Edmonton Elks squeak out shootout win over Ticats (& eight other thoughts)

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

If you enjoy stress, excitement, a high heart rate, frustration, and elation, may I suggest you become a fan of the Edmonton Elks. A team that finds ways to win, but not always in the straightest of paths.

After being up by nine points in the third quarter, the Green and Gold needed a two-point convert shootout to find the win against the Hamilton Tiger Cats. Fun to celebrate but intense to watch — that may be the tagline for this Elks season.

Here are my thoughts on this latest nail-biter.

Record secured

I am of two minds on Vincent Blanchard setting the CFL record for the most field goals in a single game.

On the one hand, I am overjoyed for the 2024 fourth-round pick making nine straight field goals. He definitely earned his paycheque on this night. His longest strike came from 54 yards out, which is impressive with this much work. Both the record-setting and record-breaking kicks needed to come from greater than 30 yards in overtime. The Laval product has been stellar this year, only missing three of his 53 attempts. It is a huge step forward from his struggles last year and a serious confidence builder for the team.

Now, on the other hand, Edmonton gave Blanchard nine kick attempts. Three of those attempts had the line of scrimmage in the red zone. The Elks had built their red zone efficiency to 75 percent over a three-game stretch that included the Labour Day series. That has fallen to 20 percent these last two games. The fact that Blanchard was so effective was a key factor in the game going in the win column. If they had been able to convert even two of those drives, this game would not have seen overtime. Yes, that would mean Vin would not have set the record, but I think fans would appreciate not having the tension surrounding the overtime format.

With last week’s loss to the Argos, the key in practice this past week was the details. Some atrocious drops and overthrows could have turned this game into back-to-back losses. It is a very good thing this team finds ways to win. Now it’s time to find a way to have that happen with more effective drive finishes.

A new two-headed monster

Both Justin Rankin and ShunDerrick Powell spent time in the backfield and were productive at different times. They are very similar in their speed and elusiveness. Rankin just wants to run through people at times, and Powell likes to make people miss. Finishing with 74 and 52 yards, respectively, on the ground should be looked at as a decent night.

Where I wonder how things change is that there were 16 total rush plays called. Some RPOs were undoubtedly pulled, but compared to over 50 pass plays, that seems like a small number. Between Rank and Pow — that has to be the buddy cop movie — there was a 7.8-yard average. That seems to be a good weapon to use more often.

Rankin did struggle a bit in the first half, and Powell was a great change of pace. At halftime, I was asked why they aren’t just using the rookie more. The second half showed why. Once Rankin got going, he started ripping off bigger gains. On top of that, he caught four passes for 42 yards. There is no doubt that the Ohio native is still the feature back and can push the ball. I think his body blows early helped to open up lanes for Powell later on. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited to see what Powell continues to do, and the combination could be just what is needed when the weather gets colder.

The shootout

It was only the second time in CFL history that overtime did not solve things and the teams went to a two-point conversion “shootout.” I am on the fence about this format. I like the fact that there are no ties. It always felt like a letdown to go through an overtime set of mini-games to see it end the same as regulation. Boring. The other side of me is still asking if this is too gimmicky. Seen live, it was stressful and exciting all at the same time. If the home team wins though, the noise goes to a new level.

Elks defensive back Kenny Logan Jr. had been unusually quiet in this game. That is until the end of the second overtime mini-game. Hamilton challenged a call near the five-yard line for pass interference and got the call on Logan Jr. He immediately made up for it with his only defensive stat of the game: a knockdown on second down that led to a field goal and forced the shootout. I thought Hamilton might go for it on third down with their season on the line, but they opted for converts. It kind of made sense based on Edmonton’s red zone stats to that point.

With the Black and Gold starting on offence, the pressure in the stands rose. This seems to be when the Elks defence finds their way. Joel Dublanko came on a blitz and was able to knock Harrison Frost off enough on the throw to have it fall incomplete. One play later, Fajardo found his red-zone throw to rookie Joshua Cephus and the Concrete Castle of the North exploded with cheers. It was quite the drama that unfolded. I still don’t know if I fully support it, but I will say it was entertaining.

“I think I got a few more grey hairs after that one,” head coach Mark Kilam said. “It was great for the fans. You never know when you’re going to get those experiences, and now we’ve got them. If we do come across that again, we will have that banked.”

Better gloves maybe

I have heaped a lot of praise on Brendan O’Leary-Orange this year and for good reason. This was not one of the games he’ll want in his highlight reel. Ten targets with only six catches and a total of 38 yards. Three of those targets came within the final two minutes and overtime.

With 1:47 left on the clock, the pass to the six-year vet was intercepted by Hamilton’s Reggie Stubblefield. It was a great play by the Ticats’ defensive back, but that has been a contested ball that O’Leary-Orange has won all of this season. Hamilton scored the go-ahead field goal off the pick.

On the final drive in regulation, a toss found the Canadian receiver wide open at the Hamilton 27-yard line. It easily would have been a first down and more with 23 ticks on the clock. Instead, it was a straight-up drop as he got twisted while locating it. That was a chance to get the win. Instead, another Blanchard field goal sends the game to overtime.

Finally, in the first mini-game, a pass on second-and-five to move the Green and Gold to the 11-yard line bounced off the 29-year-old’s hands. That’s far from what we have come accustomed to from the Toronto native this season. At 594 yards, this is the Nevada product’s best season in the CFL. I am betting he would be okay with burning this particular film and getting back to his catching ways after the bye.

Another bright rookie

Edmonton can add another rookie to the “look at me” list. Montrell Washington signed with the club on September 3 and moved to the active roster against Toronto last week. The five-foot-10 receiver was inserted as a kick returner and wracked up 219 return yards.

He had another great return showing with 179 total yards and a long of 37 against Hamilton. More than that, though, was an introduction into the offensive rotation. The 27-year-old caught three swing passes that he turned into 40 yards. I like how they started him out in the offence this way. Nothing too crazy, but take your speed and agility and show us what you can do. The Canton, Georgia, native is doing just that.

General manager Ed Hervey continues to find amazing depth for this roster. I’d say I’m not counting the number of rookies that have played big roles this year and last, but I totally am. The list includes Logan Jr., Chelen Garnes, Brock Mogensen, T.J. Luther, Joshua Cephus, Dariel Djabome, ShunDerrick Powell, Terez Reid, and now Washington. I know Mark Kilam has been outstanding in getting this team back to the winning side of the board, but the roster that Hervey and his staff have collected sure helps.

Defence: both brilliant and yikes

It can be hard to find the positives when the defence gives up 35 points and surrenders a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter. However, there is no doubt that the pass from Harrison Frost to Tyler Ternowski was right on the money for the late touchdown. Tyrell Ford could not do a lot more than watch that happen.

The same could not be said on other plays. Some sloppy tackling led to a Larry Rountree III 39-yard touchdown early. Continued sloppy tackling and a broken backfield coverage handed Kurleigh Gittens Jr. a major against his old squad. One of the better front fours in the league was held to only one sack late in the game against Tre Ford.

For all of those miscues, there was still a lot that went well. Six more pass knockdowns added to their already league-leading 62. Ford added an interception to bring his league-leading total to seven. J.J. Ross got in on the interception fun and sits just two back from Ford. Joel Dublanko continues to create havoc in the backfield with his pressure and stopped Rountree at the line of scrimmage on more than one occasion.

With a Hamilton team playing to save any kind of playoff hope, it was a certainty they would come out strong. As they have all year, though, this team finds a way.

Special teams more than kicking

Blanchard was not the only highlight on special teams. The coverage teams did well to limit the dangerous Isaiah Wooden to an average of 17 yards per punt return. In his sixth game back after an Achilles injury, Royce Metchie was able to race down the field and recover a botched catch by Myron Mitchell. That set up the Elks in great field position to, once again, get a field goal. Add in the returns from Washington and Jake Julien’s 46-yard punt average, and it was a good night for the teams.

Big man back

I admit I was a huge fan of Zach Mathis when he joined the team in 2024. It is not often that you find a six-foot-seven receiver that can move down the field as smoothly as he does. After a nasty back injury cost him a majority of 2025, we had not seen the Tampa Bay native much on the field. On Saturday, he led the team in receiving yards with 75. Five catches on five targets with a long of 25 yards, with three of those being second-down conversions.

It is great to see the big man running down the field again. Maybe Cody is happy to see him too, as he kept throwing the ball to everyone as if they were the same height.

One last break

Edmonton gets its final bye week next with a chance to heal up and take a break from the mental fatigue that can happen through a long season. With the West Division still well in hand, it will be different not having to see if they are still in the picture after the week off.

With the extra week, there is a high likelihood that David Beard comes back for the rematch in Hamilton. That game could be to lock up a home playoff game and possibly the West Final. The Elks need the time to get themselves as right as they can for the final push. More chances to find ways to win.