Edmonton Elks down Winnipeg Blue Bombers 30-20 in pre-season play
WINNIPEG — Nick Arbuckle handed for a pair of touchdowns and 145 yards because the Edmonton Elks downed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 30-20 in pre-season motion on Friday.
It was Arbuckle’s first recreation motion with the Elks. The three-year veteran was acquired final October in a commerce with the Toronto Argonauts, however by no means acquired right into a recreation together with his new teammates.
Each groups had been assessing their quarterbacks in entrance of 20,518 followers at IG Area.
The back-to-back Gray Cup-champion Bombers performed various their starters on each side of the ball, however sat beginning quarterback Zach Collaros.
Second-year Bombers quarterback Dru Brown was 10-of-13 passing for 108 yards. Former Elks quarterback Dakota Prukop was 5 of 14 for 81 yards with two interceptions for his new membership.
Elks head coach and basic supervisor Chris Jones hasn’t declared his beginning quarterback and took a have a look at 4 choices: Arbuckle, Taylor Cornelius, Tre Ford and Kai Locksley. Most of Edmonton’s beginning offensive line suited as much as assist with the auditions.
Receivers Caleb Holley and Ka’Ron Ashley caught landing passes for Edmonton, and Cornelius stored the ball on a profitable quarterback sneak.
Elks kicker Gregory Hutchins related on subject targets from 44, 15 and 24 yards and made two convert makes an attempt. Rafael Gaglianone was additionally good on a convert however went huge on a 49-yard field-goal try.
Winnipeg acquired touchdowns from Dalton Schoen, Prukop and Brown. Kicker Ali Mourtada made one convert and hit the upright on one other. Marc Liegghio was good on his one convert try.
Edmonton led 10-7 after the primary quarter, 17-14 at half-time and 24-20 after three quarters.
Arbuckle began the sport. He was sacked on his first play, however stored the drive alive and hit Holley for a 58-yard catch-and-run landing at 3:45 of the primary quarter.
After Hutchins made it 10-0 with a 44-yard subject aim at 8:55, Brown engineered a Winnipeg landing drive.
The second-year Bomber first aired out a 49-yard completion to Nic Demski, then capped it off with a two-yard landing toss to Schoen at 12:59.
Arbuckle was changed after Schoen’s rating with Ford.
The Canadian rookie went in for 2 collection, however didn’t full both of his two go makes an attempt and was additionally sacked. The College of Waterloo product additionally performed within the third quarter and completed 1 of three for 17 yards and ran 5 instances for 47 yards.
A Winnipeg turnover led to Cornelius’s landing.
Bombers returner Evan Holm fumbled the ball on a punt. Elks Nafees Lyon recovered the ball and Cornelius completed the drive with a one-yard landing plunge at 8:05 of the second to make it 17-7.
Prukop scored his landing with an eight-yard run after a pretend handoff to Johnny Augustine at 12:23.
Arbuckle additionally began the second half, however a go to Charles Nelson didn’t finish nicely. Nelson couldn’t grasp on to the ball, fumbled and Winnipeg recovered.
Brown then scored on a two-yard run at 4:52. After Mourtada’s missed convert, Winnipeg lastly took the lead 20-17.
The lead vanished quick as Arbuckle related with Ashley for a three-yard catch in the long run zone at 8:16 of the third. With Gaglianone’s convert, Edmonton took over a 24-20 edge.
Locksley guided the offence on an 11-play, 64-yard drive that ended with Hutchins’ 15-yard subject aim at 9:32 of the fourth. He added a 24-yarder at 14:50. Locksley accomplished 9 of 11 passes for 85 yards.
All CFL groups have to chop their rosters to 75 gamers by 10:59 CT on Might 28.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Might 27, 2022.
Judy Owen, The Canadian Press
