Schoen Has Two Touchdowns As Bombers Remain Undefeated Against BC Lions | Globalnews.ca

What was billed as the CFL’s most anticipated game since its inception in June ended in surprising fashion for some.

Winnipeg dominated most of the game, defeating the BC Lions 43-22 to remain undefeated at 5-0. The Lions drop to 4-1 after the loss.

Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros threw for 288 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

BC’s Nathan Rourke was intercepted twice, but also threw for three touchdowns. The second-year center had 273 passing yards in a losing effort.

The star of the show, rookie receiver Dalton Schoen had eight catches for a total of 117 yards.

Schoen added a pair of impressive touchdowns from 12 and 4 yards respectively.

A beautiful evening with the roof open at BC Place began with Janarion Grant taking the kickoff 97 yards from the goal line.

The play marked his first kickoff return for a touchdown in the CFL. The three-year-old bomber has four punt return touchdowns since he moved north of the border.

Nathan Rourke and Lions’ offense got off to a shaky start when the impressive rookie was picked off by Jackson Jeffcoat just after BC’s sixth offensive play.

Jeffcoat’s second CFL interception gave the Bombers an early 14-0 lead.

The first turnover of the game led to a historic touchdown for rookie receiver Dalton Schoen.

Schoen scored a 12-yard shot from Collaros for his first CFL touchdown.

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Marc Liegghio’s third conversion of the game gave Winnipeg a 21-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter.

Near the end of a relatively quiet second quarter, Rourke fired a 66-yarder to Josh Pearson, finally putting the home team on the board.

On the ensuing kickoff, Janarion Grant caught the ball at his own 20-yard line and crossed BC’s goal line for another six points.

His second TD return of the night was called off due to a Malik Clements holding penalty. And the penalty would be costly for Winnipeg.

Rourke found Dominique Rhymes for his second receiving touchdown of the season from 36 yards.

Winnipeg still took a commanding 27-14 lead in the locker room at halftime.

Leigghio kicked a 46-yard field goal early in the third quarter to put 30 points on the scoreboard for Winnipeg.

Rourke and the Lions quickly went three and out, returning the ball to Collaros midway through the fourth.

Dalton Schoen caught a nice 15-yard pass to move the offense across the 10-yard line.

He followed that up with his second touchdown grab into the back of the end zone from four yards out.

Schoen’s second CFL touchdown reception gave the Bombers a 37-14 lead.

The Leos responded in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter when Rhymes became only the second receiver to record a pair of touchdowns in the game.

A 31-yard shot from Rourke to Rhymes plus a successful two-point conversion brought BC within two points.

Rourke was quickly intercepted by Donald Rutledge Jr. the next time BC touched the ball.

On the next play, Collaros threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Greg Ellingson.

Ellingson finished with 98 yards on seven catches along with the final touchdown of the game.

The score was 43-22 when the teams shook hands at BC Place after the first of three meetings between the two sides this season.

Another battle of undefeated teams awaits next Friday when the Bombers (5-0) host the Calgary Stampeders (4-0).

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm CT.