Four touchdowns in seven weeks as a rookie receiver? That’s a heck of a tale in and of itself.
Coming up huge in a game where your team’s receiving corps is already decimated by injuries? Welcome to the Dalton Schoen Show.
The receiver out of Kansas State has made quite the name for himself in his rookie CFL season, already up to four majors on 28 receptions and 503 yards.
Schoen has become a reliable, sure-handed option for the Zach Collaros as the likes of Nic Demski, Greg Ellingson and now Carlton Agudosi have all been stricken with injuries in recent weeks.
The 25-year-old Kansas native had a monster week in Winnipeg’s 24-10 win over the Edmonton Elks, coming down with four of Collaros’ seven completed passes in the game for 146 yards and a touchdown — an 81-yarder to boot.
“I think that’s kind of the mindset we have all throughout the team, that if someone is down or if we’re thin at a position group, we’re confident the next guy is going to step up,” Schoen said Tuesday as the Bombers began preparations for their Week 8 meeting with the Calgary Stampeders.
A walk-on at Kansas State after being a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) in high school, Schoen steadily worked his way into a leading role, finishing his college career ranked seventh in school history in yards per reception (17.05) and 15th in career receiving yards (1,569).
He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 and signed a futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs last season, later joining the Washington Football Team’s practice roster for a time before returning to the Cheifs and their practice roster last December.
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Schoen signed with the Bombers in April.
“I knew it was a great opportunity for me coming up here, but I also knew I had to be prepared for it to make the most of it,” he said.
Schoen came to Winnipeg with some high praise from one of the NFL’s premier tight ends.
Collaros tapped former college teammate Travis Kelce, who stars with the Chiefs, for the lowdown on Schoen after he signed with the Bombers in the spring.
“I said, ‘Do you remember this kid?’ and he said, ‘Yeah, I liked him a lot, he’s a really good receiver, he’s able to run the entire route tree,'” Collaros said. “(Kelce) thought he was going to stick, and he was right.”
Indeed, Collaros said Schoen showed up knowing the playbook inside and out.
Safe to say, the veteran pivot is impressed.
“I’m not surprised, he’s a mature kid,” Collaros said. “He knows what it takes to keep his body to prepared for the gruelling part of the season. And again, in our system, you’re asked a lot, not just in the past game, but in the run game as a receiver, blocking. These guys are all selfless, they put team first, and he’s fit right in and I respect that.”
Stamps hit by COVID, pneumonia
For a second straight day, a handful of Stampeders missed practice, and now the reason why is coming better into focus.
Starting tailback Ka’Deem Carey, 2016 most outstanding offensive lineman Derek Dennis, linebackers Fraser Sopik and Jameer Thurman and quarterback Tommy Stevens were all absent for the Stamps, who host the undefeated Blue Bombers this Saturday.
Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson told reporters in Calgary Tuesday that some of those who were missing from practice are dealing with COVID, while others are fighting bouts with pneumonia.
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COVID has cropped up again in the CFL, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders dealing with several infections in their locker room, including to starting quarterback Cody Fajardo, following their Week 6 game in Halifax.
Last week’s tilt against the Toronto Argonauts was slated for this past Saturday but had to be pushed to Sunday to accommodate. The Argos beat the Riders 31-21.
Women’s club back up and running
The Blue Bombers re-launched the Blue Bombers Women’s Club on Tuesday for the 2022 season.
Holly Jefferson, whose husband Willie Jefferson plays defensive end for the Blue and Gold, will host, with the first two events slated for Aug. 11 — a pre-game tailgate mixer with Holly (game ticket required to enter the tailgate area) — and Aug. 18 — a football 101 event at IG Field, which will include non-contact football drills and Q&A session with Holly and select players.
Tickets for the football 101 event come in at $30 and include a complimentary cocktail and light food during a reception following the on-field activities. The event is open to all skill levels and is restricted to those 18 years of age and older.
Free to join, the club offers exclusive events throughout the season to its members, along with special newsletters, offers and more.
Several other events are in the works come the fall and winter, including a paint night, cookie decoration night, a private wine and cheese shopping event at the Bomber Store, as well as a movie night and a bowling outing.
The women’s club last ran in 2019.
More details can be found on the Bombers website.
sbilleck@postmedia.com
Twitter: @scottbilleck
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