Blanchard hits walk-off field goal in Elks’ win

EDMONTON – Vincent Blanchard kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give the Edmonton Elks a 22-19 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday night.

The Elks overcame a bad start to win their second game in a row and maintain their spot atop the CFL’s West Division standings.

Edmonton trailed 16-0 late in the second quarter. The Elks, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2019, improved to 8-3.

It’s the latest they have been in top spot in any season since 2015. The Bombers (5-5) have lost three of their last four.

Winnipeg had a strong opening drive, but ended up settling for a 15-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo.

The Blue Bombers again competently marched down the field on their next possession, but were stopped on a third-and-goal gamble from the five.

They kept coming and finally reached the end zone to start the second quarter as quarterback Zach Collaros found Tim White with a 30-yard touchdown pass.

Winnipeg got into the red zone for the fourth time in a row, settling on a 20-yard field goal.

Edmonton continued to struggle as QB Cody Fajardo was picked off at midfield by Jonathan Moxey, leading to a 52-yard field goal by Castillo.

The Elks finally got their act together with 1:31 to play in the first half as a long pass interference call led to a 15-yard TD pass to Austin Mack. The two-point convert failed, making it 16-6 Winnipeg at the half.

Edmonton started the third quarter with a 42-yard Blanchard field goal.

The Elks continued to look like an entirely different squad as they marched downfield and tied the game on a one-yard QB keeper by Fajardo late in the third.

Edmonton had a chance to take its first lead four minutes into the fourth, but Fajardo fumbled the ball away at the Winnipeg 16, recovered by Cameron Lawson.

The Elks took the lead with six minutes left in the final frame on a 34-yard Blanchard field goal.