It’s no secret that sitting at 6-9 isn’t where you want to be after 15 games of a CFL season. In a nine-team league where six clubs make the playoffs, the bar is never impossible, but it’s always there. For the Edmonton Elks, that goal might still be a stretch, but Saturday’s 27-25 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders gave fans reason to believe there may still be the slimmest of windows. At the very least, it reinvigorated the fan base and reminded everyone this group can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the CFL.
The Elks entered the matchup reeling. They had just dropped back-to-back heartbreakers — the two most winnable games on the post-Labour Day schedule. Against Toronto, it was a second-half implosion and a dropped pass at the worst time. Against Hamilton, it was questionable clock management and another missed chance to close. Two straight losses that, if Edmonton misses the playoffs, will sting all offseason.
But Saturday was different. Saskatchewan, the league’s top team, rolled into Commonwealth Stadium just days after the sudden passing of Elks owner Larry Thompson. The stage was set, the stakes were high, and this time, Edmonton didn’t fold.
“Absolutely, this is a win-or-die game,” linebacker Joel Dublanko had said earlier in the week. “Regardless of what happens, that’s how we’re going to treat every game.”
The Elks backed up those words, even if they nearly “Elk-ed” it again. Leading 24-12 with 2:14 to play, Edmonton allowed two late touchdowns and suddenly found itself clinging to a two-point lead. When the Riders lined up for a game-tying conversion with no time left, the ghosts of Toronto and Hamilton loomed large. But this time, the defence made the stop. They didn’t lose it. They didn’t give it away. They beat the No. 1 team in the CFL.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo delivered one of his best outings in green and gold, going 18-for-23 for 305 yards. Running back Justin Rankin punched in two touchdowns and continued to look like the Elks’ MVP. The defence forced two interceptions and held the line when it mattered most. And through it all, the team carried the memory of Thompson with them.
“We played with heavy hearts tonight,” Fajardo said after the game. “I felt him on that last drive. The wind picked up a little bit, and I think that was Larry giving us a ‘hey, I’m here for you guys.’ This win was for him and the Thompson family.”
Even if this season still ends without a playoff berth, Saturday night was proof that Edmonton belongs in the fight. It was proof that the foundation of this roster can compete with anyone, and that the leadership group of President Chris Morris, GM Ed Hervey, and Head Coach Mark Kilam has the team moving in the right direction.
Wins like this matter. They set the tone for next year, they restore confidence in a locker room that’s been through heartbreak, and they remind a fan base why they keep coming back. Over 30,000 fans showed up Saturday, the biggest crowd of the season, and they were rewarded with one of the most emotional and important victories in years.
The reality is still what it is. At 6-9, Edmonton needs help and a near-perfect finish. With a bye in Week 18, they’ll scoreboard watch before returning against Winnipeg, knowing exactly what’s at stake. It’s going to take a Herculean effort to climb back into the playoff picture.
But that’s not what this week is about. This one is about enjoying a hard-earned win, celebrating the fight of a team that refused to fold, and honouring a man who poured his heart into this franchise.
This win was for Larry. And on Saturday night, the Elks played like it.
