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CODIE MCLACHLAN \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers Bryce Perkins (9) manages a first down against the Elks during the first half in Edmonton Friday.<\/p>\n
In their latest disappearing act, the Blue and Gold led 21-10 with less than a minute remaining in the first half before seemingly vanishing into thin air.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, it definitely felt like there\u2019s some similarities (in the two losses in Edmonton),\u201d said running back Brady Oliveira.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is just unacceptable. We have a very high standard here and we\u2019re obviously not living up to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the win, the Elks improved to 13-4 and clinched first place in the West Division for the first time since 2015.<\/p>\n
Despite the loss and falling below .500, the Bombers (8-9) can still clinch a playoff berth this weekend if the Calgary Stampeders (8-9) lose to the B.C. Lions (10-6) in Vancouver today.<\/p>\n
The Bombers are 0-3 against the Elks this season. You have to go back to 1979 to find the last time Edmonton swept Winnipeg in a three-game series.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel like it\u2019s the story of our year. It\u2019s pissing me off,\u201d said safety Redha Kramdi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe come out, do some amazing stuff in the first half, and we just don\u2019t play good football in the second half. This is f\u2014\u2014\u2014 annoying to keep saying \u2018We gotta find a way to figure it out\u2019 because the f\u2014\u2014\u2014 season is almost over.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bombers came out firing, with quarterback Zach Collaros hitting Nic Demski for a 13-yard touchdown before finding Ontaria Wilson for a 32-yard score. But two costly mistakes prevented Winnipeg from building a more comfortable lead.<\/p>\n
With the Bombers backed up at their own nine-yard line five minutes into the second quarter, Collaros threw one of his worst interceptions of the season, forcing a pass to rookie receiver Dorian Singer who was surrounded by green jerseys.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t CODIE MCLACHLAN \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) throws a pass under pressure from Edmonton Elks\u2019 Kenny Logan Jr. (20) and Robbie Smith (40).<\/p>\n One play later, Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo checked down to running back Shunderrick Powell for an eight-yard touchdown to shave Winnipeg\u2019s lead to 10-7.<\/p>\n The Bombers responded with a promising drive, with Singer drawing a pass interference penalty on Elks cornerback Tyrell Ford. The flag set up short-yardage quarterback Bryce Perkins for a touchdown plunge that put Winnipeg ahead 21-10 with 54 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n Then came the second blunder. The Bombers allowed Montrell Washington to break loose for a 65-yard kickoff return, setting up the Elks near the goal line. Edmonton gambled on third-and-goal from the four-yard line, and Fajardo delivered, connecting with receiver Austin Mack for a touchdown. Mack beat cornerback Major Williams on an out-and-up route to cut the deficit to 21-17 at halftime.<\/p>\n \u201cThey get a big return and we need to stop them, hold them to three, and they score \u2014 that\u2019s bad football,\u201d said Kramdi.<\/p>\n The Elks took control of the evening on the first drive of the second half, going in front 25-21 on a Fajardo rushing touchdown.<\/p>\n Winnipeg answered with a promising drive of its own but settled for a 23-yard Sergio Castillo field goal after Oliveira was tackled for a one-yard loss on a second-and-two.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt like that was a crucial moment,\u201d said Oliveira.<\/p>\n \u201cThe play that\u2019s called we gotta go execute and we didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bombers had a chance to reclaim the lead on their next possession, but Castillo\u2019s 55-yard field goal attempt clanged off the left upright early in the fourth quarter. He had also missed from 57 yards in the first.<\/p>\n \u201cI had an A-ball in pregame, and for some reason during the game, I had a B-ball where I was coming around too fast and swinging hard,\u201d said Castillo. \u201cThat\u2019s my weakness, that\u2019s my tendency which super rarely happens.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t CODIE MCLACHLAN \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Edmonton Elks\u2019 Shunderrick Powell (24) celebrates a touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the first half.<\/p>\n The Elks countered with a 52-yard field goal by Vincent Blanchard to make it a 28-24 ballgame. Defensive end Willie Jefferson whiffed on a sack, allowing Fajardo to scramble for a seven-yard gain to stay in field goal range.<\/p>\n Minutes later, Fajardo made the Bombers pay again, leading Edmonton on a 13-play, 91-yard touchdown drive that gave the home side a 35-24 cushion with 1:39 remaining.<\/p>\n Castillo drilled a 53-yarder with 52 seconds left to make it a one-score game again, but that was as close as Winnipeg would get.<\/p>\n Collaros completed 28 of 33 passes for 331 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.<\/p>\n His second INT came midway through the fourth with the Bombers trailing 28-24. Collaros attempted a deep pass to Demski off his back foot, but the throw was severely underthrown.<\/p>\n The Elks played a clean game with zero turnovers.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t lose the turnover battle,\u201d said Collaros.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, when you\u2019re backed up you can\u2019t throw interceptions and when you\u2019re driving to potentially take the lead in a game, you can\u2019t throw interceptions so those are on me\u2026 When you make mistakes that are that magnified, it\u2019s going to hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n Fajardo completed 12 of 17 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. He did most of his damage with his legs by scampering eight times for 72 yards and two scores.<\/p>\n Elks running back Justin Rankin dominated on the ground, rushing 23 times for 133 yards while adding a 10-yard reception. Oliveira finished with nine carries for 37 yards and two catches for 18 yards. Wilson led all receivers with 11 catches for 120 yards, while Singer added five receptions for 85 yards.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t CODIE MCLACHLAN \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Edmonton Elks\u2019 quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) is tackled by Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Michael Griffin II (32).<\/p>\n Winnipeg turned heads at home last week in a crucial 33-28 win over Calgary. But carrying strong performances into the following game has been a problem the 2026 Bombers have yet to solve.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not playing consistently,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea. \u201cWe haven\u2019t gotten there yet for some reason, whether it\u2019s mistakes or penalties or whatever, we just haven\u2019t eliminated those things that prevent us from continuing.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t The Bombers close out the regular season on the road against the Lions on Friday.<\/p>\n If Calgary wins today and Saskatchewan (8-8) wins at least one of its final two games \u2014 against Montreal today or vs. Edmonton next week \u2014 the Bombers will have to beat B.C. to qualify for the playoffs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not counting on anyone to do us any favours,\u201d said special teams ace Nick Hallett.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s in our hands and we know what we have to do. It\u2019s do or die and that\u2019s how we\u2019re gonna approach it.\u201d<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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