Javon Leake returned an 80-yard punt for a touchdown, his second punt-return TD against Ottawa this season
Cody Fajardo completed 22 of 28 passes for 270 yards and rushed for 57 yards with one touchdown
Edmonton improves to 4-6 while Ottawa falls to 3-8, extending their struggles at home
Game Recap:
The Edmonton Elks defeated the Ottawa REDBLACKS 30-20 on Friday night at TD Place Stadium, securing their third consecutive victory against Eastern Division opponents. Edmonton jumped out to a commanding 17-0 first-half lead behind Vincent Blanchard’s field goal, Cody Fajardo’s one-yard rushing touchdown, and Javon Leake’s spectacular 80-yard punt return for a score. The REDBLACKS mounted a second-half comeback with Dustin Crum leading the charge in relief of injured starter Dru Brown, but Justin Rankin’s fourth-quarter rushing touchdown proved decisive in preserving the win for the visiting Elks.
Results
Team
1
2
3
4
OT
T
Outcome
EDM
3
17
0
10
0
30
Win
OTT
0
7
7
6
0
20
Loss
Game Highlights Video:
Watch the full game highlights above to catch all the key plays from Edmonton Elks vs Ottawa REDBLACKS.
Edmonton Elks Performance:
The Elks controlled the game from start to finish, building a 17-point lead and weathering Ottawa’s second-half rally to secure a crucial road victory that keeps their playoff hopes alive.
Justin Rankin: RB – 14 carries for 36 yards, 1 TD; 5 receptions for 58 yards
Javon Leake: RB – 4 carries for 24 yards, 1 reception for 17 yards, 80-yard punt return TD
Steven Dunbar Jr.: WR – 2 receptions for 27 yards on 4 targets
Top Defensive Players:
Joel Dublanko: LB – 6 tackles
JJ Ross: DB – 6 tackles
Chelen Garnes: DB – 5 tackles
Royce Metchie: LB – 5 tackles
Noah Taylor: DE – 4 tackles, 2 sacks
Ottawa REDBLACKS Performance:
The REDBLACKS showed resilience in the second half with Dustin Crum providing solid quarterback play, but their slow start and inability to stop Edmonton’s special teams proved costly in the home loss.
Keelan White: WR – 5 receptions for 68 yards on 7 targets
Andre Miller: WR – 3 receptions for 54 yards, 1 TD
William Stanback: RB – 9 carries for 48 yards; 4 receptions for 37 yards
Eugene Lewis: WR – 4 receptions for 41 yards on 6 targets
Top Defensive Players:
Ayinde Eley: LB – 7 tackles, 1 interception
Jovan Santos-Knox: LB – 5 tackles
Gavin Heslop: DB – 4 tackles
Michael Wakefield: DE – 4 tackles, 1 sack
Adarius Pickett: DB – 3 tackles
Today’s CFL scores show Edmonton continuing their impressive run against Eastern Division teams, while current CFL standings reveal the Elks still trail in the competitive West Division despite their recent success. In the West, Saskatchewan leads at 8-1, followed by Calgary and Winnipeg both at 6-3, with BC at 5-5 and Edmonton now at 4-6. The Eastern Division sees Hamilton leading at 6-4, Montreal at 5-6, Ottawa at 3-8, and Toronto at 2-8.
Cody Fajardo’s dominance over Ottawa continued as he improved to 9-1 all-time in starts against the REDBLACKS. The veteran quarterback’s dual-threat ability was on full display, combining for 327 total yards and two touchdowns. For Ottawa, the loss drops them further behind in the playoff race, though Dustin Crum’s performance in relief of the injured Dru Brown provides some optimism moving forward.
Can the Edmonton Elks maintain their momentum as they head to Calgary for the Labour Day Classic? Will Ottawa’s quarterback situation stabilize with Dustin Crum potentially taking over as starter? What are your thoughts on this game? Share your comments below.
