Elks’ comeback flickers, then Montreal slams the door in 48-30 loss
Sat, Aug 8Final · 30–48Percival Molson Memorial Stadium
The Elks had just made it interesting when the game snapped back the other way. C.Fajardo hit A.Mack for a 33-yard touchdown with 4:18 left, pulling Edmonton within reach, but the onside kick went to Montreal and a challenged pass-interference call moved the ball to the 1. T.Wilson punched it in from there, the kind of late dagger that made a 48-30 final feel as abrupt as it was punishing.
Edmonton spent much of the night chasing swings. T.Ford twice picked off Montreal, including a 30-yard return to the 6 in the second quarter that set up a J.Cephus touchdown on third down. Earlier, C.Fajardo’s 1-yard score got the Elks on the board after an automatic review overturned the initial spot. But Montreal answered almost every Edmonton push, and a blocked punt in the first quarter set up D.Alexander’s 10-yard touchdown run for the game’s first points.
Read the full recap →Elks’ comeback runs out of grass in 28-26 loss to Saskatchewan
Sat, Aug 1Final · 26–28Commonwealth Stadium
The one Edmonton fans will still be replaying is the fourth quarter: a 51-yard shot to the Saskatchewan 21, a 17-yard follow-up to the 4, then a short touchdown pass that pulled the Elks within 28-26 with 4:29 left. Commonwealth had the late-game pulse back. The Elks had the ball again after a Saskatchewan punt. Then the drive went backward: holding, a sack, and a punt from the Edmonton 6.
Saskatchewan did not need fireworks after that. Starting near midfield, the Roughriders leaned on short runs, then Edmonton penalties turned a sack at the 19 into first down at the 4. From there, Saskatchewan kneeled it away, leaving the Elks with a two-point loss and their first stumble after a 6-1 start.
Read the full recap →Elks Survive BC’s Late Push With One Last Stand
Fri, Jul 17Final · 19–17Commonwealth Stadium
The one Edmonton fans will replay is the finish: BC had the ball with a chance to steal it, down two in the final 90 seconds, and the Elks defence slammed the door. M.Carney opened the last series with a sack, BC answered with a 20-yard completion, then K.Logan Jr. dropped C.Brice for another loss before C.Garnes broke up the third-and-18 throw. Turnover on downs at 0:41, one kneel from C.Fajardo, and a 19-17 Elks win at Commonwealth Stadium.
It was not tidy, but it had teeth. BC struck first with a 40-yard shot to the Edmonton 1, then Z.Horvath punched it in for a 7-3 Lions lead after the first quarter. Edmonton flipped the game in the second: T.Ford’s interception set up a 38-yard connection from C.Fajardo to T.Luther, then a 4-yard touchdown to T.Luther. A 54-yard strike to J.Cephus led to another V.Blanchard field goal, and J.Ross’ interception with 50 seconds left helped Edmonton squeeze out three more before halftime for a 16-7 lead.
Read the full recap →Elks Blow It Open Late at Commonwealth
Thu, Jul 9Final · 40–17Commonwealth Stadium
The one Edmonton fans will retell is the fourth quarter: tied-up nerves, Ottawa hanging around after a third-quarter touchdown, then the Elks hitting the gas and leaving the RedBlacks behind. Edmonton scored 24 in the final frame, turning a 16-14 game into a 40-17 finish at Commonwealth Stadium.
The surge started with C.Fajardo finding K.Julien-Grant for a 4-yard touchdown early in the fourth. After Ottawa answered with a field goal, Fajardo came right back with a 33-yard touchdown pass to J.Rankin, and then the defence supplied the dagger: C.Garnes picked off J.Maier, setting up a drive capped by Rankin’s 31-yard touchdown run.
Read the full recap →