Edmonton completes perfect preseason with narrow victory as both teams prepare for final roster cuts

The Edmonton Elks capped off a perfect 2-0 preseason with a nail-biting 20-19 victory over the BC Lions at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday night. In a back-and-forth affair that saw multiple lead changes, the Elks’ fourth-quarter rally proved to be the difference in what became a showcase for both teams’ depth as they prepare for roster cutdowns on Saturday night.

Fourth Quarter Heroics Seal Victory

Trailing 19-14 entering the final frame, Edmonton’s Will McElvain engineered a masterful game-winning drive. The backup quarterback capped a 9-play, 62-yard march with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jalon Calhoun with just eight seconds remaining, giving the Elks their come-from-behind victory.

Offensive Standouts

BC Lions Top Performers

Passing Leaders:

• Chase Brice: 8/10, 104 yards, 1 TD (145.4 efficiency rating)
• Nathan Rourke: 8/8, 84 yards (129.2 efficiency rating)
• Jeremiah Masoli: 7/11, 88 yards (88.4 efficiency rating)

Rushing Leaders:

• DeShaun Fenwick: 8 carries, 36 yards
• Jordan Terrell: 5 carries, 18 yards

Receiving Leaders:

• Hayden Hatten: 3 catches, 62 yards
• Jermaine Jackson: 4 catches, 47 yards
• Ezechiel Tieide: 1 catch, 37 yards, 1 TD

Edmonton Elks Top Performers

Passing Leaders:

• Will McElvain: 4/6, 40 yards, 1 TD (141.0 efficiency rating)
• Cole Snyder: 4/5, 58 yards (117.1 efficiency rating)
• Cody Fajardo: 6/8, 88 yards (58.3 efficiency rating)

Rushing Leaders:

• Justin Rankin: 3 carries, 23 yards, 1 TD
• DeWayne McBride: 6 carries, 19 yards, 1 TD
• Javon Leake: 4 carries, 17 yards

Receiving Leaders:

• Steven Dunbar Jr.: 3 catches, 49 yards
• Jalon Calhoun: 2 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD
• Kaion Julien-Grant: 1 catch, 41 yards

Defensive Impact Players

BC Lions Defense

• Ronald Kent Jr.: 1 interception, 20 return yards
• Kyle Nelson: 1 interception, 45 return yards
• Nick Anderson: 10 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss
• Jeremy Lewis: 5 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss

Edmonton Elks Defense

• Nick Anderson: 10 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss
• Quincy Ledet: 2 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss
• Silas Hubert: 2 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback sack

Key Statistical Comparisons

The game was evenly matched statistically, reflecting the tight final score:

Total Offense:

• BC Lions: 343 yards (276 passing, 81 rushing)
• Edmonton Elks: 335 yards (265 passing, 70 rushing)

Turnovers Prove Costly:

• BC Lions: 1 turnover (turnover on downs)
• Edmonton Elks: 3 turnovers (2 interceptions, 1 turnover on downs)

Special Teams Battle:

• BC Lions went perfect on field goals (4/4), with Sean Whyte and Mark McNamee combining for successful attempts
• Edmonton’s Vincent Blanchard struggled, missing both convert attempts

Looking Ahead

With preseason complete, both teams face critical decisions as the 10 PM ET roster deadline looms Saturday night. The Lions finish preseason 0-2 but showed significant improvement, particularly in offensive execution under multiple quarterbacks. The Elks’ perfect 2-0 preseason record provides momentum heading into final cuts and preparation for the June 5th season opener.

Edmonton’s depth at quarterback position appears strong with multiple players showing capability, while BC’s offensive weapons give them options as they finalize their roster construction. Both teams will be making difficult decisions as they trim down to regular season limits before the CFL campaign officially begins.