Edmonton Elks find late push in Winnipeg for win over Bombers (& seven other thoughts)

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The Edmonton Elks continue to test the collective blood pressure of their fans.

Instead of in anger, as it has been for the last five seasons, it’s now the joy of finding a way to win. A masterful drive by Cody Fajardo, inside the three-minute warning, found the winning touchdown to beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-18.

Here are my thoughts on the game.

Franchise Fajardo leads the way

I remember speaking to head coach Mark Kilam at garbage bag day last year and asked who he wanted behind centre in 2026 — he quickly answered Fajardo. When pressed as to the why, he said the 2023 Grey Cup MVP brought real leadership to the team and a belief to win. Fast forward eight months and he has been proven right.

With Fajardo at the helm, I can see the players having belief. Even fans that are suffering from the outcomes of the last five years are starting to believe. It isn’t about how many times you get knocked down, it’s about how many times you get back up. The Brea, California native has shown his team how to get up, repeatedly.

Down 18-17 without having scored a point in the second half, the veteran QB got the ball back with three minutes and 29 seconds left on the clock. He completed six of his next seven passes and ran twice for a total of seven yards.

Clock management was almost perfect. With 56 seconds left, Fajardo found T.J. Luther in the end zone for the game-winning score. I guarantee Elks fans were clenching more than Austin Mack trying to catch one pass with his legs.

Green and Gold fans are not used to belief. For the second week in a row though, the 34-year-old pivot delivered. For the first time since 2017, Edmonton starts a season with three wins in a row and the bench boss picked the right guy to get the Elks there.

Fast start

Players have spoken about fast starts in Edmonton for quite some time — fast start to the season, fast starts to games. However, those fast starts never seemed to materialize in past years. But Thursday’s game was the definition of a fast start.

Joel Dublanko made his presence known on play one with a sack for an eight-yard loss. The third-year linebacker quashed a Brady Oliveira screen on the next play holding him to six yards and forced a punt. Now that is a way to start a game.

The offence was also ready to go as their first drive marched 100 yards for a major score. Four complete passes from Fajardo. A big catch from the newcomer Luther. Two catches from Mack. A marvellous two back play with Javon Leake taking a swing pass for 15 yards. Throw in three Justin Rankin runs for a total of 38 yards and finding the touchdown at the end of it. One of the best starts I have seen from the club in a very long time.

Missed opportunities

This game had the potential to be a good old fashioned drubbing if not for some key missed opportunities.

After a successful Green and Gold possession to start the game, Winnipeg found a drive of their own marching down to the Edmonton 14-yard line. Then Jordan Williams separated football from man — and possibly soul as well — with a giant hit that popped the ball from Brady Oliveira’s hands. Brock Mogensen recovered and took off down the field.

Knowing he is not the fastest of the defensive players, he smartly lateralled the ball to Tyrell Ford who outran his blocker and was knocked out at the Bomber three-yard line. That play should have been six points. Edmonton followed with a five-yard loss and incomplete pass to settle for a field goal.

It is not often that anyone talks about Sergio Castillo missing field goals, much less two. After his first miss, a return of 57 yards by Leake was taken off the board by a holding penalty.

If you’re keeping score, that’s three missed chances.

The ensuing Elks drive went for 105 yards but ended on an incomplete pass in the end zone for a turnover on downs.

Two uncharacteristic drops from Mack and one from Luther turned first downs into punts.

I have seen the defence struggle in the last minute of a half more than I’d like. Edmonton let the Bombers back in the game before half giving them a touchdown with seven ticks on the clock. The usually sure-handed Rankin fumbled a ball on his way to possibly his second score of the game.

By my count, there were six real chances to lock this game away, but it ended much more tense than needed.

Receiver redeemed

On the podcast this week I said I was going to be watching Luther. Teams are going to start keying on Rankin and Mack as they have done a lot of damage over the first two weeks. Edmonton needed a guy to step up and the rookie, who shone in training camp, could be that outlet. Early on he had an 18-yard reception that had him crash with Major Williams and I thought that may be it for his game. Not so much.

After that collision, the Gardner-Webb University product was not catching as much with his hands but trying to fold the football into this arms. The result was a bobbled pass at the goal line that was ruled incomplete as it bounced off his arms, and a drop that bounced off his chest. Not exactly what I had in mind when I was saying I wanted to watch him.

The 26-year-old found redemption though in the final drive. In tight coverage, he used his body to shield any knockdown attempt and scored his first CFL touchdown. Keep an eye on the Arcadia, Florida native over the next few weeks, I feel this is just the start of what he can produce.

What are you watching?

I really try to not get after referees in any sport. It a tough job at the best of times and I can only imagine how hard it is with all these giants on the field. There are times, though, that really make me scratch my head.

Halfway through the second quarter, Cole Snyder lined up for a one-yard plunge into the end zone. The first try was decidedly ineffective, but Winnipeg had lined up offside so he got another crack. Although there was second effort needed, the Eastern Michigan University product found the top half of his body, including the football, over the goal line. The officials ran in to say he was down at the half-yard line. The replay centre called in and the right call was made. But I’m still not sure how the original call was made.

Speaking of head-scratchers, I don’t understand the final play call of the game made by Winnipeg offensive coordinator Tommy Condell. Down by five points and needing a touchdown, only four seconds left, heave it to the end zone and hope for a catch or a pass interference call. The pass went to Nic Demski for 15 yards and no one to lateral to, catch and stopped at the 11-yard line. An odd choice for a play to try and win the game.

Rankin watch

Seems weird not to have mentioned Rankin much after his last couple of games. The third-year back was still able to put up another 106 yards on the ground and nine reception yards, a great night from the 29-year-old back. He is currently on pace to break 2,000 yards rushing. After this outing though, the Oberlin, Ohio native will have to pick up some slack in the receiving area as he’s currently on track for 924 yards. The double 1K watch continues.

Blanchard bang on

Another streak I am following is field goals by Vincent Blanchard. The 2024 fourth-round CFL Draft pick has found his form since the preseason games and has been perfect on all eight field goal attempts this season. The Laval University product is also six-for-seven on converts, even through two rain games and having to go to the backup long snapper. Bradley Hladik has stepped into the long snapping role after an injury to Luke Burton-Krahn. Also drafted in 2024, in the second round, the UBC product did well in his first game and was able to help Blanchard continue his run. That’s something to keep an eye on as they work on the form with Jake Julien.

Next up Kelowna

After this game on a short week, Edmonton gets a bit longer break before meeting up against the B.C. Lions in their temporary home in Kelowna. I am intrigued at how the Elks will game-plan for a B.C. team, and particularly a quarterback in Nathan Rourke, that seems to find big ways to win against them. The Green and Gold will have to make sure they capitalize on their opportunities and try to get away from needing last-minute heroics.

Andrew Hoskins is a lifelong Edmonton resident and the host of the Turf District Podcast.