Stegall sets TD record in Bombers win

Milt Stegall is the CFL's new touchdown king.

The Blue Bombers slotback set an all-time league record with his 138th touchdown, then addedhis 139thlate inWinnipeg's 36-18 home win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday night.

Stegall, 37,passed the all-time mark of 137 touchdowns he'd shared with retired running backs George Reed and Mike Pringle in the first half.

With the Bombers on the Hamilton one-yard line, Stegalltook a shovel pass off an option playby quarterback Kevin Glenn, dodged aTicats defender and stepped into the end zone untouched to set the new record.

"It was supposed to be a run play," Stegall said. "I was supposed to be behind (Glenn) because Kevin could have run it in himself, but he said he was going to pitch it to me.

"He pitched it in front of me so it's considered a pass play."

After the touchdown at 8:17 of the second quarter, play was halted for a brief ceremony recognizing the record as the capacity crowd of 29,533 fans at Canad Inns Stadium gave Stegall a loud ovation.

"It was elation. It was exciting,"said the 13-year veteran. "I'm sure if I had been somewhere else there would have been some screaming, but not like these fans were screaming and cheering me on."

Stegall added his second touchdown of the game ona 35-yard strike from Glenn up the left sidelinewith 1:38 left in the fourth quarter to extend the Blue Bombers' lead.

Stegallnow has 136 career touchdown receptions and three non-receiving touchdowns — one on a punt return, one on a blocked kick return and one on a fumble recovery.

The six-time CFL all-star and 2002 league most outstanding player finished the game with eight catches for 141 yards.

Record no distraction: Maas

Running back Charles Roberts also scored a pair of touchdowns for the Bombers, who lead the East with a 3-1-1 record.

Nick Setta provided all the scoring for Hamilton (0-5) with six field goals from 13, 20, 32, 36, 41 and 52 yards.

Ticats quarterback Jason Maas, who completed 29 of 44passesfor 341 yards, said Stegall's record wasn't a distraction for his team.

"I would expect nothing less from our league to do that, to honour somebody who's broken a record like that," Maas said.

"That's no excuse (for the loss). It was still a good football game and a good football game after that. I was surprised (the ceremony) didn't go on longer."