If you missed the Edmonton Elks at Saskatchewan Roughriders game on Thursday night we can assume you've seen the highlights by now.
The 5-1 Elks charged into Regina with a win on the mind while the 4-1 Riders, fresh off a bye-week, wanted the exact same result, both teams battling for the top of the standings in the CFL West at Mosiac Stadium. On an emotional night in Saskatchewan the crowd was loud, the lights were bright and the stakes were high for a battle near the midpoint of the 2026 Regular Season. Those that watched the heavyweight showdown in real-time were treated to one of the best CFL matches in recent history.
GAME RECAP
https://youtu.be/WGCnMQ6wUSc?si=v8ukEgOtzxpGazZM
3 THOUGHTS
1. Both secondaries were blown out tonight. Big passing plays made for exciting touchdowns as the defensive backs on both teams struggled to contain and prevent the wide recievers from scoring.
2. Cody Fajardo and the recievers put the team on their backs. The Elks passing play was on full display in this game but especially in the 4th Quarter where it mattered the most.
3. Fifty. Seven. Yard. Field. Goal. K Vincent Blanchard executed an all-time walk off field goal 57 yards out from the goal posts for a victory and celebration that will be remembered for years to come.
THE POINT AFTER
In a game that was surrounded in a great amount of hype, both teams delivered a thrilling performance for fans watching at home, at bars and in-person at Mosiac Stadium. The Saskatchewan Roughriders held a moment of silence before the game for one of their players, as well as a community member, that had both passed due to a tragic accident earlier in the week, a classy gesture by the Riders organization considering the circumstances.
From beginning to end, Thursday's game was a roller coaster of emotions. QB Cody Fajardo had a career-best game, posting a stat line of 510 passing yards and 4 touchdowns on 25 completions from 32 attempts. WR Austin Mack had a breakout performance, catching the ball 4 times for 173 yards and 2 TDs, 92 YAC yards making a difference. WR TJ Luther also had a great game, amassing 157 yards from 10 completions, only missing 2 target attempts. WR Brendan O’Leary Orange and RB Javon Leake reeled in the other 2 touchdowns.
DB Kordell Jackson and LB Dariel Djabome topped the defensive leaderboard with 7 tackles each. DL Malik Carney supplied a critical sack in the 4th Quarter and DL Gavin Meyer reeled in the lone EE interception of the game, and LB Kenny Logan Jr. managed to force a fumble in this one.
K Vincent Blanchard was perfect on field goals in this game, going 3-for-3 and securing the win with a 57-yard field goal as time expired for the walk-off win. On kickoffs Blanchard totalled 359 yards from 5 big boots. P Jake Julien had himself a night too, averaging 62 yards from 4 punts for a total of 248 yards. Leake performed most of the return duties but Saskatchewan prevented him from doing major damage, his biggest impact on special teams being a 24-yard kick return.
THE FAN SIDE
To be honest I'm still relishing this game as I write this article. Not only did the Elks find a way to win, they also had fans on the edge of their seats or in our case, dancing around the TV in excitement. Looking at social media comments and hearing from fans around Edmonton, the consensus is that Thursday's game was an all-time performance that hasn't been seen in many years, over a decade by some accounts. Sure, the EE defensive backfield left much to be desired at times but they also made plays to stop Saskatchewan from scoring. The rest of the defense looked great throughout most of the game thanks to a sack, some stops and big hits. Even though Fajardo was limping after taking hits of his own, he still pulled off a career-best performance with the 4th Quarter displaying some of the best quarterback play we've seen since Michael Reilly was in charge. Fajardo's clutch rating skyrocketed in the final minutes of play, especially during 3-down mode when the Elks were trailing on the scoreboard as time counted down towards the 0's. Vincent Blanchard's 57-yard field goal is in the record books just below names such as Dave Cutler and Sean Fleming, legends for their contributions to the Green and Gold teams of the past. The last 57-yard field goal EE fans witnessed was from the boot of Noel Prefontaine in 2010, 16 years ago which may seem like a far-distant memory for some. We are witnessing something special, the Elks now holding a 6-1 record and 1st in the CFL West Division for the first time since the team's controversial name change. Belief is strong within the team and the term "scheduled loss" is no longer in the vocabulary when discussing the Double E's schedule. The responsibility is now on the citizens of Edmonton to show up at Commonwealth Stadium in support of this team, and with performances like we saw on Thursday it should be easier for fans to support this team in-person. The next test for the Green and Gold will be the same opponent but a different stadium, Commonwealth hosting the rematch.
NEXT UP: EDMONTON ELKS VS SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS AUGUST 1ST 2026
The Edmonton Elks will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the second half of a home-and-home series, the Riders coming to town with a chip on their shoulder after Thursday's loss. The Elks now need fan support more than ever as they continue what appears to be a Grey Cup campaign, contender status already achieved near the half-way point of the season with only one loss thus far. The defending Grey Cup Champions will do their best to get back into the win column, however, in a stadium that generally sees a strong contingent of Green and White fans as Saskatchewan's "13th Man" travels well and often. It all goes down next Saturday at 5PM Mountain with the Tailgate Party starting at 3PM.
Buckle Up!
