EDMONTON – After two straight video games the place they had been the victims of a last-second comeback, the Edmonton Elks had been lastly in a position to maintain on to win and preserve their post-season goals alive within the course of.
Justin Rankin scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns because the Elks saved their slight CFL playoff hopes going, holding on for an exciting 27-25 victory over the West Division-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, regardless of the visiting crew having an opportunity to tie it with a two-point convert try on the ultimate play of the sport.
The Elks (6-9) snapped a two-game dropping skid, however will nonetheless seemingly have to win their remaining three video games and get some assist in the method to make the playoffs.
“I saw a lot of guts,” mentioned Elks head coach Mark Kilam. “I saw a lot of really good performances. I saw some challenges that we’re going to continue to have to overcome, but it was a complete win as far as each phase made plays down the stretch that we had to have. I’m really happy for the guys in the room, but also for the Thompson family.”
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The Elks held a second of silence and had painted tributes in the long run zones to honour proprietor Larry Thompson, who died Thursday of problems following an unspecified surgical procedure earlier this week at age 65. Thompson, a former season-ticket holder who had lengthy dreamt of changing into an proprietor, solely bought the crew on Aug. 15, 2024.
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The Roughriders (10-4) have misplaced two in a row for the primary time all season.
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“You’re always disappointed, I don’t care what the loss looks like, it sucks,” mentioned Riders head coach Corey Mace. “I used to be completely satisfied that our crew was in a position to push it out right down to the final whistle, however finally we began out too gradual as a crew and put ourselves in an 11-point gap.
“I don’t care who it is that you’re playing, it’s professional sports. It’s tough. We have to find a way to improve upon that.”
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After the Elks acquired a punt single on their opening drive, Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris was picked off twice on his crew’s first possession, first by Kenneth Logan Jr., who promptly fumbled it again, after which by Brock Mogensen. Nonetheless, Edmonton was unable to capitalize on the chance.
The following factors didn’t come till early within the second when Elks kicker Vincent Blanchard nailed a 47-yard discipline aim.
Edmonton added to its lead late within the opening half as a 47-yard cross from quarterback Cody Fajardo to Kaion Julien-Grant arrange a one-yard landing plunge by backup QB Cole Snyder.
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Saskatchewan responded with a 44-yard discipline aim by Brett Lauther to path 11-3 at halftime.
The Roughriders tightened issues up with 4 minutes left within the third quarter on a five-yard TD run by A.J. Ouellette, however the two-point convert failed.
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After an enormous fumble restoration by Kosi Onyeka on the Edmonton 41, finally resulting in a 30-yard discipline aim by Lauther and Saskatchewan’s first lead.
Edmonton rapidly responded with a 37-yard landing run by Rankin, adopted by an unsuccessful two-point convert cross try, to surge again in entrance 17-12.
The Elks acquired one other large play with 3:35 to play, a 44-yard cross to Odieu Hiliare, that arrange Rankin’s second TD, as he battled onerous to push into the tip zone from 5 yards out.
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“We know that he’s a tremendous football player for us,” Kilam mentioned. “There was one play where we were second and forever and he broke a bunch of tackles and willed himself to the first down. I thought in my head at that moment that it was one of the plays of the year for our offence because it just took so much guts.”
Saskatchewan fought again with 2:13 left on the clock, as Harris accomplished a 24-yard TD cross to Tommy Nield.
Edmonton got here again with a 30-yard Blanchard discipline aim.
The Riders weren’t performed but, although, and marched all the way in which again down discipline to the one-yard-line with one second to play and acquired a landing from Tommy Stevens. Nonetheless, the two-point convert passing try to tie the sport failed.
FOOT NOTES
Edmonton, which hasn’t certified for the CFL playoffs since 2019, misplaced its earlier two video games by a mixed three factors and had misplaced 4 video games this season by 4 factors or much less. … The attendance was introduced as 30,053.
UP NEXT
Roughriders: Go to the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday, Oct. 3.
Elks: Host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday, Oct. 11.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Sept. 27, 2025.
