Elks Game Notes 4.0: Edmonton puts undefeated record on line on short week in Winnipeg

The Edmonton Elks are rolling. Sitting tied for first in the CFL’s West Division with a flawless 2-0 record. While Edmonton has started a season 2-0 an impressive 32 times, they have only successfully converted that momentum into 3-0 14 times, with the last occurrence coming back in 2017. 

The Elks kick off Week 4 with a Thursday night battle in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers.

That marquee matchup is just the opening act for a thrilling weekend slate across the league:

• Friday Night Football: The Toronto Argonauts head west to visit the undefeated Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium
• Saturday Showdown: The Calgary Stampeders take on the host BC Lions in a highly anticipated clash in Touchdown Kelowna.
• Sunday Night Cap: The weekend wraps up with the first Sunday night game of the season, featuring the Ottawa REDBLACKS traveling to Montreal to battle the Alouettes.

The fans are in for a wild ride. The CFL is currently playing at an incredible pace, averaging 62.8 points per game, with 8 of the first 10 games decided in the last 3 minutes.

The Lead: The Bombers have not been kind hosts as they are currently on a 7 game home winning streak against the Elks…the longest in series history. The Elks last won in Winnipeg June 14. 2018. They will try to break that streak as they kick off Week 4 with a Thursday night battle in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers.

Early Season Takeaways: The Elks are ‘mudders’. In 2 consecutive match-ups, the Elks paddle their way through the rain and come away with 2 victories by leading the league in:

• rushing (161.5 yds/game), 
• points allowed (25.0/game),
• opponent net offence (389.0/game)
• opponent pass efficiency (91.5), and
• opponent TD drive percentage (12.9%)
• #2 Ranked Defense
• long snappers (3 – Burton-Krahn, Mogensen & Korte)

The Rankin File: Justin Rankin has sparked talk about the possibility of a 1,000-1,000 season — 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. After 2 games and going into CFL Week 4, Rankin leads the CFL in rushing with 281 rushing yards and 16th in receiving with 145 receiving yards. Rankin would need to average 44.9 yds rushing and 53.4 yds receiving over the remaining 16 games to achieve that mark. The Elks have extended their streak by winning six consecutive games when Rankin rushes for 100 yards or more.

Battle of the Backups: No not those backups, backups to Ricky Ray. Zach Collaros backed up Ricky Ray in 2012-2013 while in Toronto. He got critical playing time and started eight games in 2013 when Ray suffered a shoulder injury. Cody Fajardo backed Ray up in 2016-2017 primarily as a short-yardage QB. Most notably, Fajardo scored the game-winning touchdown in the 2017 East Final sending the Argos on to the 105th Grey Cup which they won

The Strategic Matchup: As I have previously written in my Elks schedule breakdown, the Bombers have been king of the hill, finishing first in the CFL West Division from 2021-2024 and the Elks going 1-13 vs the Bombers the past 6 seasons. The Elks have to ride their momentum as they are coming off a 5 day turnaround with the Blue Bombers enjoying a 14 day break, coming off their first bye of the season.

ElksNation Game Notes

(Downloadable version available at bottom of page)

Inside the Numbers                                                                                                                                                            .

1287 – This is regular season game 1287 for the Elks (712-556-18…home 406-231-7…road 306-325-11) since 1949 (excludes 1938 & 1938 WIFU seasons)              

• Record vs Winnipeg 103-97-3 (home 60-39-2…in Winnipeg 43-58-1)
• Record vs Mike O’Shea Coached Teams 9-17-0 (home 4-9-0, Away 5-8-0, Winnipeg 9-17-0) 

The last 10 (Regular Season Games)                                                                                                                               .

• Elks are 5-5 in the last 10 games (2 game winning streak) 
• Elks are 3-7 in the last 10 games on the road (1 game winning streak)
• Elks are 1-9 in the last 10 games vs Winnipeg (1 game winning streak)
• Elks are 2-8 in the last 10 games vs Winnipeg in Winnipeg (7 game losing streak…..2933 days since last win in Wpg)
• Elks are 3-7 in the last 10 games played on Thursday (4 game losing streak)
• Elks are 4-6 in the last 10 games played on Thursday on the road (3 game losing streak)

Elks Streaks                                                                                                                                                                        .

3 – Elks have won 3 consecutive games when leading at halftime

– W 20-21 Jun 6, 2026 at Ott: Halftime Score Edm 13 Ott 10

– W 25-20 Oct 11, 2025 vs Wpg: Halftime Score Edm 11 Wpg 10

– W 27-25 Sep 27, 2025 vs Sask: Halftime Score Edm 11 Sask 3

4 – Elks have won 4 consecutive games when leading after 3 quarters

        – W 32-29 OT Jun 20, 2026 vs Mtl: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 20 Mtl 13

        – W 29-21 Jun 6, 2026 at Ott: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 19 Ott 10

        – W 25-20 Oct 11, 2025 vs Wpg: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 25 Wpg 13

        – W 27-25 Sep 27, 2025 vs Sask: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 

6 – Elks have won 6 consecutive games when Justin Rankin rushes for 100+ yds

– W 32-29 OT Jun 20, 2026 vs Mtl: 18 for 179 yds, 2 TD

– W 29-21 Jun 6, 2026 at Ott: 13 for 102 yds, 1 TD

– W 25-20 Oct 11, 2025 vs Wpg: 18 for 138 yds, 1 TD

– W 31-19 Sep 6, 2025 vs Cgy: 16 for 204 yds, 2 TD

– W 39-33 Jul 6 2025 vs Ott: 12 for 105 yds, 1 TD

– W 23-18 Oct 12 2024 at Cgy: 10 for 140 yds, 1 TD 

3 – The Elks have won 3 consecutive games when TOP is 35:00+ minutes

– W 29-21 Jun 6, 2026 at Ott: 35:20

– W 33-16 Aug 11/2024 vs BC: 35:39

– W 30-20 Aug 27, 2023 vs Ott: 35:58

8 – Vincent Blanchard has made 8 consecutive field goals (1 in 2025, 7 in 2026)

6 – Cody Fajardo has passed for 14 or more TD’s in 6 consecutive seasons

Did You Know….                                                                                                                                                                 .

3 – The Elks have 3 games this year on 5 day turnarounds

– vs Mtl June 20 (W 32-29 OT) – at Wpg Jun 25

– at BC Jul 4 – vs Ott Jul 9

– at Cgy Sep 7 – vs Cgy Sep 12

88 – The Elks record on second game of 5 days turnaround: 88-82-5 (4-6 in last 10 with 2 game winning streak)

14 – The Elks record on second game of 5 days turnaround against Winnipeg: 14-19-0

Review of Elks of last game                                                                                                                                          .                                                                                                               

Montreal at Edmonton – June 20, 2026 – Alouettes 29 – Elks 32 OT 

1 – In a downpour, the Elks rode Justin Rankin to a 32-29 OT win. The win hands Davis Alexander his first regular season loss as a starting QB

4 – Austin Mack had 4 receptions for 48 yds for 1 TD

4 – T.J. Luther had 4 receptions for 50 yds

230 – Justin Rankin had 18 carries for 179 yds for 2 TD’s, 5 receptions for 51 yds 

231 – Cody Fajardo went 19/29 for 231 passing yards with 1 TD, 1 Int

21 – Javon Leake had 4 punt returns for 21 yds

6 – Chelen Garnes, Tyrell Ford, & Jared Brinkman led the team with 6 defensive tackles

2 – Tyshon Blackburn led Elks players with 2 special team tackles

0 – The Elks had no sacks 

25:44 – Elks had the ball for 25:44 (by Qtr: (1) 4:41 (2) 5:35 (3) 7:59 (4) 6:18).

2 – Vincent Blanchard was 2/2 in FG Attempts and 2/3 in converts.

Review of Elks and Blue Bombers in 2025                                                                                                                     .   

Edmonton at Winnipeg – June 26, 2025 – Blue Bombers 36 – Elks 23 

2 – Going into the final quarter tied, the Bombers pull away on 2 FG’s by ex-Elk, Sergio Castillo and a TD by Zach Collaros. 

5 – Steven Dunbar Jr. had 5 receptions for 55 yds

5 – Kaion Julien-Grant had 5 receptions for 115 yds for 1 TD

39 – Justin Rankin had 7 carries for 30 yds, 1 reception for 9 yds 

252 – Tre Ford went 18/29 for 252 passing yards with 1 TD, 0 Int 

130– Javon Leake had 5 punt returns for 68 yds, 2 kickoff returns for 62 yds 

7 – Nick Anderson led the team with 7 defensive tackles

2 – Kobe Williams and D.K. Bonhomme led Elks players with 2 special team tackles each

1 – Jake Ceresna had 1 sack 

28:51 – Elks had the ball for 28:51 (by Qtr: (1) 8:16 (2) 7:33 (3) 8:29 (4) 4:33).

3 – Vincent Blanchard was 3/3 in FG Attempts and 2/2 in converts.

Winnipeg at Edmonton – October 11, 2025 – Blue Bombers 20 – Elks 25 

14 – The Elks got fortunate, turning a Javon Leake punt return fumble into a TD as part of a 14-point third quarter. The defense played a stingy game and got a win against the big bad Bombers, their 1^st in 14 games. 

5 – O.J. Hiliare had 5 receptions for 51 yds

3 – Kaion Julien-Grant had 3 receptions for 69 yds

137 – Justin Rankin had 18 carries for 138 yds with 1 TD, 1 reception for -1 yds

142 – Cody Fajardo went 13/24 for 142 passing yards with 0 TD, 0 Int 

141– Javon Leake had 5 punt returns for 43 yds, 4 kickoff returns for 98 yds 

6 – Brock Mogenson led the team with 6 defensive tackles

4 – Leonard Johnson led Elks players with 4 special team tackles

1 – Jared Brinkman had 1 sack 

29:39 – Elks had the ball for 28:32 (by Qtr: (1) 7:01 (2) 6:01 (3) 7:22 (4) 8:08).

1 – Vincent Blanchard was 1/3 in FG Attempts and 3/3 in converts.

Season Series:     BLUE BOMBERS 1     –     ELKS 1

Elks Records vs Winnipeg                                                                                                                                                  .

Grey Cups – Edmonton vs Winnipeg                                                                                                                                .

1990 – Winnipeg 50 Edmonton 11 – Wpg HC – Mike Riley – Edm HC – Joe Faragalli

1993 – Edmonton 33 Montreal 23 – Edm HC – Ron Lancaster – Mtl HC – Cal Murphy

Elks Milestones                                                                                                                                                                 .

5 – Justin Rankin needs 5 rushes to tie Butch Pressley for 31^st on the EE All-Time Rushes List (325)

10 – Justin Rankin needs 10 rushes to tie Warren Moon for 30^th on the EE All-Time Rushes List (330)

16 – Justin Rankin needs 16 rushes to tie Milson Jones for 29^th on the EE All-Time Rushes List (336)

17 – Justin Rankin needs 17 rushes to tie Calvin McCarty for 28^th on the EE All-Time Rushes List (337)

15 – Justin Rankin needs 15 rushing yards to tie Arkee Whitlock for 22^nd on the EE All-Time Rushes List (2074)

51 – Justin Rankin needs 51 rushing yards to tie John White for 21^st on the EE All-Time Rushes List (2110)

90 – Justin Rankin needs 90 rushing yards to tie Kevin Brown for 20^th on the EE All-Time Rushes List (2149)

1 – Justin Rankin needs 1 rushing TDs to tie Roy Bell for 18^th on the EE All-Time Rush TD List (18)

2 – Justin Rankin needs 2 rushing TDs to tie Michael Soles & Rollie Miles for 16^th on the EE All-Time Rush TD List (19)

3 – Justin Rankin needs 3 rushing TDs to tie Mike King for 15^th on the EE All-Time Rush TD List (20)

4 – Justin Rankin needs 4 rushing TDs to tie Tony Burse & Mike Pringle for 13^th on the EE All-Time Rush TD List (21)

43 – Javon Leake needs 43 punt return yards to tie Leigh McMillan for 14^th on the EE All-Time Punt Return Yards List (1266)

287 – Javon Leake needs 287 punt return yards to tie Kendial Lawrence for 13^th on the EE All-Time Punt Return Yards List (1510)

309 – Javon Leake needs 309 punt return yards to tie Bayne Norrie for 12^th on the EE All-Time Punt Return Yards List (1532)

3 – Javon Leake needs 3 punt returns to tie J.B. Smith for 19^th on the EE All-Time Punt Returns List (106)

15 – Javon Leake needs 15 punt returns to tie Tony Hunter & Trent Walters for 17^th on the EE All-Time Punt Returns List (118)

36 – Javon Leake needs 36 punt returns to tie Howie Schumm for 16^th on the EE All-Time Punt Returns List (139)

1 – Javon Leake needs 1 punt return TD to tie Tony Tompkins, Tristan Jackson & Eddie Brown for 3^rd on the EE All-Time Punt Return TDs List (3)

2 – Javon Leake needs 2 punt return TDs to tie Winston October for 2^nd on the EE All-Time Punt Return TDs List (4)

24 – Javon Leake needs 24 punt return TDs to tie Henry Williams for 1^st on the EE All-Time Punt Return TDs List (26)

150 – Javon Leake needs 150 kickoff return yards to tie Donnie Ashley for 11^th on the EE All-Time Kickoff Return Yards List (1886)

217 – Javon Leake needs 217 kickoff return yards to tie Joe Hernandez for 10^th on the EE All-Time Kickoff Yards List (1953)

395 – Javon Leake needs 395 kickoff return yards to tie Rollie Miles for 9^th on the EE All-Time Kickoff Yards List (2131)

554 – Javon Leake needs 554 kickoff return yards to tie Jim Thomas for 8^th on the EE All-Time Kickoff Yards List (2290)

6 – Javon Leake needs 6 kickoff returns to tie Donnie Ashley for 10^th on the EE All-Time Kickoff Returns List (83)

11 – Javon Leake needs 11 kickoff returns to tie Jim Thomas & Rollie Miles for 8^th on the EE All-Time Kickoff Returns List (88)

32 – Javon Leake needs 32 kickoff returns to tie Tristan Jackson for 7^th on the EE All-Time Kickoff Returns List (109)

3 – Vincent Blanchard needs 3 points to tie Michael Soles for 37^th on the EE All-Time Scoring List (182)

7 – Vincent Blanchard needs 7 points to tie Damon Allen for 36^th on the EE All-Time Scoring List (186)

11 – Vincent Blanchard needs 11 points to tie Rollie Miles for 35^th on the EE All-Time Scoring List (190) 

18 – Vincent Blanchard needs 18 points to tie Joe Mobra for 34^th on the EE All-Time Scoring List (197)

19 – Vincent Blanchard needs 19 points to tie Tracy Ham for 33^rd on the EE All-Time Scoring List (198)

2026 Elks Leaders                                                                                                                                                              .                                                                                                                                                                     

Cody Fajardo                                                                                                                                                                      , 

Cody Fajardo Milestones                                                                                                                                                   .

6 – Cody Fajardo needs 6 games played for 150 Career Games Played (150)

1 – Cody Fajardo needs 1 passing TD for 100 Career Passing Touchdowns (100)

147 – Cody Fajardo needs 147 completions for 2000 Career Completions (2000)

399 – Cody Fajardo needs 399 passing attempts for 3000 Career Passing Attempts (3000)

571 – Cody Fajardo needs 571 passing yards to tie Joe Paopao for 30^th on CFL All-Time Career Passing Yards List (22,474)

676 – Cody Fajardo needs 676 passing yards to tie Tom Wilkinson for 29^th on CFL All-Time Career Passing Yards List (22,579)

822 – Cody Fajardo needs 822 passing yards to tie Joe Kapp for 28^th on CFL All-Time Career Passing Yards List (22,725)

1010 – Cody Fajardo needs 1010 passing yards to tie Dave Dickenson for 27^th on CFL All-Time Career Passing Yards List (22,913)

746 – Cody Fajardo needs 746 passing yards to tie Tre Ford for 16^th on the EE All-Time Passing Yards List (4651)

Vincent Blanchard                                                                                                                                                               .