Blue Bombers clinch 1st place in West Division, eliminate Elks with dominant win
Rookie receiver Dalton Schoen caught three touchdown passes and running back Brady Oliveira scored twice as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers clinched first place in the CFL West Division for the second straight season with a dominating 48-11 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Saturday.
The two-time defending Grey Cup champions improved their record to 14-2 in front of 27,159 fans at IG Field and earned a bye before hosting the West Final on Nov. 13.
Winnipeg also got a touchdown from receiver Nic Demski.
Schoen and Demski's touchdowns achieved some notable league and franchise marks.
The 25-year-old Schoen, who hails from Overland Park, Kan., moved up in the CFL record book for most touchdowns by a rookie. His 12th, 13th and 14th touchdowns of the season moved him into third place. Derrell Mitchell is second for his 17 touchdowns in 1997 with Toronto and B.C.'s David Williams holds the record of 18 set in 1988.
Schoen, who had a pair of 25-yard touchdown receptions and a 65-yard major, finished with seven catches for 162 yards.
The West runs thru Winnipeg. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheW</a> <a href="https://t.co/CDLdTkXDvE">pic.twitter.com/CDLdTkXDvE</a>
Demski pulled in 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 during that span). The last Bomber to score in six straight games was running back Charles Roberts in 2006.
The Bombers led 14-1 after the first quarter, 28-8 at halftime and 28-11 heading into the fourth quarter.
Collaros completed 11-of-13 pass attempts in the first half for 193 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Collaros had a run of 10 straight
