In a heart-pounding finish, the Edmonton Elks (6-9) secured a 27-25 victory over the CFL’s top-ranked Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-4), halting a two-point conversion attempt on the game’s final play. The win, in front of a roaring Commonwealth Stadium crowd, snapped Edmonton’s two-game losing streak and kept their slim playoff hopes flickering with three games left in the season.
Justin Rankin was the hero for the Elks (6-9), powering through with two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns. His performance fueled a resilient effort against the West Division-leading Roughriders (10-4), who nearly tied the game in the dying seconds. The Elks’ defense stood tall, stopping Saskatchewan’s two-point try to seal the victory.
Edmonton Elks Heartbreak and Playoff chances
After enduring back-to-back games where late comebacks stole wins, this triumph was a morale booster for Edmonton. In the postgame press conference, Coach Mark Kilam said. “I saw a lot of guts,” “Each phase made plays down the stretch. I’m happy for the guys and the Thompson family.” The Elks have two opportunities left to make a playoff push.
The Elks’ playoff path remains steep—they likely need to win out and get help from other results. Still, Saturday’s gritty performance showed their fight. They showed some spark on offensive, defensive resolve, and clutch plays, Edmonton proved they can hang with the CFL’s best, and Fans left hopeful, knowing their team’s post-season chance is small, but still alive.
The Elks have the week off, before returning to home action against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-7). Meanwhile, the Roughriders are on the road to play Ottawa (4-10) this Friday. The Edmonton Winnipeg game is huge for both teams. Winnipeg needs a win to stay ahead of BC (8-7) for the final Western Division playoff spot. While the Edmonton Elks need to win their final two games. To keep their slim playoff chances alive.
