opener
Brady Oliveira is back in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' starting lineup. The CFL's top player and Canadian last season will start at halfback Thursday night when Winnipeg (3-0) visits the Calgary Stampeders (2-1). Oliveira had missed the Bombers' last two games with a shoulder injury. Oliveira was hurt in Winnipeg's 34-20 season-opening win over B.C., leaving the game after rushing twice for 49 yards. But the Bombers didn't skip a beat as Canadian rookie Matthew Peterson ran 20 times for 130 yards and a TD in that contest. Winnipeg's defence forced four turnovers the following week to anchor a 27-14 victory over B.C. Then last week, veteran Zach Collaros threw for 334 yards and three TDs in leading the Bombers past Edmonton 36-23. Nic Demski, who was a game-time decision with an ankle injury, had five catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns as Winnipeg earned a 13th straight win over Edmonton. Calgary comes off a bye week set to face a division opponent for the first time this season. The Stampeders' opening three contests were versus Hamilton, Toronto and Ottawa. Their last game was a 20-12 home loss to the Redblacks on June 21, a contest that was played in windy, rainy conditions. Not only did Ottawa force five Calgary turnovers, it also ran for 239 yards on 31 carries (7.7-yard average), although Daniel Adeboboye accounted for the game's lone TD with a seven-yard reception. Calgary starter Vernon Adams Jr. was 17-of-32 passing for 218 yards and added 21 yards rushing. But he lost a fumble and had an interception in the fourth quarter. Calgary leads the CFL in net offence (388.7 yards per game) but has yet to register a passing touchdown. Dedrick Mills ran for 96 yards on 15 carries while adding four receptions for 27 yards versus Ottawa. Pick: Winnipeg At Toronto, the Argos (1-3) come off a 29-16 road win over Ottawa, a game that saw safety Derek Slywka score on a 105-yard fumble recovery and 120-yard blocked field-goal return. He's the first player to score on 100-yard defensive and kick returns in the same game. Nick Arbuckle makes a fifth straight start after completing 18-of-25 passes for 269 yards with a TD and an interception last week. Veteran Bo Levi Mitchell earned his 100th career regular-season win in leading Hamilton (1-2) past Montreal 35-17 last week. Mitchell threw for 247 yards and two TDs and boasts a 15-2 career record versus the Argos. Linebacker Devin Veresuk, taken second overall in the '25 CFL draft, had eight tackles, a pick-six and a special-teams tackle last week in his first CFL start for the Ticats. Pick: Hamilton At Montreal, quarterback Davis Alexander (hamstring) remains limited in practice after missing last week's game versus Hamilton. Receivers Austin Mack (hamstring) and Cole Spieker (thigh) are also ailing. The Alouettes (3-1) struggled offensively with veteran backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson (24-of-41 passing, 203 yards, TD, two interceptions), mustering just 226 net yards. Bethel-Thompson is 3-4 all-time versus the Lions. Meanwhile, there's some optimism that Canadian Nathan Rourke (core) could return for B.C. (1-3). The Lions have dropped three straight and their last two under veteran Jeremiah Masoli but have won the previous four matchups with the Alouettes. Masoli is also 5-4 over his career versus the Als. Pick: Montreal At Edmonton, the Elks (0-3) remain the league's only winless squad following last week's 36-23 defeat to Winnipeg. Tre Ford completed 18-of-29 passes for 252 yards and a TD while Kaion Julien-Grant recorded five catches for 115 yards and Ford's touchdown strike. The Elks rallied to make it 23-23 heading into the fourth before the Bombers took control for the victory. Again, all eyes are on incumbent Dru Brown (hip) for Ottawa (1-3), who hasn't played since passing for 413 yards in the club's season-opening 31-26 loss to Saskatchewan. If Brown starts, he'll chase a fourth straight 400-yard game. Dustin Crum has started the Redblacks' last two games and was 20-of-35 passing for 235 yards and an interception last week versus Toronto. Pick: Edmonton Last week: 2-2 Overall: 10-6
National Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Winnipeg Blue Bombers remain unbeaten with 36-23 win over Edmonton Elks
WINNIPEG — Zach Collaros picked the perfect time to take matters into his own hands. Or rather, make that feet. Article content With the Winnipeg Blue Bombers up by three points against the Edmonton Elks and less than six minutes left in Thursday's contest, the veteran quarterback escaped pressure and ran 13 yards into the end zone. Article content Article content The Blue Bombers went on to win 36-23. Article content 'I've done it many times, it's just been a long time,' the 36-year-old said. 'Yeah, I don't know if I made somebody miss or not, I kind of just got through the first layer of the defence.' Article content Even Elks quarterback Tre Ford was impressed by Collaros's touchdown. Article content 'He balled today, right?' Ford said. 'I think he threw for like 350 (yards) or something and he had that rushing touchdown. Article content 'He's getting a little bit older, but he can still move. A veteran quarterback, he did a great job tonight.' Article content Collaros also threw three touchdown passes, finishing 25 of 30 passing for 334 yards with no interceptions to help the Blue Bombers improve to 3-0. Article content He connected twice with Nic Demski, one touchdown for eight yards and another for 60. Keric Wheatfall hauled in a 52-yard TD pass. Article content Demski, who was a game-time decision with an injured ankle, extended his reception streak to 74 consecutive games. Article content He said he told the team's athletic therapist in the morning that he felt ready to go. He ended up with five catches for 97 yards after having one catch for one yard last game. Article content 'I thought Zach put me in great position to go out there and make plays,' Demski said, also crediting offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan. Article content The Elks remained winless at 0-3. Winnipeg has won its last 13 meetings against Edmonton and is 16-2 against the club since 2017. Article content The 32,343 fans in the stands, the seventh consecutive sellout at Princess Auto Stadium, saw an exciting finish. Article content Winnipeg led 23-13 at halftime, but Ford came out firing in the third quarter, hitting Kaion Julien-Grant with a 68-yard touchdown pass at 2:01. Article content Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard followed that up with a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 23-23. Article content Winnipeg responded by marching down to Edmonton's 22-yard line, but only came away with a 30-yard Sergio Castillo field goal at 2:36 of the fourth.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Blue Bombers' dominance of cellar-dwelling Elks continues
Never mind a monkey, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a King Kong-sized ape the Edmonton Elks can't seem to get off their back. The Bombers defeated the winless Elks 36-23 Thursday night in front of a sold-out Princess Auto Stadium to extend their winning streak over the Double Es to 13 games. It's the longest stretch of consecutive victories the Blue and Gold have ever had over an opponent. The now 3-0 Bombers will look to continue their Alberta dominance when they head to Calgary to play the Stampeders on Thursday at McMahon Stadium for the first Stampede Bowl. Before you go searching for your cowboy hat, let's dive into Thursday's result with another edition of 5 Takeaways. Apparently, practice doesn't make perfect. An ankle injury kept receiver Nic Demski out of practice all week which left him as a game-time decision. You never would've guessed it, though, as Demski had a brilliant showing with five catches for a team-high 97 yards and two touchdowns. It's already the second multi-touchdown game of the season — and sixth of his 10-year career — for the 31-year-old Winnipegger as he also had two scores in Week 2 at home vs. B.C. Demski's biggest play came in the second quarter when he hauled in a pass at the Edmonton 20 and sprinted away from several defenders to the end zone for a 60-yard catch and run. It was the longest catch he's had since Week 7 2023 when he caught a 70-yard bomb against, you guessed it, Edmonton. Demski, who only had one reception for one yard last week, has made at least one catch in 74 consecutive games which is the longest active streak in the CFL. Last season it took until Week 17 for Demski to record his fourth touchdown. His best scoring year was in 2022 when he had 10 touchdowns. It's safe to say Zach Collaros likes to play against the Elks. Last year in Week 17 at home, Collaros torched the Green and Gold for a career-high six touchdown passes in a 55-27 victory. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Bombers QB Zach Collaros crashes into the endzone for a touchdown Thursday against the Edmonton Elks. JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS Bombers QB Zach Collaros crashes into the endzone for a touchdown Thursday against the Edmonton Elks. Thursday night was the best game the 36-year-old passer has had since as he went 25-for-30 for 334 yards and three touchdowns. His TD passes came on three consecutive drives in the first half. As great as his arm looked, his best play came with his legs in the fourth quarter when he put things away with an impressive 13-yard touchdown scramble to give the Bombers a 33-23 lead. Go to YouTube and watch highlights of his days at the University of Cincinnati and you'll see he has a long history of giving defences headaches with his running ability. It's a side to his game Winnipeg doesn't see too often, but he clearly showed he's still capable of being a dual-threat if necessary. Dating back to his time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Collaros has now won 12 in a row against Edmonton. It was a stellar night by the offence, but far from perfect. The ground attack is missing reigning Most Outstanding Player Brady Oliveira and it shows. Collaros has the talent to win games on his own, but for this team to make it to a sixth consecutive Grey Cup, they're going to need more out of their ball carriers. After a breakout debut in Week 2 with 130 yards, backup tailback Matthew Peterson has crashed down to earth. The second-year Canadian, who had a tough outing last Saturday in Vancouver with 42 yards on 11 touches, was practically non-existent for the first three quarters against the Elks before churning out some yards in the fourth to burn out the clock. Peterson ended with 12 carries for 65 yards, while American rookie Quinton Cooley had 19 yards on four attempts to give the Bombers back-to-back games with less 100 total rushing yards. As a group, the Bombers, who averaged 114.8 rushing yards per contest in 2024, only had 10 ground yards at the half. Oliveira has been out for two weeks with a shoulder injury and it remains to be seen if he'll be ready to rock this Thursday to take on Calgary. It was a bit of a weird evening for the Bombers' secondary. They had some miscommunication at the start of the third quarter when they left Elks receiver Kaion Julien-Grant all alone for the easiest 68-yard touchdown you'll ever see. It should've been Julien-Grant's second TD of the game as he dropped a perfect pass in the corner of the end zone right before the first half whistle. Later in the third with the game tied 23-23, corner back Terrell Bonds jumped a Tre Ford pass that was intended for Elks receiver Zach Mathis and intercepted it to give the Bombers the ball in the red zone. That is, until the play was reviewed. Bonds failed to maintain possession when he hit the ground, and the call was reversed. It's the second week in a row Bonds has let an errant pass slip through his fingers as he should've had a pick-six against the Lions in Week 3. The defence has some room for improvement, but it was still a strong performance. Ford, one of the best athletes in the league, danced behind the line of scrimmage all night but only managed six rushing yards on one attempt. The Canadian passer was fine, completing 18 of 29 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown, but didn't do anything spectactular. He was also sacked three times, which is a step in the right direction for a Winnipeg team that only had two quarterback takedowns in their first two games. Rookie returner Trey Vaval has been a nice surprise for the Bombers. The Bombers signed veteran American running back Peyton Logan away from Calgary this winter for him to handle those duties but an injury in training camp has prevented him from suiting up in 2025. It opened the door for Vaval, a 24-year-old out of Minnesota State, to step in and he's made the most of the opportunity as he had a CFL-best 13.7 yards per punt return average heading into the date with the Elks. In Thursday's second quarter, Vaval had a punt bounce off his hands and Elks linebacker D.K. Bonhomme happily scooped it up to give the visitors the ball near midfield. Fortunately for Vaval, his teammate Redha Kramdi bailed him out by causing Elks running back Justin Rankin to fumble two players later and defensive end James Vaughters pounced on it. It's the second time Vaval has botched a punt this season, although this was the first one that resulted in a turnover. He's new to the Canadian game and life in pro football, so, the Bombers should be patient with him, but two muffed punts in three games isn't what you want to see. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bombers air attack overwhelms Elks
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have prided themselves on their ground game for a long time. In Thursday night's showdown against the visiting Edmonton Elks, it was an air show that got it done. The running attack sputtered for most of the evening with reigning Most Outstanding Player Brady Oliveira missing a second consecuvtive game with a shoulder injury. Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros made up for it with his arm in a big way by completing 25-of-30 attempts for 334 passing yards, three touchdown passes, and a rushing touchdown — his first since Week 15 in 2023 — to lead the Bombers to a 36-23 victory over the winless Elks. John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed 25-of-30 passes for 334 yards, three touchdown passes, and a rushing touchdown in the Bombers 36-23 win over the Edmonton Elks, Thursday at Princess Auto Stadium. Collaros passed for 300-plus yards four times last season. The victory pushes the Bombers to a perfect 3-0 while the Elks continue their slide as they fall to 0-3. Winnipeg has now won 13 consecutive against Edmonton — their longest win streak against any opponent in franchise history — and is 16-2 against them dating back to 2017. The Bombers had 10 rushing yards at the half, but backup tailback Matthew Peterson – a second-year Canadian out of the University of Alberta – picked it up late to end with 65 yards on 12 attempts. American rookie Quinton Cooley chipped in 19 on four rushes. The Elks opened the scoring midway through the first on a six-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by goalline sneak by backup quarterback Cody Fajardo. After that, the first half was all Big Blue. The home side found paydirt on three drives in a row to take a 23-13 advantage into half. John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS Nic Demski had a pair of touchdowns in the first half of the Bombers victory over the Elks. Collaros's first strike was an eight-yard touchdown pass to Nic Demski — who was a game-time decision after missing practice all week with an ankle injury — from eight yards out. Kicker Sergio Castillo missed the convert, which he did once last season. Winnipeg jumped out in front on their first touch of the second quarter after Collaros dropped a perfect pass into the arms of Keric Wheatfall on a go route for a 52-yard touchdown to go up 13-10. A tough act to follow, but Demski did just that as he hauled in a pass at the Edmonton 20 and did the rest for a 60-yard touchdown. It seemed Winnipeg could do no wrong in the first 30 minutes as rookie returner Trey Vaval mishandled a punt near midfield and the Green and Gold recovered. No damage was done, though, as strong-side linebacker Redha Kramdi hit Elks running back Justin Rankin with a peanut punch to force a fumble to give it right back to the Blue and Gold. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. It looked like the Bombers were going to run away with things until Edmonton kicked off the second half in style with quarterback Tre Ford chucking a 68-yard touchdown to receiver Kaion Julien-Grant to cut Edmonton's deficit to 23-20. It was redemption for Julien-Grant — who led all receivers with 115 yards — as he had a ball bounce off his hands in the corner of the end zone at the end of the second quarter. Two drives later, Julien-Grant had another deep ball thrown in his direction, but he tripped after some minor contact with Bombers halfback Evan Holm. Holm intercepted it, but a questionable pass interference penalty was called to spoil the turnover. The call allowed the Elks to kick a field goal to make it a 23-23 draw with 5:39 left in the third. John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS Edmonton Elks' Javon Leake runs for a first down in the first half against the Bombers, Thursday. Edmonton was backed up in their own end on their next possession and Ford made a crucial mistake with an inaccurate throw to the sideline that should've been picked off by second-year corner Terrell Bonds, but he did not maintain possession of the ball when he hit the ground. Ford ended the night with 252 passing yards and one touchdown while completing 18-of-29 attempts. The most athletic pivot in the CFL only managed six rushing yards on one carry. He was sacked three times, with linebacker Tony Jones, linebacker Kyrie Wilson, and defensive end Willie Jefferson all taking turns dropping the Canadian QB to the turf. His twin brother, former Bombers corner Tyrell Ford, made two defensive tackles. Air Collaros never got off the ground in the third frame but started to show signs of life at the start of the fourth by finding Canadian wideout Kevens Clercius for a 45-yard gain to set up a 30-yard field goal by Castillo to reclaim the lead at 26-23. Then, with just under six minutes left in the contest, the 36-year-old quarterback showed he can still make you pay with his legs as he closed out an 11-play, 86-yard drive with a 13-yard highlight-reel touchdown scramble to give the Bombers a 33-23 edge. He celebrated by hucking the ball to a lucky fan in the 12th row of Section 137. Despite only having five days to prepare for the Elks, the Bombers looked like a well-oiled machine. Demski led the Bombers in receiving with 97 yards and five catches. Dalton Schoen had his biggest game of the year with six snags for 75 yards, while Wheatfall added 62 on three catches. John Woods / THE CANADIAN PRESS Edmonton's Chelen Garnes (right) throws the Bombers' Quinton Cooley to the turf. Princess Auto Stadium was sold out for a seventh consecutive game. The Bombers will look to carry their momentum to next Thursday when they hit the road to play the Calgary Stampeders (2-1) at McMahon Stadium. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
