what was billed as CFL The most anticipated game since kick-off in June ended in surprising fashion for some.
Winnipeg dominated most of the game, beating the BC Lions 43–22 to go 5–0 undefeated. The Lions fell 4-1 after the loss.
Bombers quarterback Zack Colaros threw 288 yards and three touchdowns without a hitch.
BC’s Nathan Rourke was picked twice, but also thrown for three touchdowns. The axle of the second year covered 273 passing yards in a losing attempt.
Rookie receiver Dalton Shawn, the star of the show, took eight catches for a total of 117 yards.
Schoen added a pair of impressive touchdowns from 12 and four yards, respectively.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zack Colaros points to the sidelines after their first loss against the BC Lions during the first half of a CFL football game on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in Vancouver.
Canadian Press / Darryl Dyke
A grand evening with an open terrace at BC Place, Genarian Grant kicked off a 97-yard opening kick-off across the goal line.
The play marked his first kick-off return for a touchdown in the CFL. The three-year-old Bomber has had four punt return touchdowns since moving north of the boundary.
Nathan Rourke and the Lions’ offense started poorly as the impressive rookie was picked by Jackson Jeffcott just after BC’s sixth offensive snap.
Jeffcott’s second CFL interception gave the Bombers an early 14-0 lead.
BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke (12) tackles the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Jackson Jeffcoats after throwing an interception during the first half of a CFL football game on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in Vancouver.
Canadian Press / Darryl Dyke
The first trade of the game led to a historic touchdown for rookie receiver Dalton Shawn.
Schoen pulled in a 12-yard strike off the Colorados for his first CFL touchdown.
Mark Leghio’s third conversion of the game gave Winnipeg a 21–0 lead in the final game of the opening quarter.
At the end of a relatively quiet second quarter, Rourke fired a 66-yard cannon at Josh Pearson, finally putting the home team on board.
On the ensuing kickoff, Janarian Grant caught the ball at his 20-yard-line and dashed for another six points across BC’s goal line.
His second TD comeback of the night was called back due to a holding penalty on Malik Clements. And the fines would prove costly for Winnipeg.
Rourke found Dominic Rhimes for his second touchdown of the season from 36-yards.
Winnipeg still held a 27-14 lead in the locker room at halftime.
Leighgio scored a 46-yard field goal early in the third quarter and put 30 points on the board for Winnipeg.
Rourke and the Lions quickly went three-out, passing the ball back to the Colaros in the middle of the quarter.
Dalton Schoen caught a fine 15-yard pass to move the offense across the ten-yard-line.
He then followed with his second touchdown grab from four yards far behind the end zone.
Schoen’s second CFL touchdown catch gave the Bombers a 37–14 lead.
The Leos responded in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter as Rhimes became the second receiver to collect a pair of touchdowns in the game.
A 31-yard strike from Rourke to Rhimes and a successful two-point conversion pulled BC within two points.
The next time BC touched football, Rourke was quickly picked up by Donald Rutledge Jr.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Willie Jefferson (5) intercepts an attempt near BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke (12) during the first half of a CFL football game on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in Vancouver.
Canadian Press / Darryl Dyke
In the very next play, Collaros threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Greg Ellingson.
Ellingson finished with the final touchdown of the game with 98 yards on seven catches.
The scoreboard read 43–22 as the teams shook hands at BC Place after the first three meetings between the two sides this season.
Another battle of undefeated teams awaits next Friday as the Bombers (5-0) host the Calgary Stampeders (4-0).
Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
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