Schoen touchdown lifts Blue Bombers to win over Redblacks

OTTAWA — It won't go down as their prettiest win of the season, but the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will take it.

Zach Collaros connected with Dalton Schoen for a 27-yard touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter to lift Winnipeg to a 19-12 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night.

Winnipeg coach Mike O'Shea said after a "tough" quarter and a half, the Blue Bombers (2-0-0) started to pick up their play late in the first half.

"I think we moved the ball pretty well in the second half and scored the points we needed to score," he said.

The Redblacks couldn't capitalize on their chances at TD Place, settling for four field goals from Lewis Ward.

“We’re moving the ball, but we’ve got to finish with seven since that was our goal this week (was) to make sure we finish with sevens,” said Ottawa head coach Paul LaPolice. “Especially with this team. You can have a big 50-yard play, but (against) this team, even if you have an explosive play they still keep you out of the end zone.”

With under two minutes in regulation, Ottawa managed to get the ball to the Winnipeg 17-yard line but came up empty-handed. Ottawa (0-2-0) also fell to the Blue Bombers last week in Winnipeg.

Collaros finished the game 15 for 22 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Ottawa’s Jeremiah Masoli completed 27 of 38 yards for 331 yards.

The Redblacks have a bye week coming up and Masoli said players need to use the time to “flush it all mentally and come back and get on a roll.”

He believes the team is more than capable of winning, but the difference is finishing drives.

"I thought coach called a great game,” said Masoli. “If we had executed a couple more plays we would have been up two possessions."

Winnipeg marched down the field late in the second