Elks Game Notes 15.0: Edmonton looks to sweep Labour Day series

The Edmonton Elks battled throughout the Labour Day Classic, finally seizing the lead with 4:24 remaining. Despite trailing by as much as 18 points, the Elks showed remarkable resilience, ultimately securing a 38-28 victory over the Calgary Stampeders to take sole possession of first place in the Western Division. With this result, the last-place Stampeders now sit one game back from the final playoff spot in either division heading into Saturday night’s Labour Day rematch.

Week 15 of the CFL season features 4 games played on “Super Saturday” with 3 return engagements from Labour Day Weekend: 

• Game 1: Ottawa Redblacks at Toronto Argonauts: Saturday, September 12: The 0-11 Redblacks travel to Toronto to face the second-place Argonauts. While the RedBlacks remain in pursuit of their first victory of the season, the Argonauts are currently embroiled in a critical playoff race involving the Tiger-Cats and the West Division; consequently, these two points hold significant importance for both organizations.
• Game 2: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Saturday, September 12 : This match serves as the continuation of last Sunday’s physical overtime thriller. Winnipeg seeks to rebound and bolster its pursuit of a Western Division playoff berth, while the Riders remain focused on securing a bye in the West Division Final. This matchup between two storied rivals marks the second game of the CFL’s “Super Saturday.”
• Game 3: Calgary Stampeders at Edmonton Elks: Saturday, September 12: The Battle of Alberta serves as the third contest of “Super Saturday.” The Elks aim to build upon the momentum from their Labour Day Classic victory over their southern provincial rivals. Meanwhile, the Stampeders are embroiled in a critical playoff race and require this win to keep their postseason aspirations alive.
• Game 4: Montreal Alouettes at BC Lions  Saturday, September 12: This game serves as the week’s nightcap and serves as a rematch of last Friday’s heavyweight encounter. Both teams feature top Canadian talent in the league, specifically Montreal’s Philpot and BC’s Rourke. Last week’s game was a highlight for football fans, and we anticipate this week’s contest will be equally, if not more, compelling.

The Lead: With a victory in the Labour Day Rematch, the Elks have the opportunity to move 10 points ahead of the Stampeders, secure the season series, and significantly complicate Calgary’s path to the playoffs. Despite the intense animosity inherent in this provincial rivalry, the Stampeders are expected to compete with extreme urgency, as missing the postseason remains a  risk. For the Elks, this game offers an opportunity to secure their 135th victory against the Stampeders, which would stand as the highest number of wins they have achieved against any single opponent.

The Fajardo File: This is Regular Season start number 99 for Cody Fajardo. He needs 75 attempts, 62 completions and 754 passing yards to set seasonal bests while already setting a personal best of 20 passing TD;s in a season in only 12 games. He has a streak of 14 consecutive games with a touchdown pass, a personal regular season best (16 is his record including playoffs). His leadership is undeniable on this team and is getting great results while working in the team framework of this hard hitting team

The Strategic Matchup: At Commonwealth Stadium, the Elks must control every aspect of the game—offense, defense, special teams, emotions, penalties, and discipline—against a desperate opponent fighting to keep their season alive. Expect the Stampeders to throw everything at them, including third-down gambles, trick plays, exotic blitzes, and perhaps a bit of extracurricular aggression to avoid being “uninvited” to the Elks’ Christmas party. While desperation may make for an ugly game, the Elks need to dominate from the opening snap to win like a true first-place team. If the Elks win, it would be the 16th season sweep of the Stampeders in the Battle of Alberta

ElksNation Game Notes

Inside the Numbers                                                                                                                                                            .

1297 – This is regular season game 1297 for the Elks (719-559-18…home 410-232-7…road 309-327-11) since 1949 (excludes 1938 & 1938 WIFU seasons)              

• Record vs Calgary 134-109-3 (home 73-48-1…in Calgary 61-61-2)
• Record vs Dave Dickenson Coached Teams 8-16-0 (home 5-7-0, Away 3-9-0, Calgary 8-16-0) 

The last 10 (Regular Season Games)                                                                                                                               .

• Elks are 7-3 in the last 10 games (3 game winning streak) 
• Elks are 8-2 in the last 10 games at home (1 game winning streak)
• Elks are 6-4 in the last 10 games vs Calgary (1 game winning streak)
• Elks are 5-5 in the last 10 games vs Calgary in Edmonton (1 game losing streak)
• Elks are 5-5 in the last 10 games Labour Day Rematch Games (3 game winning streak)
• Elks are 6-4 in the last 10 games against Western Division teams (2 game winning streak)

Elks Streaks                                                                                                                                                                        .

7 – Elks have won 7 consecutive games when leading at halftime

– W 42-12 Aug 15, 2026 vs Tor: Halftime Score Edm 11 Tor 9

– W 19-17 Jul 17, 2026 vs BC: Halftime Score Edm 16 BC 7

– W 40-17 Jul 9, 2026 vs Ott: Halftime Score Edm 16 Ott 7

– W 23-18 Jun 25, 2026 at Wpg: Halftime Score Edm 17 Wpg 7

– 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

9 – Elks have won 9 consecutive games when leading after 3 quarters

– W 42-12 Aug 15, 2026 vs Tor: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 24 Tor 12

– W 36-34 Jul 23, 2026 at Sask: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 27 Sask 21        

– W 19-17 Jul 17, 2026 vs BC: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 19 BC 7

– W 40-17 Jul 9, 2026 vs Ott: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 16 Ott 14

– W 23-18 Jun 25, 2026 at Wpg: 3^rd Qtr Score Edm 17 Wpg 11

        – 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 

8 – Elks have won 8 consecutive games when Justin Rankin rushes for 100+ yds

– W 40-17 Jul 9, 2026 vs Ott: 14 for 107 yds, 2 TD

– W 23-18 Jun 25, 2026 at Wpg: 15 for 106 yds, 1 TD

– 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 

4 – The Elks have won 4 consecutive games when TOP is 35:00+ minutes

– W 42-12 Aug 15, 2026 vs Tor: 37:40

– 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

14 – Cody Fajardo has passed for a TD in 14 consecutive games. He is 9-5-0 with 22 TDs & 11 Ints. His personal best is 16 games (including playoffs – 13 in regular season games only)

Did You Know….                                                                                                                                                                 .

– The Elks are 16-18-0 in Labour Day Rematch (LDR). 

– After the 1^st quarter: 13-7-0 with lead, 1-2-0 when tied, 2-9-0 when losing

– After the 2^nd quarter: 13-4-0 with lead, 1-1-0 when tied, 2-13-0 when losing 

– After the 3^rd quarter: 13-4-0 with lead, 1-0-0 when tied, 2-14-0 when losing 

– The 1998 game vs Winnipeg had Dwayne Provo with a 49 yd pick-6

– Edmonton is 1-0-0 in the LD Rematch on Sept 12

– Edmonton won the first five Labour Day Rematch games. Calgary won 8 consecutive LDR games between 2007-14

– The LDR used to be 4 days between games and switched to 5 days in 2014. Edmonton was 12-12-0 on 4 days rest and 4-6-0 on 5 days rest

– The largest attendance on LDR was 62,444 in 2003 (38-0 EE Win)

– The LDR has been the top attended Edmonton home game in 24 of 34 seasons it has been played and top 3 of all-time (5 out of top 10) 

Review of Elks of last game                                                                                                                                          .                                                                                                               

Edmonton at Calgary – September 7, 2026 – Stampeders 28 – Elks 38 

24 – The Calgary Stampeders kick a FG early in the 4^th quarter to go up 28-14. The Elks then put up 24 points in the final 8 minutes 36 seconds to complete the Labour Day Comeback. Bothe defenses battled hard as both starting QB’s were kept under 56% completion rates. This sets up the return match up in Edmonton as a must win for the Stampeders.

2 – Austin Mack had 2 receptions for 33 yds & 1 TD

3 – Joe Robustelli had 3 receptions for 53 yds

4 – Kaon Julien-Grant had 4 receptions for 42 yds & 1 TD

55 – Justin Rankin had 5 carries for 48 yds and 1 TD, 5 receptions for 7 yds

181 – Cody Fajardo went 17/31 for 181 passing yards with 2 TDs, 1 Int

86 – ShunDerrick Powell had 6 punt returns for 86 yds

12 – Nick Anderson led the team with 12 defensive tackles

2 – Dariel Djabome had 2 special teams tackles

1 – Malik Carney, Noah Taylor, Nick Anderson & Joel Dublanko each had a sack. 

31:24 – Elks had the ball for 31:24 (by Qtr: (1) 6:25 (2) 6:53 (3) 8:26 (4) 9:40).

1 – Vincent Blanchard was 1/1 in FG Attempts and 5/5 in converts.

Review of Elks and Stampeders  in 2025                                                                                                                     .   

***LABOUR DAY CLASSIC*** Edmonton at Calgary – September 1, 2025 – Stampeders 28 – Elks 7 

2 – This game was far from a classic. Both teams were in the red zone 3 times combined. The Elks turned their two red zone visits into 2 fumbles while the Stampeders turned their lone visit into a TD. The Stampeders also had an 86 yd punt return for a TD by Erik Brooks in the third quarter that put the Stamps up by 13 and they never looked back. 

3 – Kurleigh Gittens Jr. had 3 receptions for 46 yds

7 – Arkell Smith had 7 receptions for 81 yds

96 – Justin Rankin had 13 carries for 48 yds, 5 receptions for 48 yds 

255 – Cody Fajardo went 21/33 for 255 passing yards with 0 TD, 0 Int 

110 – Javon Leake had 4 punt returns for 32 yds, 3 kickoff returns for 78 yds 

7 – Royce Metchie led the team with 7 defensive tackles

1 – Elks had 5 players with 1 special team tackle

0 – The Elks had no sacks 

30:54 – Elks had the ball for 30:54 (by Qtr: (1) 7:10 (2) 8:13 (3) 10:55 (4) 4:36).

2 – Vincent Blanchard was 2/32 in FG Attempts and 0/0 in converts.

***LABOUR DAY RETURN (LDR) GAME *** Calgary at Edmonton – September 6, 2025 – Stampeders 19 – Elks 31 

14 – The Stampeders continued where the left off from the Labour Day Classic and got out to a 9-4 first quarter lead. From that point on, the Justin Rankin show took over as he ran for a 90 yd TD and a 31 yd TD in the second quarter and ran for 204 yds. 

5 – Kaion Julien-Grant had 5 receptions for 48 yds for 1 TD

4 – O.J. Hiliare had 4 receptions for 51 yds

204 – Justin Rankin had 16 carries for 204 yds for 2 TD, 0 reception for 0 yds

153 – Cody Fajardo went 16/21 for 153 passing yards with 1 TD, 0 Int 

152– Javon Leake had 3 punt return for 10 yds, 3 kickoff returns for 56 yds, 1 missed field goal return for 86 yds 

6 – Joel Dublanko led the team with 6 defensive tackles

2 – Kenneth Logan Jr. led Elks players with 2 special team tackles

2 – Jonathan Kongbo had 2 sacks 

30:16 – Elks had the ball for 30:16 (by Qtr: (1) 6:06 (2) 7:02 (3) 10:11 (4) 6:57).

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

Calgary at Edmonton – October 14, 2025 – Stampeders 20 – Elks 10 

20 – In the final regular season game of the year, the Stampeders control the game and take a 16-0 halftime lead to a 20-10 victory. The Elks commit 4 turnovers and the Stampeders score 13 points in 4 visits to the red zone. 

6 – O.J. Hiliare had 6 receptions for 86 yds

4 – Jalon Calhoun had 4 receptions for 68 yds for 1 TD

47 – Justin Rankin had 9 carries for 1 yds, 3 reception for 46 yds

272 – Cody Fajardo went 20/27 for 272 passing yards with 1 TD, 1 Int 

49 – Javon Leake had 4 punt returns for 12 yds, 2 kickoff returns for 37 yds 

8 – Chelen Garnes led the team with 8 defensive tackles

2 – Jacob Plamondon led Elks players with 2 special team tackles

2 – Kenneth Logan Jr. had 2 sacks 

27:35 – Elks had the ball for 27:35 (by Qtr: (1) 7:39 (2) 4:30 (3) 7:13 (4) 8:31).

1 – Vincent Blanchard was 1/2 in FG Attempts and 1/1 in converts.

Season Series:     STAMPEDERS 2     –     ELKS 1

Elks Records vs Calgary                                                                                                                                                   .

Elks Milestones                                                                                                                                                                 .

31– Justin Rankin needs 31 rushes to tie Troy Mills for 17^th on the EE All-Time Rushes List (461)

32– Justin Rankin needs 32 rushes to tie Michael Soles for 16^th on the EE All-Time Rushes List (462)

29 – Justin Rankin needs 29 rushing yards to tie Mike Pringle for 13^th on the EE All-Time Rushing Yards List (2646)

45 – Justin Rankin needs 45 rushing yards to tie Ricky Ray for 12^th on the EE All-Time Rushing Yards List (2662)

137 – Justin Rankin needs 137 rushing yards to tie Damon Allen for 11^th on the EE All-Time Rushing Yards List (2754)

1 – Justin Rankin needs 1 rushing TD to tie Neil Lumsden for 12^th on the EE All-Time Rush TD List (24)

3 – Justin Rankin needs 3 rushing TDs to tie Matt Dunigan for 11^th on the EE All-Time Rush TD List (26)

10– Vincent Blanchard needs 10 points to tie Fred Stamps for 21^st on the EE All-Time Scoring List (294)

23– Vincent Blanchard needs 23 points to tie Jim Thomas for 20^th on the EE All-Time Scoring List (307)

2026 Elks Leaders                                                                                                                                                              .                                                                                                                                                                     

Justin Rankin                                                                                                                                                               .

The Receivers                                                                                                                                                                 .

Cody Fajardo                                                                                                                                                                      , 

Cody Fajardo Milestones                                                                                                                                                   .

63 – Cody Fajardo needs 63 passing attempts for 3000 Career Passing Attempts (3000)

45 – Cody Fajardo needs 45 passing yards for 25,000 Career Passing Yards (25,000)

238 – Cody Fajardo needs 238 passing yards to tie Condredge Holloway for 22^nd on CFL All-Time Career Passing Yards List (25,193)

Vincent Blanchard                                                                                                                                                               .                     

Defensive Breakdown I                                                                                                                                                       .

Defensive Breakdown II                                                                                                                                                     .