Winnipeg Blue Bombers remain unbeaten with 36-23 win over Edmonton Elks

Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) stretches out for the touchdown during first half CFL action against the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg on Thursday, June 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG — Zach Collaros picked the perfect time to take matters into his own hands. Or rather, make that feet.

With the Winnipeg Blue Bombers up by three points against the Edmonton Elks and less than six minutes left in Thursday’s contest, the veteran quarterback escaped pressure and ran 13 yards into the end zone.

The Blue Bombers went on to win 36-23.

“I’ve done it many times, it’s just been a long time,” the 36-year-old said. “Yeah, I don’t know if I made somebody miss or not, I kind of just got through the first layer of the defence.”

Even Elks quarterback Tre Ford was impressed by Collaros’s touchdown.

“He balled today, right?” Ford said. “I think he threw for like 350 (yards) or something and he had that rushing touchdown.

“He’s getting a little bit older, but he can still move. A veteran quarterback, he did a great job tonight.”

Collaros also threw three touchdown passes, finishing 25 of 30 passing for 334 yards with no interceptions to help the Blue Bombers improve to 3-0.

He connected twice with Nic Demski, one touchdown for eight yards and another for 60. Keric Wheatfall hauled in a 52-yard TD pass.

Demski, who was a game-time decision with an injured ankle, extended his reception streak to 74 consecutive games.

He said he told the team’s athletic therapist in the morning that he felt ready to go. He ended up with five catches for 97 yards after having one catch for one yard last game.

“I thought Zach put me in great position to go out there and make plays,” Demski said, also crediting offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan.

The Elks remained winless at 0-3. Winnipeg has won its last 13 meetings against Edmonton and is 16-2 against the club since 2017.

The 32,343 fans in the stands, the seventh consecutive sellout at Princess Auto Stadium, saw an exciting finish.

Winnipeg led 23-13 at halftime, but Ford came out firing in the third quarter, hitting Kaion Julien-Grant with a 68-yard touchdown pass at 2:01.

Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard followed that up with a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 23-23.

Winnipeg responded by marching down to Edmonton’s 22-yard line, but only came away with a 30-yard Sergio Castillo field goal at 2:36 of the fourth.

The Bombers then chewed up the clock midway through the quarter, putting up an 11-play, 86-yard drive that Collaros capped with his rushing TD with 5:33 left.

Castillo added a 23-yard field goal with 1:20 remaining.

“They ran it down our throats when everybody knows that’s what Winnipeg does at the end of the game,” Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam said.

“So that’s where we’ve got to get over the hump. We’ve gotten better three weeks in a row, but it’s about winning and it’s about doing the things that we need to get better to be on the other side of this result.”

Ford was 18 of 29 for 252 yards and no interceptions.

“Obviously it’s unfortunate, nobody wants to be 0-3, but that’s what it is right now,” Ford said. “I think we’re feeling pretty good in our locker room. I think we know that we left some stuff out there and it was still a close game.”

Elks backup Cody Fajardo scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak. Blanchard was also good on field goals from 38 and 29 yards and made his two converts.

Castillo also booted a 35-yard field goal and made three of four convert attempts.

Bombers rookie running back Matthew Peterson had 12 carries for 65 yards.

Head coach Mike O’Shea said the offence was well-rounded and that Collaros delivered.

“(He) made good decisions and the receivers did a nice job at being quarterback-friendly and working for him,” he said. “I also thought that when we needed to run the ball, we ran the ball. It was a little lean to start.

“But when we needed it, they certainly came through and we were able to churn out some yardage on the ground.”

Up next

Bombers: Will visit the Calgary Stampeders on July 3.

Elks: Host the Ottawa Redblacks on July 6.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025.

Judy Owen, The Canadian Press