Quarterback Zach Collaros passed for 179 yards and two touchdowns, helping the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 27-14 win over the B.C. Lions in CFL action Saturday at B.C. Place.
Collaros was returning from a one-game suspension for failing to respond to an off-season drug-testing request. With Chris Streveler at QB, the Bombers (2-0) beat the Lions (1-2) 34-20 on June 12 in Winnipeg.
Dalton Schoen and Asotui Eli had receiving touchdowns and Jamal Parker returned a botched B.C. lateral pass for a major for the Bombers. Kicker Sergio Castillo added two field goals and three extra points. Jevon Cottoy caught a TD, kicker Sean Whyte added two field goals and running back James Butler had a two-point conversion to account for the B.C. scoring.
Jeremiah Masoli passed for 281 yards and a touchdown for B.C.
The Bombers controlled things immediately, with their first drive eating up nearly half of the first quarter. It was capped off when Collaros found receiver Schoen for a 15-yard touchdown. It was the 200th TD pass in the CFL for Collaros, who was 7-for-7 for 70 yards on the drive. Castillo鈥檚 conversion made it 7-0.
The Lions 鈥� with the veteran Masoli starting in placed of injured starter Nathan Rourke at QB 鈥� answered with a long drive of their own, which extended early into the second quarter and finished with a 22-yard field goal from Whyte to make it 7-3.
Castillo extended the Winnipeg lead to 10-3 with a 55-yard field goal at 3:08.
SCOOP AND SCORE FOR PARKER
鈥� Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers)
17-3!!!!
The Bombers added to their lead on the next series. Masoli, who was under pressure all game, tossed a pass behind the line of scrimmage to Butler, who could not hang on and it was scooped up at the Winnipeg 53-yard line by defensive back Parker, who returned it for a touchdown. Castillo booted the convert to make it 17-3.
In the third quarter, Castillo connected on a 38-yard field goal at 4:30, after the Lions muffed a punt, to make it 20-3.
Just over three minutes later, Whyte kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 20-6. It was Whyte鈥檚 18th straight successful field goal.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Lions were driving deep in Winnipeg territory with a chance to pull within one score, but Masoli was picked off by Evan Holm in the end zone.
Collaros hit Keric Wheatfall with a 48-yard pass on the next play to immediately put the Bombers back in scoring position. The drive finished when Collaros found big offensive lineman Eli for a five-yard touchdown to put things out of reach. Castillo converted to make it 27-6.
Robert Carter picked off Collaros in Winnipeg territory with 2:08 to play and 32 seconds later Masoli found Cottoy from two yards out for a touchdown. Butler鈥檚 two-point conversion made it 27-14.
NOTES: The Lions visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 28, while the Bombers host the Edmonton Elks on June 26鈥� B.C.鈥檚 Christophe Beaulieu recorded his first career interception in the second quarter鈥� The Bombers have made five straight Grey Cups and the city of Winnipeg hosts this year鈥檚 championship game on Nov. 16鈥� The Bombers have started the season 2-0 five times in the last six years.
