Week 21 of the CFL Season is an interesting week for the league. Some teams sit starters, others test backups, and few fight for their playoff lives. On Saturday the Roughriders were fighters, even with their backups or B-Squad.
The Edmonton Elks traveled to Saskatchewan to face the Roughriders in a battle for playoff seeding in Regina, the Riders playing for a spot in the CFL West Division with a loss sending them over to the CFL East Division. The Elks sent many replacements on a plane to the neighboring province in an effort to thwart Saskatchewan's hopes of staying in the division. Unfortunately for Elks fans, the Roughriders answered the call.
GAME RECAP
3 THOUGHTS
1. 14 penalties for 146 yards = yuck. 25 penalties between both teams. Emotion and inexperience contributed to the mass amount of penalties.
2. Taylor Powell and the offense really seemed to struggle out there. The offensive phase only scored 9 points, the lone touchdown coming from a QB Cole Snyder rushing play.
3. At least this game didn't mean much? Saturday's match only mattered for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, unless the Elks truly wanted to finish the season at 14-4.
THE POINT AFTER
The Elks fall to 13-5 on the season, a record Double E fans have dreamed of for the last 5 years. The offense struggled to post points on the scoreboard. QB Taylor Powell had an accurate day but failed to produce a passing touchdown, completing 26 yards on 30 attempts for 236 yards. RB ShunDerrick Powell carried the ball 11 times for 101 yards. WR Josh Cephus topped the recieving board with 3 catches for 44 yards. QB Cole Snyder posted the only Elks touchdown.
On defense, DB Terez Reid topped the tackle board with 5 tackles but DL Elijah Alston put on a performance with 4 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception, contributing to a total of 4 sacks from the defense.
K Vincent Blanchard made his lone field goal, a 22-yard boot. Blanchard also posted 118 yards from 3 kickoffs, his longest coming in at 55 yards. P Jake Julien averaged 54.4 yards from 5 punts, a solid showing from Jake. RB Powell, WR Montrell Washington and RB Javon Leake contributed with punt and kick returns.
THE FAN SIDE
Honestly, this was a game that doesn't deserve too much thought or time typing. This team fielded on Saturday wasn't very close to resembling the same team that will be fielded in just under two weeks' time, the backups getting crucial reps but stock on penalties and performance not very high. Most concerning for the team is the potential of injury, as multiple players went down during Saturday's tilt. At this point it doesn't appear that the Elks sustained any serious injuries but a week of rest will help nurse any lingering injuries that the team may be suffering.
As a fan, I'm confident that QB Taylor Powell can hold the team together through a game or two if necessary. I'm also confident that we won't see 14 penalties in a playoff game, and I also don't forsee the Elks posting only 9 points on November 7th. The reality is that we will see a completely different team and product in the 2026 CFL West Final.
UP NEXT: BYE WEEK
The Edmonton Elks will get a week of rest before hosting a team in the 2026 CFL West Final at Commonwealth Stadium, the first of which since 2015. We will find out the Double E's opponent in just under a week as the West Semi-Final will be played next weekend in BC Place, the BC Lions vs the Saskatchewan Roughriders, on Halloween for a true Orange and Black affair, and while the odds may be in favour of the hosts you can never count the defending Grey Cup Champions out.
Buckle Up!
