Blue Bombers take 1st place in the West Division, eliminating Elks with a dominant win | CBC sport

If anyone told Winnipeg Blue Bombers rookie Dalton Schoen that he would lead the CFL in yards and touchdowns this season, they wouldn’t have believed them.

But that’s the case after Schoen caught three touchdown passes on Saturday as the Bombers clinched first place in the CFL West Division for the second straight season with a dominating 48-11 win over the Edmonton Elks.

Schoen has 64 receptions for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns in 16 games.

“I would have thought that was crazy,” said Schoen. “However, it is a testament to the coaching staff that they put together a great game plan week in and week out. And it’s a testament to the guys around me.”

CLOCK | Schoen shines as Bombers take 1st place in West Division:

Schoen had two 25-yard touchdown receptions and a 65-yard major, and finished the game with seven catches for 162 yards.

The 25-year-old native of Overland Park, Kan. also rose in the CFL record book for most touchdowns by a rookie. His 14 touchdowns put him in third place. Derrell Mitchell is second for his 17 touchdowns in 1997 with Toronto and BC’s David Williams holds the record of 18 in 1988.

The loss officially eliminated the Elks (4-12) from the playoffs by failing to pass the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-10).

“We just kicked each other, plain and simple,” said Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius, who was 11 of 24 and passed 137 yards and a touchdown past Dillon Mitchell.

“We have to be better offensively and help our defence, drive further and stay on the field and not put them in situations like that.”

Bombers running back Brady Oliveira scored two goals. Once he hit a three-yard run and the other was the first touchdown of his three-year career — a 24-yard catch by backup quarterback Dakota Prukop on a second and one play.

“We created it this week and it was exciting,” Oliveira said of his second-quarter touchdown reception.

“I had a chance to have my first touchdown of my pro career. I’ve longed for this, I’ve wanted it for a while. I think the receiving game, my hands are one of the strengths of my game, so I just want to show people that I can do it.”

Winnipeg receiver Nic Demski collected a 31-yard touchdown pass from Zach Collaros on the game’s opening drive, giving him at least one touchdown in six straight games (eight touchdowns in that span). The last Bomber to score in six straight games was running back Charles Roberts in 2006.

Demski’s 10 touchdowns this season puts him in second place with Lions receiver Dominique Rhymes behind Schoen.

The Bombers fielded three quarterbacks and all threw touchdown passes.

Schoen recorded his third touchdown of the game when he saved backup quarterback Dru Brown’s 65-yard pass at 3:33 in the fourth.

Winnipeg led 14-1 after the first quarter, 28-8 at halftime and 28-11 in the fourth quarter.

Collaros had a string of 10 straight finishes early in the game before feeling the pressure and throwing an incompletion. He made 11 of 13 pass attempts in the first half for 193 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Winnipeg kicker Marc Liegghio started two field goals from 43 and 37 yards and made all six of his conversion attempts.

“Obviously the main goal isn’t there yet, but getting a home playoff game is part of the process and it’s quite big that it’s the West Final,” said Collaros.

“I think this is a great reward for the hard work and also for our fans. Our fans were amazing tonight.”

The Elks got their first point when Winnipeg conceded a punt single in the first quarter.

Mitchell hauled in a 59-yard touchdown catch at 3:05 of the second quarter. He has had six straight games in 40+ yard reception. He finished with six catches for 106 yards.

Elks kicker Sergio Castillo was good in his conversion attempt, scoring a 16-yard field goal at 7:05 in the third quarter.

Liegghio’s two fourth-quarter field goals came after Edmonton’s fumbles, one during a punt return and one after Cornelius was fired.