One team went into Saturday Night's tilt undefeated on the season, and by the end of the night that same team had suffered it's first loss.

The Edmonton Elks visited the BC Lions for the second edition of Touchdown Kelowna, the remote site hosting over 19,000 CFL fans for the second weekend of action in the Okanagan. The Lions had a rough outing last week at the Apple Bowl and they weren't going to let their fans leave the experience without a win, much to the dismay of the Green and Gold.

GAME RECAP

COORS LIGHT WATCH PARTY @ SHERLOCK HOLMES NORTH EDMONTON

The Elks Herd ventured over to Sherlock Holmes Pub in North Edmonton for the Edmonton Elks Coors Light Watch Party, The official watch party for Elks games. The venue changes for every away game and we were fortunate to have the party near our neighborhood, Green and Gold fans filling the venue before game time. With games, giveaways and even Elks cheerleaders, the Elks create the best environment possible for EE fans that want to watch the team on the road.

3 THOUGHTS

1. Rushing game was lacking. RB Justin Rankin could not get his legs moving against the Lions defense throughout most of the game, forcing QB Cody Fajardo to pass more often which, as we know, didn't quite provide the results necessary in this game. Only 24 yards were produced by the EE on the ground.

2. Rushing defense was also lacking. The Elks defense allowed 162 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns from the likes of RBs James Butler and Zander Horvath. The Elks have been great at preventing or stopping the run, so this performance was a step backwards from what we've seen in 2026 so far.

3. Untimely penalties extended BC's drives to inflict pain on the EE. If the Elks took a bad penalty, BC marched toward the endzone to score points, keeping the momentum alive for the Lions in the process. 7 penalties for 80 yards is technically not a terrible stat, but the timing of the penalties was what cost the Elks on certain drives.

THE POINT AFTER

This game exposed flaws in all 3 phases. The offense sputtered often and turned the ball over more than BC, the defense couldn't stop the run or the pass in many instances, and special teams allowed a blocked kick in addition to lackluster play as evident on the stats sheet.

Once RB Justin Rankin was shut down by BC early in the game, the Elks looked to QB Cody Fajardo to champion the offensive play. Fajardo threw the ball 51 times, completing 34 passes for 395 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His decision making was questionable at times, but looking back at this game it's hard to blame him entirely considering the offense was playing with a single dimension. Rankin only posted 19 yards rushing on 7 attempts, but his 100 yards recieving from 10 receptions still made a positive impact, even if most of the yards were obtained from check-down passes. WR Austin Mack had a rebound game, catching the ball 8 times from 14 attempts with 1 TD and 141 yards to show for his efforts.

The defense was busy in this game, even if it was their worst game of the season. DB Tyrell Ford, LB Joel Dublanko and rookie LB Dariel Djabome all had 7 defensive tackles, Dublanko and Djabome with 1 intercetion each in this game. DL Noah Taylor secured Edmonton's only quarterback sack. Much like the offense, the defense has suffered critical injuries to important players, next-man-up mentality required in order for this phase to succeed as they wait for health to return.

The specialists didn't shine in this game either, P Jake Julien averaging 41.4 yards from 5 punts, one of which went out of bounds for an illegal punt infraction. On a PAT attempt K Vincent Blanchard had a kick blocked, posting only 1 XP and 1 45-yard field goal on the night. Blanchard looked better on kickoffs, providing 4 big boots for 304 yards, averaging 76 yards per kickoff. RB Javon Leake had some bright moments on special teams, his best return coming from a kickoff for a 54-yard rush to put the Elks in solid field position.

THE FAN SIDE

As a fan watching this game on TV, Saturday night's tilt was a frustrating watch. I don't know if the Elks ever looked like they were in contention to win, so many issues plaguing the Elks throughout the entire game. From penalties to poor performance, the Elks simply couldn't get out of their own way long enough to build momentum. When the offense started to roll we would see a turnover. When the defense was playing strong we would see a penalty.

We do have to remember that the Elks are still on top of the CFL West, a 3-1 record a major improvement over year's past but this loss to the Lions seemed like a performance that we've witnessed before, old demons that bring old memories. QB Nathan Rourke appears to shine against the Elks and whether it's BC's game plan, their preparation or even their moxie for playing the Green and Gold, the Lions love feasting on the Elks, a narrative that needs to change for the Elks in their mission to erase old doubts and worries. The Elks are now 1-1 in CFL West matchups, the Lions coming to Edmonton in 2 weeks in an effort to continue their dominance against the Elks.

NEXT UP: EDMONTON ELKS VS OTTAWA REDBLACKS JULY 9TH 2026

The 3-1 Edmonton Elks will host a very hungry 0-4 Ottawa REDBLACKS as both teams will look to get back on track. Elks HC Mark Kilam was unhappy about the EE's preparation and performance in practice leading up to Touchdown Kelowna as per his media availability after Saturday's game, so expect some changes and intensity for Thursday Night's tilt. For the opposition, an 0-4 start to the season has Ottawa hungry and desperate for a win any way they can take it, Commonwealth Stadium the backdrop for many major moments between the two clubs. The Elks have ended their 22-game losing streak at home against Ottawa in 2023, and Ottawa would love to end their 0-4 streak in Edmonton in 2026, so expect a fiery battle between both teams on a Hot Summer Night. The Tailgate Party starts at 5PM on Thursday and the game starts at 7PM Mountain.

Buckle Up!