Four interceptions, two turnovers on downs, and another interception called back on a suspect roughing-the-passer call. The Elks’ defence balled out in Toronto and gave the offence many chances to put the game away, but the offence didn’t bring the same aggressiveness as the defence, and it ultimately cost Edmonton the game.
Saturday’s 28-27 loss to the Argonauts might cost the EE a playoff spot in November. That is the game they should have won. The never trailed until Argos kicker, Lirim Hajrullahu, booted a 47-yard field goal through the uprights on the final play of the game.
Edmonton led 7-0 after the first quarter, 14-3 at halftime, and 24-14 after three quarters, but they were outscored 17-6 in the final 15 minutes and lost. Make no mistake, this loss is 100 percent on the offence.
Late in the third quarter, JJ Ross intercepted Nick Arbuckle and the Elks scrimmaged 1st and 10 at the Argos 42-yard line. They gained 15 yards on their first play, a pass to Gittens, but then only mustered four yards on the next two plays and settled for a 30-yard field goal.
In the fourth quarter, once again, the defence gave them great field position.
With 9:48 remaining in the game, Kenneth Logan Jr. intercepted Arbuckle for the Elks’ fourth interception and returned the ball to Toronto’s 40-yard line. The score was 24-21 for Edmonton.
On the first play, Javon Leake rumbled 15 yards to the Argos 25-yard line.
On the second play, Justin Rankin rushed for three yards.
On second and seven, Cody Fajardo connected with Binjimen Viktor, and the Elks were first and goal at the 9-yard line.
The Elks opted to run the ball on first down, and Rankin gained one yard.
On second and goal from the eight-yard line, the Argos brought the heat, as they had all game on second and long, and Fajardo ran for one yard.
The Elks’ stubbornness to continue rushing the ball on first down led to a 15-yard field goal and only a 27-21 lead.
They never even attempted a pass into the endzone.
The Elks’ decision to continue and rush the ball on first down, and out of the shotgun formation, was a major reason they lost. Here’s a look at their play calls on first down through the entire game.
1st quarter:
Pass: 10-yard completion to Arkell Smith.
Rush: 1-yard by Justin Rankin out of shotgun formation.
Rush: 2 yards by Rankin out of shotgun.
Pass: 12 yards to Kaion Julien-Grant (KJG).
Pass: 4 yards to Rankin.
Pass: 1-yard loss to Smith. Argos offside, so play negated.
Rush (1st and five): 5 yards by Kurleigh Gittens Jr. out of shotgun.
Rush: 1 yard by Rankin out of shotgun.
Pass: 26 yards to Gittens Jr (called back for Korte hold).
Pass (1st and 20): 5 yards to Smith.
Rush: 1 yard loss by Leake out of shotgun.
2nd quarter:
Rush: 1 yard by Rankin out of shotgun.
Rush: 3 yards by Leake out of shotgun.
Pass: 22 yards to OJ Hiliare.
Pass: 4 yards to KJG.
Pass: 13 yards to Hiliare.
Pass: 3 yards to Gittens Jr.
3rd quarter
Rush: 0 yards by Rankin out of shotgun.
Pass: 21 yards to Smith.
Pass: 11 yards to Victor.
Rush: 3 yards by Rankin out of shotgun. Argos take a facemask penalty and Elks move down to Argos 1-yard line.
Rush: 1 yard by Cole Snyder on QB sneak for TD.
Pass: Hiliare two-yard loss.
Pass: 15 yards to Gittens Jr.
Rush: 2 yards by Rankin out of shotgun.
4th quarter:
Pass: 4 yards to Hiliare.
Rush: 15 yards to Leake out of shotgun.
Rush: 3 yards to Rankin out of shotgun.
Rush: 1 yard to Rankin out of shotgun. (Was first and goal from the nine).
Rush: Rankin three-yard loss. (Next play on 2nd and 13, Fajardo fumbles and Argos recover and score TD).
Pass: 9 yards to KJG
Rush: 15 yards by Rankin out of shotgun.
Rush: 4 yards by Rankin out of shotgun.
The Elks rushed 17 times on first down. All 17 were out of shotgun.
Leake and Rankin each had one rush of 15 yards.
Gittens Jr. had one for five yards.
The other 14 carries were:
Four yards, three yards (3x), two yards (2x), one yard (5x) and losses of one and three yards.
They gained 18 yards on those 14 carries for a total of 53 yards on 17 rushes on first down.
Conversely, they gained 131 yards on 16 pass attempts on first down.
I understand the running game has been solid with Rankin, and it won them the game v. Calgary, but outside of two carries on Saturday in Toronto, it wasn’t working, and it put them in 2nd and long too often, and the Elks couldn’t handle the Argos pressure on second and long. All five of the Argos sacks came in that situation, including the sack late in the fourth quarter that led to a fumble recovery and Toronto taking a 27-24 lead.
Head coach Mark Kilam admitted, “This one will sting,” as this was a game the Elks should have won. A win would have had them tied with Winnipeg and BC for third in the West, and all three teams would have been two games up on Toronto and Ottawa for the crossover spot in the East.
Edmonton wasted an excellent game by the defence. The defence has really improved throughout the season. Earlier in the year, the D-line couldn’t get a sack, and the secondary couldn’t register an interception. They have five interceptions and seven sacks in the last two games.
When you create six turnovers, you should win the game. The offence didn’t do their part. Twice, they settled for short field goals after starting drives at the Argos 42 and 40-yard line.
The offence needs to be more aggressive, and in a game where Fajardo completed 22 consecutive passes and finished the game 25-for-28, Saturday was the time to throw more on first down. The difference in success on first down passing and rushing was glaring.
OTHER NOTES…
— Safety Royce Metchie is likely out for the season. He was wearing a cast on the sideline after injuring what looked to be his Achilles tendon. On the play, there was no one around him when he took a step and then just fell to the ground. He’s a big loss at the safety position. The only good news for the Elks is that their National depth is so deep that they were starting more than seven Canadians, so they can replace him with an American or Canadian.
— Jonathan Kongbo had no sacks in the first 11 games of the season, but he’s picked up four (two in each game) in the past two games. He, like the entire D-line, has played much better as of late and their increased pressure, combined with the secondary gaining experience, playing up on receivers more, has led to more interceptions and more time for the D-line to get to the quarterback. Kongbo, along with Noah Taylor and Brandon Barlow, have been very good rotating at the rush end position. When Robbie Smith returns, none of these three should be taken out of the rotation.
— Edmonton is now two points back of BC and Winnipeg with five games remaining. Edmonton plays in Hamilton and then hosts Saskatchewan before their final bye week. Then they play the Bombers and Lions. At the very least, the Elks have to split with HAM and SSK and will likely need to beat both the Bombers and Lions to make the playoffs.
— The University of Alberta Golden Bears lost 23-19 to the Calgary Dinos in a hard-fought game Friday night. The Bears are now 0-3. Friday night was their best effort of the season. They play in Manitoba this coming Saturday afternoon. Quarterback Eli Hetlinger leads Canada West in passing yards/game at 319 and sits third in the country.
— The Edmonton Huskies and Edmonton Wildcats wrapped up their crosstown rivalry in back-to-back games, each winning once. The Huskies won on the road 24-20 on September 7th, while the Wildcats also won the rematch on the road 33-20. The Wildcats spoiled the Huskies’ 20-year celebration honouring the Back-to-Back National Championships they won in 2004 and 2005. I had the pleasure of calling those games and those Huskies teams were very good, with multiple players going on to play in the CFL. It would be great to see both the Cats and Dogs find a way to win the PFC again down the road.
