Bombers chicken dance their way to sixth straight win, blitz Elks 27-14 Achi-News

EDMONTON – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a nickname for the opposition’s end zone. They refer to it as the “chicken box.”

So, after running back Brady Oliveira’s two fourth quarter touchdowns, he did a chicken dance.

Oliveira ran for 127 yards on 18 carries, scored twice and led the surging Blue Bombers to a 27-14 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium.

For Oliveira, those were his first two touchdowns of the season, an odd stat for a rusher who has 1,021 yards on the year.

“Man, we got in the chicken box tonight,” Oliveira said. “It felt really good to get that monkey off my back. It was really nice to celebrate with my boys in the end zone.”

For the Western Division leading Bombers (8-6), this was their sixth consecutive victory. The Elks (5-9) lost for just the second time in seven games.

“I dance like a chicken, cluck like a chicken,” Oliveira said. “They call it the chicken box, the chicken coop, when you get to the end zone. So there’s a bit of a joke going on, over the last few weeks, ‘how come I haven’t gone in the chicken box?’

“We knew that whenever it was going to happen, our celebration was like a hen cluck. So that’s exactly what we did.”

While Oliveira had a special night, Tre Ford’s return as the Edmonton Elks’ starting quarterback did not go according to plan.

Ford lost a fumble and threw two interceptions.

“I don’t think I played well, I think the turnover was a big thing, I think that’s what killed us and killed some of our drives,” Ford said. “We could have put points up, that’s how the game goes, there are turnovers.

“Obviously you try to limit how many of those you do and I didn’t do a good job of that today.”

With the score tied 10-10 in the fourth quarter, Ford’s touchdown pass was intercepted by Blue Bombers linebacker Michael Ayers, who returned the ball to the Elks’ 36-yard line. Oliveira then unleashed a 30-yard punt, followed by a six-yarder to give the Blue Bombers the lead.

Oliveira also scored a late strike on a burst from five yards up the middle.

Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said Ayers, who is his backup, got more playing time because of his impressive work on special teams.

“It was right on time. I think they had a great run too. So, he got up and picked the ball up and it was a bit of a no-man’s land. But he went up and got it – and good for him. It’s nice for a young man, when he plays, that his team-mates are so excited for him.”

Oliveira said the Bombers imposed their will on the Elks late in the game.

“We were getting a lot of good movement up front. You really start to feel it when you start forcing your will on another man. Our offensive line did that in the second half, and allowed me to do what I do. I think I ran better in the second half, maybe not as scared, to be honest I was going north and trusting my ability.”

The Elks wasted a great rushing day from Justin Rankin, who went for 157 yards on 14 attempts.

Ford finished with 10 completions on 17 pass attempts, and just 131 yards. Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros went 19-for-27 for 191 yards.

Ford was reinstated as the Elks starting quarterback for the Winnipeg game, another chapter in the Elks quarterback saga., After the Elks lost seven in a row to start the year, Ford replaced McLeod-Bethel Thompson as the starter. Ford started two games, but was knocked out with a rib injury. A freshman Bethel-Thompson was 3-1 in four subsequent starts, but Elks coach Jarious Jackson decided to go back to Ford for the Winnipeg game.

After Ford’s struggles, Bethel-Thompson was reinstated as the Elks’ quarterback midway through the fourth quarter.

In the first half Ford fumbled on a quarterback draw and, later in the half, a screen pass bounced off the hands of Elks running back Rankin and into the waiting arms of Bombers defensive back Tony Jones.

Jones also had fumbles from Elks running back Kevin Brown.

Collaros threw a pick of his own – with Elks defensive back Darrius Bratton picking up the team’s 10th interception over the past three games.

The Bombers scored on their opening drive of the second half, punctuated by an 11-yard touchdown from Collaros to Ontaria Wilson.

Ford responded with the brilliance he has become known for in his short CFL career. On a flea-flicker from Rankin, Ford connected on a 26-yard strike to Geno Lewis. The ball was fumbled after Rankin laid the ball back to the quarterback, but Lewis adjusted and managed to fumble into the end zone after beating two defenders to the ball.

NOTES

Elks linebacker Nyles Morgan reached the 300 tackle mark for his CFL career. … The Elks’ Leon O’Neal Jr. was ejected for a rough play in the third quarter. … The Blue Bombers have won 10 in a row against the Elks.

UP NEXT

It was the first time Winnipeg and Edmonton drew this season, but they will meet again on Friday in the Manitoba capital.

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on September 21, 2024.