In a showcase of offensive power and resilient defence, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (HAM) recorded a decisive 37-29 victory over the Edmonton Elks (EDM) in Canadian Football League action.
Edmonton’s Historic Losing Streak
The Elks’ performance continues to plummet into an unfavorable record in North American professional sports, as their losing streak worsens. With their 10th consecutive loss and their 20th home defeat, the Elks have fallen to an unfortunate 0-6 record. This represents the most dismal start in the franchise’s history.
The home field, once a stronghold for the Elks, has now become a place of constant disappointment. The team has been unable to break the chains of a CFL-record 20 straight home defeats, a sequence of disappointment that extends back to October 12, 2019.
With this latest setback, the Elks have unfortunately matched the longest streak of home losses across all major professional leagues in North America. Their current record is a bitter reminder of their struggle and a testament to the difficult challenges they face in turning their fortunes around.
Hamilton’s Offensive Prowess
Hamilton’s offence was paced by quarterbacks Matthew Shiltz and Taylor Powell. Shiltz, completing 10 of his 17 pass attempts, threw for 184 yards, while Powell, stepping in for a few key plays, went 2-for-4 and contributed 47 yards along with a crucial touchdown. Shiltz left the game with an injury late in the third quarter.
The ground game was also a significant part of Hamilton’s offensive success. Running back James Butler was a standout, tallying 127 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. His longest run of the game was an impressive 37 yards. Tyreik McAllister and Matthew Shiltz also contributed to the rushing attack, with 14 and 10 yards respectively, Shiltz adding another rushing touchdown to the team’s tally.
The receiving core was led by Terry Godwin, who caught four passes for 61 yards. Other notable contributors included James Butler and Tim White. Butler snagged three passes for 40 yards, while White secured two receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, featuring a standout 54-yard catch.
Defensive Standouts for Hamilton
The Hamilton defense also had their share of big moments. Cornerback Laurence Woods led the defensive unit with eight defensive tackles and one special teams tackle, while linebacker Jameer Thurman recorded seven defensive tackles and one special teams tackle. Defensive tackle Casey Sayles and defensive tackle Ted Laurent each recorded a quarterback sack. Defensive back Stavros Katsantonis and cornerback Javien Elliott each had an interception, with Elliott also contributing a knockdown.
Edmonton’s Effort
On Edmonton’s side, quarterback Jarrett Doege led the passing game, completing 14 of 21 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown. Taylor Cornelius, who shared quarterback duties, went 11-for-20 with 177 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.
The Elks’ rushing attack was led by running back Kevin Brown, who ran for 77 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, including a remarkable 50-yard sprint. Cornelius and Shannon Brooks added 14 and 16 yards respectively to the Elks’ rushing total.
The Elks’ receiving unit was led by Kyran Moore, who had four receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Steven Dunbar Jr had five receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively for Edmonton, linebacker Mark McLaurin and linebacker Peter Adjei led the team with five defensive tackles each. Defensive tackle Kony Ealy and linebacker Nyles Morgan each recorded a quarterback sack, while cornerback Scott Hunter contributed an interception.
Despite the loss, the Edmonton Elks showcased notable individual performances and provided tough competition for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. However, Hamilton’s offensive firepower and strong defence proved too much to handle, leading to their 37-29 victory.
David Tress
July 14, 2023 at 11:35 am
Why doesn’t Chris Jones see the light. He needs another quarterback! That pick-six tilted the entire game. The reinstatement of Johnny Manziel to Edmonton would be better than going 0-18. Manziel would at least be a good backup and he has CFL experience.
John Buxton
July 14, 2023 at 3:52 pm
Don’t oversell Johnny Manziel. Of the several teams he was on the backup QB usually ended the game with better numbers. Elks could use a QB that can pass, run, and defensive play coming at them.
Michael Muldoon
July 14, 2023 at 7:12 pm
I saw Johnny Manziel play live once and several times on TV in the CFL and can state, having witnessed it, that he was completely mediocre in the CFL because he had difficulty adjusting to the Canadian game. He also wanted way too much money for what his experience and performance merited. He originally wanted to be paid as much as the top QBs in the league at the time—Mike Reilly, BoLevi Mitchell, and Zach Collaros—before he even took a snap in practice, without any experience on the bigger field and with the different defensive schemes 12-man football presents. He didn’t abide by the terms of the contract that he did eventually sign, which is why the league barred him. He has played 10 games since 2018, all in nothing leagues like FCF. Add to that the fact that he stated in 2021, “I have zero interest, zero desire. My heart’s not in it anymore. I don’t love football the way I used to love football.” So he’s pretty much done and is definitely not the answer to the Elks’ problem.