The Edmonton Elks defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 36-34 on Thursday night, clinching the victory with a 57-yard field goal by Vincent Blanchard as time expired. The win, secured before 28,513 fans at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, improves the Elks to 6-1 and solidifies their lead in the CFL’s West Division.

Fajardo and Blanchard Lead Elks to Dramatic Victory

Quarterback Cody Fajardo delivered a career performance, throwing for 510 yards and four touchdowns in the high-scoring contest. His connection with receiver Austin Mack proved pivotal, including an 81-yard touchdown pass that briefly gave Edmonton a 33-28 lead. Fajardo’s resilience was highlighted by head coach Mark Kilam, who praised his leadership under pressure.

“Cody’s a warrior,” Kilam said. “That guy just lays it out there, leaves his heart on the field every time he plays.”

Roughriders Fall Short Despite Strong Effort

The Roughriders, now 4-2, nearly pulled off the upset but faltered in the final minutes. Kicker Alex Hale missed a 46-yard field goal with three minutes remaining, setting the stage for Blanchard’s heroics. Saskatchewan quarterback Trevor Harris, who threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns, acknowledged the emotional toll of the game.

“I thought that was a pretty good CFL football game,” Harris said. “Felt like we were going to win it up until the very end.”

  • Elks: 6-1 (West Division leaders)
  • Roughriders: 4-2 (Second in West)
  • Fajardo: 510 passing yards, 4 TDs
  • Mack: 173 receiving yards, 2 TDs
  • Harris: 386 passing yards, 4 TDs

Tributes Precede Emotional Game

The contest took place five days after a fatal collision claimed the lives of Roughriders linebacker Jayden Dalke and Regina resident Bhishma Rajyaguru. Both teams honored the victims with a moment of silence before kickoff. Harris reflected on the team’s resolve amid adversity.

“This is a Corey Mace-led football team, and you’re going to get everything we got every single week, regardless of circumstance,” he said.

The Elks and Roughriders will face off again on Saturday, August 1, in Edmonton.