The Edmonton Elks are back in the win column.
After a 28-7 pounding in Calgary on Labour Day last week, the Battle of Alberta shifted to Edmonton and the Elks took down the Stampeders by a score of 31-19.
Justin Rankin led the way for the home side, rushing for 204 yards and scoring two touchdowns in the win. Cody Fajardo went 16-for-21 with 153 passing yards and one touchdown.
“I’m just really proud of the guys,” said Elks head coach Mark Kilam. “We got beat in Calgary on Monday and we came back and played a more physical game tonight. It’s just a credit to the men in the room. “We knew it was going to take a lot to beat Calgary, they are a good football team, and we put it out there today.”
“We were just pissed off because nobody thought we had a chance in this game,” Fajardo said. “With the way things went last week, it was doom and gloom around here. But the guys believed and we are a 4-1 football team in our last five games. That’s impressive.”
The win keeps Edmonton in the race for playoff spots this fall. The Elks are 5-7, tied for last in the CFL’s West Division with the B.C. Lions. Toronto and Ottawa are tied for the third playoff spot in the East Division with 4-8 records, meaning either the Elks or Lions could earn a playoff spot as the crossover team.
Speaking of the East Division, the Elks will head to Toronto next week for an important Saturday afternoon game against the Argonauts. A win would put Edmonton another step closer to earning a playoff berth.
