Friday Night Lights at the Knothole are a hit, even if it was for one night only during CFL Preseason.
A throwback like no other, the Edmonton Elks moved back to their old home in Clarke Stadium to host the Calgary Stampeders in what could be described as a "blast from the past." Thunder and lightning off the turf, 70's music on the loudspeaker and a stadium that hasn't seen professional football action since 1978. All of this made for a special night that everyone in attendance will remember for years to come, and the cherry on top? Well, it would have been an Elks win, but the Stampeders had plans of their own in their return to Clarke.
GAME RECAP
3 THOUGHTS
1. Penalties, penalties, penalties. While we do point out that many of the penalties assessed in Friday's game come by the hands of rookies and those fighting for jobs, the official stat line is 16 penalties for 154 yards. In last week's tilt, the Elks committed 11 penalties for 109 yards, an average of 13.5 penalties per game for 131.5 yards in Preseason. Questions surrounding discipline are fair and should we see similar numbers in Regular Season, these Preseason games may be an indicator of something bigger. Mark Kilam and the rest of the coaching staff will look to fix this before the penalties affect the Elks in the standings.
2. So many missed catches. Out of 34 passing attempts, only 22 found their targets. Not all of the missed catches were Edmonton's fault as Calgary did do a great job defending and covering the EE wide recievers, but some of these missed attempts were dropped balls or due to failed catches. Once again, this was mostly at the hands of backups and those fighting for roster spots as the starters seemed to perform better in this department, as seen in the first quarter of the game.
3. The Knothole was an unreal experience. If you weren't able to see this game in person, hopefully you were able to enjoy this game on stream. Even with an hour-long weather delay to start the game, the intimate setting and unmatched views gave everyone in attendance a throwback experience that created new memories for years to come. Even though the facility has changed considerably over the years, fans that used to call Clarke Stadium home were treated to nostalgia for the first time in almost 48 years, a win for the Edmonton Elks organization in their quest to celebrate long-standing season tickets holders and fans that have remained loyal to the Green and Gold. We don't know if and when we will see another Preseason Game at the Knothole, so this experience was truly one-of-a-kind and maybe even once in a lifetime for some fans.
THE POINT AFTER
We do have to remember that this was just another Preseason Game, and with cuts coming Saturday coaches needed to see what the 2's, 3's and 4's could do. Were we impressed with results? Not really. Were we surprised? Again, not really. For an assessment game we thought the Elks could have won that game, if not for self-inflicted wounds. 16 penalties for 154 yards is simply unacceptable during regular season, fingers crossed we don't see that stat when the points and standings matter.
Additionally, DB Kordell Jackson went down during the game and did not return, indicating he may have sustained an injury. Hopes are that he can return next week but there is no offical word as of right now.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE...
The presumed starters looked good for the small window they were given, a healthy indicator as regular season looms. QB Cody Fajardo had a strong performance to open the game, going 9 for 11 on completions for 96 yards, orchestrating a touchdown drive with the ball in his hands. QB Cole Snyder finished that drive with a quarterback sneak and he managed another touchdown later in the game, picking up where he left off last week.
RB ShunDerrick Powell topped the rushing leaderboard on Friday, carrying the ball 6 times for 37 yards. WR TJ Luther held top recieving honours with 4 receptions on 6 targets for 48 yards, Carter Kettyle second with 2 catches on 2 targets for 22 yards.
On the other side of the ball, DL Richard Jibunor had 4 tackles with a sack. DL Jared Brinkman and LB Justin Pace each had a sack in this game as well, the Elks finding ways to get to the opposing quarterback.
On special teams, K Vincent Blanchard made 1 field goal on 2 attempts, a 47-yard boot that showed promise. P Jake Julien appeared to be in mid-season form, punting 6 times for 265 yards, his longest being a 63-yard punt.
NEXT UP: EDMONTON ELKS @ OTTAWA REDBLACKS JUNE 6 2026 5PM MOUNTAIN
The Edmonton Elks open their regular season on the road in Ottawa as their home turf, Commonwealth Stadium, is currently claimed by Soccer Canada for a very important tune up game before they compete in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The Elks want to start fast and a win against the REDBLACKS would certainly provide the boost they're looking for, but the new-look REDBLACKS are in a similar position, hungry to secure a win for their fans attending the Home Opener.
Buckle Up!
