The Edmonton Elks kept a bad thing from getting worse Saturday afternoon, pouring a big second half onto the Toronto Argonauts to win 42-12.
Edmonton was coming off back-to-back losses to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes, in games where their offence kept them in it, but defensive woes cost them. The same can’t be said for Saturday’s game at Commonwealth Stadium, as the defence kept them in the game, allowing for a big second half.
“The leadership in the room, they deserve the credit,” Elks coach Mark Kilam said after the game. “They just came out with a single mindset to come get it done, (and) that’s what they did.”
Both teams would trade field goals to start the game, before Elks punter Jake Julien kicked a rouge to give them a 4-3 lead.
The Elks would score the first touchdown of the game, as short-yardage quarterback Cody Snyder capped off a 13-play, 105-yard drive by the Elks. It saw the team dink and dunk down the field, and quarterback Cody Fajardo breaking off a 44-yard rush.
Nothing much came for both offences in the second quarter, as both teams would trade two-and-out’s, before the Argonauts would take advantage of a big Elks penalty, allowing Nick Arbuckle to punch in a one-yard touchdown ending the first half.
Opening the second half, both teams traded field goals on each of their first drives, before another Vincent Blanchard field goal gave Edmonton a 17-12 lead. Later in the third quarter, Justin Rankin broke off runs of 35 and eight yards on the same drive, the latter of which going for a touchdown to take a 24-12 lead.
Toronto would turnover the ball on downs on their first drive of the fourth quarter, giving the Elks solid field position. Fajardo would find receiver Joshua Cephus four plays later, scampering 10 yards for a touchdown to make it 31-12.
Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly would make a crucial mistake on their next drive, a defensive back JJ Ross would intercept him, returning it 85 yards to the house. Edmonton grew their lead to 38-12.
Another Argonauts turnover on downs would lead to a 10-play drive from the Elks, capped off by a Blanchard field goal.
After the game, Fajardo was fired up.
“We know we’re a top team in this league,” he said. “We know as long as we play our brand of football, we can win. But there was no panic this week, guys just knew we needed to energize and if we play our brand of football we’d have a good chance of winning this game, and sure enough we won all three phases tonight.”
Next up for the Elks will see them host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Friday night at 7:30 p.m. MT at Commonwealth Stadium.
