Blue Bombers close out regular season with win over BC Lions

| American Football | 10/29/2022

WINNIPEG — Zach Collaros and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers closed out their regular season with a 24-9 win over the BC Lions.

Collaros played just one quarter before Dakota Prukop took over the offence, but was still able to throw for two touchdowns. Brady Oliveira contributed with 72 yards as well, eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards on the season.

Prukop on the night finished with 110 yards on just four completions and added 42 rushing yards as well. Rookie pass catcher Dalton Schoen lead the team in receiving with 84 yards and a touchdown on two receptions.

Nathan Rourke made his return to BC’s backfield after injuring his foot in mid-August going seven of eleven for 68 yards. Vernon Adams lead the team in relief of Rourke with 130 yards.

With the win Winnipeg moves to a franchise record 15-3 on the season and will await either Calgary or BC in the Western Final.

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After a solid opening drive in his first action since mid-August, Rourke was stripped of the ball leading to Winnipeg’s first forced turnover of the game. Schoen and the Bombers offence would take advantage quickly as Collaros found the rookie receiver for the 22 yard touchdown.

On their second drive, Collaros found Rasheed Bailey in the back of the end zone pushing their lead to two scores.

BC would cut into the Winnipeg lead in the second quarter as Sean Whyte would connect from 37 yards out after a seven play drive would be stalled deep in opposing territory.

Both teams would swap out their starting quarterbacks after the end of the first quarter with neither being able to change their playoff seeding.

With Prukop in at quarterback, Schoen would continue to make plays as he added a 62 yard catch to place the Bombers on the two yard line. Marc Legghio would hit a 13 yard field goal a few plays later to restore the Winnipeg lead.

Prior to the end of the first half, Adams would take a delay of game penalty with eleven seconds left bringing on Whyte to convert his second kick of the night.

Midway through the third quarter, fullback Mike Miller scored his second career touchdown on a quarterback sneak giving Winnipeg a 24-6 lead. BC would respond with another field goal from Whyte, this time from 44 yards.

During the fourth quarter, the offences would stall as both teams would use their third string quarterbacks to close out the game.

Up next, the BC Lions will host the Calgary Stampeders in the Western Semi-Final while the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will head to their first round bye and face the semifinal winner in two weeks.

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