The object of any game is to outscore your opponent. Most sports — football, hockey, baseball, basketball — have an open-ended scoring total, while others, like volleyball, are races to a fixed score. When fans read that first line, they usually think of offence, but there are two parts of that equation: points for and points against. Offence may sell tickets, but defence wins championships. I love cheering for my team when they score 50 points, but not so much when they give up 52 in the same game.
Let’s look how the Edmonton Elks historically stack up with points:
Points scored
1 – 671 pts – 1991 – Made playoffs
2 – 644 pts – 1989 – Made playoffs
3 – 617 pts – 1987 – Won Grey Cup
…..
39 – 422 pts – 2012 – Made playoffs
40 – 422 pts – 2025 – Missed playoffs
41 – 421 pts – 2013 – Missed playoffs
…
76 – 93 pts – 1949 – Missed playoffs
Points Given Up
1 – 117 pts – 1955 – Won Grey Cup
2 – 142 pts – 1957 – Made playoffs
3 – 157 pts – 1953 – Made playoffs
…..
60 – 472 pts – 2004 – Made playoffs
61 – 490 pts – 2025 – Missed playoffs
62 – 495 pts – 2017 – Made the playoff
…
76 – 599 pts – 2022 – Missed playoffs
Change in points scored
1 – +342 pts – 1989 – Made playoffs
2 – +333 pts – 1957 – Made playoffs
3 – +299 pts – 1981 – Won Grey Cup
…..
63 – -68 pts – 1971 – Missed playoffs
64 – -68 pts – 2025 – Missed playoffs
65 – -69 pts – 2006 – Missed playoffs
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76 – -245 pts – 2022 – Missed playoffs
Getting Off to a Good Start
A 60-minute game is easier to win when you start well.
When the Elks start the game scoring 10 or more points, their record is: 178-35-3 (0.831)
When they score 14 or more points that record improves to: 92-10-1 (0.898)
The Elks have scored 18 or more points in the 1st quarter 13 times going 13-0-0
The most points scored in the first quarter was 28 on August 27, 1998. Kay Stephenson was the Head Coach. Jimmy Kemp threw for 3 TD’s and future Edmonton Head Coach, Kavis Reed returned an interception 56 yards for a TD as the Eskimos defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 35-13.
The Elks record when held scoreless in the first quarter: 130-216-6 (0.378)
On the flip side, the Elks record when the opponent scores 10 or more points is: 56-136-2 (0.294)
When the opponent scores 14 or more points, the Elks record is: 22-67-1 (0.250)
The Elks have given up 18 or more points in the 1st quarter 13 times, going 1-12-0. The 1 win came July 29, 1975 when Winnipeg QB, Chuck Ealey had the Bombers ahead 21-10 at the end of the first quarter. Larry Highbaugh caught the game winning TD with 92 seconds left.
The most points given up in the first quarter was 23 on July 26, 1990 by the Ottawa Rough Riders.Edmonton was winning 44-43 with 9 minutes left but Ottawa rallied and won 50-46. Ottawa QB, Damon Allen had 5 TD passes, 3 in the 1st quarter.
The Elks record when holding a team scoreless in the first quarter: 292-117-6 (0.711)
Top Scorer
The top scorer on most teams is your place kicker. Elks kicker, Vincent Blanchard scored 150 of the team’s 422 pts last year. It was his first full season as the team’s kicker. His 150 pts, placed him 26th on the teams single season scoring list. His career 154 pts places him 43rd on the teams career scoring list. With another 150 pt season, Blanchard can move to 21st on the Elks All- Time Career List between Jim Thomas and Fred Stamps.
Edmonton All-Time Single Season Scoring List
1 – 224 pts – 1989 Jerry Kauric
2 – 207 pts – 1995 Sean Fleming
3 – 204 pts – 1994 Sean Fleming
…
25 – 153 pts – 2018 Sean Fleming
26 – 150 pts – 2025 Vincent Blanchard
T27 – 148 pts – 1998 Sean Fleming
T27 – 148 pts – 2012 Grant Shaw
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T1081 – 4 pts – 2024 Vincent Blanchard
Edmonton All-Time Career Scoring List
1 – 2569 – Sean Fleming
2 – 2237 – Dave Cutler
3 – 756 – Sean Whyte
…
42 – 158 pts – Matt Dunigan
43 – 154 pts – Vincent Blanchard
44 – 144 pts – Mike Pringle
In the TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway”, the tagline is “the show where everything is made up and the points don’t matter”. Well…they do matter.
Next week, we will do a deeper look at leads, comebacks, collapses and close finishes
