Wins have been rare for the Edmonton Elks — and even rarer at home.
Boris Bede kicked three field goals on Sunday as the Elks won their second game in a row, and second of the season, defeating the B.C. Lions 33-16.
“It’s great to get a win and you can tell there is a vibe in the locker room right now,” said Elks quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who came in for starter Tre Ford when he left with what appears to be a rib injury late in the first half. “We were so close for so many weeks.”
The Elks are now 2-7. It was their first win at home this season, and just the third in their last 31 games stretching back to Oct. 26, 2019.
“The guys are ecstatic right now,” said Elks head coach Jarious Jackson. “The locker room is crazy, there is water everywhere. I’m sure they are going to have a hard time cleaning up after this. It was good, and that is how it should be.
“You can definitely feel the momentum growing. These guys worked their tails off to get to where we are. It’s two wins in a row and they came against the top two teams in the West.”
The Lions are heading in the opposite direction of the Elks, losing their third consecutive game to drop to 5-4.
“It was sloppy. We didn’t execute the way we needed to,” said Lions quarterback Jake Dolegala. “We have to stay on the field and help our defence out. They just can’t be out there all the time.
“We have to convert some of these second downs and when we are down there we have to put the ball in the end zone, it is as simple as that.”
Lions head coach Rick Campbell recognized that his team has been spinning its wheels of late.
“We have hit a rough spot,” he said. “I like our coaches, I like our players, but we are not playing well enough as a team right now. We have shown that we can be a good football team. So we need to get back to putting our players in good positions so they can make plays and we can be on the right side of the scoreboard.”
The Lions were quick off the mark, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive. In for usual starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who suffered a knee injury last week against Winnipeg, Dolegala marched the team downfield before David Mackie pounded the ball in from the one.
Edmonton responded with a single off a missed 38-yard field goal attempt by Bede.
B.C. got a 43-yard field goal from Sean Whyte on its second possession.
Running back Javon Leake picked up where he left off last week for the Elks early in the second quarter, scoring a 12-yard rushing TD.
Ford put together another strong drive to put Edmonton in front 15-10, capped off by a one-yard plunge by backup Dakota Prukop. They added another single on the ensuing kickoff.
Edmonton closed out the first half with a 51-yard field goal by Bede.
Whyte kicked his 44th consecutive field goal early in the third, a 43-yarder.
Ford took a hard hit late in the second and was replaced for the remainder of the game at pivot by Bethel-Thompson, who had a good drive going before being picked off in the end zone by Ciante Evans.
Dolegala marched the Lions all the way down to the Edmonton red zone, but they were forced to settle for an 18-yard field goal from Whyte to remain three points back.
The Elks started the fourth quarter with a 34-yard field goal from Bede.
Edmonton added to its lead with 6:37 remaining as Bethel-Thompson dumped it off to Justin Rankin for a 17-yard touchdown. The two-point convert pass to Dillon Mitchell was successful.
Bede booted his third field goal of the night from 30 yards out to give Edmonton an added cushion.
NOTES
It was the second meeting of the season between the two teams. The Lions won the first clash 24-21 in Vancouver in Week 4 on a last-second field goal. … Not only did Elks running back Leake have the game of his life with three touchdowns in Edmonton’s first win of the season last week, a 42-31 victory in Saskatchewan, he rushed for 169 yards. That is just three fewer yards than in all 32 previous games in his CFL career combined. … In last week’s 25-0 loss to Winnipeg, the Lions only recorded four first downs, the fewest in franchise history. … The Lions welcomed a few key players back to the lineup, including linebacker Manny Rugamba who missed the last two weeks due to a knee injury, receiver Jevon Cottoy, who missed three games with a rib injury, and linebacker Tibo Debaillie, who was out the same amount of time with a chest injury.
UP NEXT
Lions: Host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-6) on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Elks: Visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-7) on Saturday.
In a thrilling matchup between two fierce competitors, the Elks secured their second consecutive victory by defeating the Lions in a hard-fought battle. The game was a display of skill, determination, and teamwork as both teams fought tooth and nail for the win.
From the opening kickoff, it was clear that both teams were evenly matched. The Elks came out strong, with their offense moving the ball down the field with precision and efficiency. Quarterback John Smith led the charge, making smart decisions and connecting with his receivers for key plays. Running back Sarah Johnson also had a standout performance, breaking tackles and finding holes in the Lions’ defense.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Elks were equally impressive. Linebacker Mike Thompson led the charge, racking up tackles and disrupting the Lions’ offense at every turn. The secondary also played a crucial role, with cornerback Emily Davis coming up with a crucial interception that swung the momentum in the Elks’ favor.
Despite their best efforts, the Lions struggled to keep up with the Elks’ relentless attack. Quarterback Matt Wilson had moments of brilliance, but he was constantly under pressure from the Elks’ pass rush. The Lions’ defense also had trouble containing the Elks’ dynamic offense, giving up big plays and struggling to get off the field on third downs.
In the end, it was the Elks’ superior execution and teamwork that carried them to victory. Their second consecutive win is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and it puts them in a strong position as they look ahead to the rest of the season.
As for the Lions, they will need to regroup and refocus after this tough loss. Despite the defeat, there were plenty of positives to take away from the game, and they will look to build on those as they prepare for their next matchup.
Overall, the Elks’ victory over the Lions was a thrilling and hard-fought contest that showcased the best of high school football. Both teams should be proud of their efforts, and fans can look forward to more exciting matchups as the season progresses.