The Elks secured a crucial 25-20 victory against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with two remarkable third-quarter touchdowns and a resilient fourth-quarter defense, boosting Edmonton’s slim chances of making the CFL playoffs. In front of 15,013 fans enduring a wet and chilly 4-degree Celsius evening in Edmonton, Elks’ running back Justin Rankin’s 64-yard touchdown run on a third-down risk, along with Kordell Jackson’s 47-yard touchdown following a teammate’s fumble recovery, propelled the team to success.
Coach Mark Kilam praised the team’s resilience in overcoming obstacles to keep their playoff hopes alive. Despite a challenging 1-6 start to the season, the Elks must win their remaining two games, including a crucial matchup against the Calgary Stampeders, to secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2019 when they qualified as the crossover team.
With their third win in five games, the Elks improved their overall record to 7-9 but still occupy the bottom spot in the West Division, trailing the Bombers by just two points. However, Winnipeg holds a potential tiebreaker advantage due to their previous victory over the Elks. Should Edmonton triumph over Calgary in their final encounter, they would secure the tiebreaker in that matchup as well.
The pivotal moments in the game came through Rankin’s explosive touchdown run on a critical third down, followed by Jackson’s impressive 47-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown, extending the Elks’ lead to 25-10. The resilient defensive plays by Edmonton, forcing Winnipeg into unsuccessful third-down gambles, sealed the victory for the Elks.
Reflecting on the game, Winnipeg’s Brady Oliveira acknowledged Edmonton’s exceptional plays and attributed some success to luck, particularly highlighting Jackson’s fumble recovery touchdown. Despite Oliveira surpassing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the fourth consecutive season, the Bombers fell short due to errors and missed opportunities.
Quarterback performances saw Cody Fajardo of Edmonton completing 13 of 14 passes for 142 yards, while Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros completed 22 of 34 passes for 202 yards. The Blue Bombers are set to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders, while the Elks will visit the B.C. Lions on Oct. 17.
The game showcased the Elks’ determination to stay in the playoff race, with standout plays and a resilient defensive effort securing a crucial victory on their home turf.