James Butler ran wild and Cody Fajardo couldn't stop turning the ball over as the Lions ran away with it.
The BC Lions leaned on 162 rushing yards and three second-half giveaways from Edmonton to knock off the Edmonton Elks 36-24 at Apple Bowl. Edmonton actually out-gained BC through the air and finished with more total yards, but three interceptions from Fajardo were too much to overcome. The Lions climb to 1-3 with the win, while the Elks slip to 3-1 despite the loss.
Box Score
Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edmonton Elks | 6 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
BC Lions | 10 | 19 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 36 |
See full player stats and game details
Game Highlights
Top Performers
BC Lions
James Butler (RB) — 15 att, 135 yds, 2 TD rushing; 3 rec, 27 yds
Nathan Rourke (QB) — 27/36, 320 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Zander Horvath (RB) — 6 att, 27 yds, 1 TD rushing; 3 rec, 18 yds, 1 TD receiving
Jermaine Jackson (WR) — 6 rec, 50 yds
Deontai Williams (DB) — 7 tackles
Edmonton Elks
Cody Fajardo (QB) — 34/51, 395 yds, 3 TD, 3 INT
Austin Mack (WR) — 8 rec, 141 yds, 1 TD
Justin Rankin (RB) — 10 rec, 100 yds; 7 att, 19 yds rushing
Kaion Julien-Grant (WR) — 4 rec, 32 yds, 2 TD
Joel Dublanko (LB) — 7 tackles, 1 INT
Team Stats
Stat | Edmonton Elks | BC Lions |
|---|---|---|
Total Yards | 419 | 482 |
Passing | 34/51, 395 yds, 3 TD | 27/36, 320 yds, 1 TD |
Rushing | 9 att, 24 yds, 0 TD | 21 att, 162 yds, 3 TD |
Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
Quick Hits
Edmonton put up 395 passing yards and still lost by 12 — that's what happens when you throw three picks.
James Butler did all his damage on the ground, going for 135 yards and two scores on just 15 carries while Edmonton's whole backfield managed only 24 yards as a team.
Fantasy managers riding Austin Mack got their money's worth — 8 catches, 141 yards, a touchdown — but Fajardo's turnovers make him a tough start until he cleans it up.
What's Next
Edmonton Elks (3-1) — host Ottawa Redblacks on July 9 (July 10, 2026 UTC)
BC Lions (1-3) — not listed in next week's four announced matchups; check the Full Schedule for their next date
CFL Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
What's your takeaway? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

