
After delivering first win, Elks now chasing revenge on Lions
The visiting BC Lions and Edmonton Elks will have a rematch of their season-opening clash on Sunday.
The Lions (2-3) handed the West Division rival Elks (1-3) a 31-14 loss on June 7 in Vancouver.
Both teams snapped three-game losing streaks last weekend, with Edmonton defeating Ottawa 39-33 for its first win of the season and BC winning 21-20 at Montreal for its first victory since Week 1.
Justin Rankin rushed 12 times for 105 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 69 yards and another score to lead the Elks against the RedBlacks. Fellow running back Javon Leake returned five punts for 163 yards, including a 94-yard touchdown.
'Thunder and lightning,' Rankin told the team website this week of his pairing with Leake. 'You ain't never seen nothing like it.'
Rankin said he and Leake have been able to carry over their success from last season because there's no jealousy between them.
'When I started to get hot, he's like, 'You rolling? Go, go, go,' you know?' Rankin said. 'When he's hot, it's vice versa. You got the spark, keep being the spark. I don't think there's any selfishness in the room. And when you have depth at a position like that, it's hard to stop.'
The Lions found a way to stop them in the first meeting, limiting Rankin and Leake to a combined 29 yards on 10 carries.
The star for BC in the season-opening win was Nathan Rourke, who completed 27 of 36 passes for 324 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Rourke returned from a two-game absence for an oblique injury and threw for 352 yards with one TD and also ran for a score in last Saturday's win at Montreal. Sean Whyte's walk-off 43-yard field goal provided the winning points.
'I think there are a lot of things we can do better, starting with me,' Rourke said, per the team website. 'Good teams find a way when it's not perfect, and it definitely wasn't perfect today. So, we'll go back to the drawing board and get ready for Edmonton next week.'
--Field Level Media

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wallabies relying on Skelton and Valetini to save the series against the British and Irish Lions
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rugby Australia is throwing its biggest body and its most destructive ball carrier at the British and Irish Lions with the recalls of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini in a bid to save the series. If that doesn't work for the Wallabies in the second test on Saturday, then the following week in Sydney becomes little more than a victory lap for the Lions and their 40,000 touring Irish, English, Scottish and Welsh supporters. At 6'8″ (203 centimeters) and 140-plus kilograms (310 pounds), the France-based Skelton certainly adds significant size and weight to a Wallabies pack that was outgunned in the 27-19 loss to the Lions last weekend in Brisbane. Valetini brings the extra firepower. 'You get a lot of confidence when you have two people with their experience and their presence coming (back) into your side,' Wallabies captain and No. 8 Harry Wilson said Friday. 'They're two real leaders in the group and to have them back, in such a big match, is really exciting for us.' Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt spoke about Skelton's on-field calmness and wealth of experience in Europe being of huge importance to the Australian team when he announced a squad this week that contained three changes to the forward pack, none in the backline and a 6-2 split of forwards and backs on the bench. Opening salvos The Wallabies are expecting another physical contest up front at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where a crowd exceeding 90,000 people is expected and there's a chance of rain. Wilson said his lineup needs to fight fire with fire from the kickoff rather than let the Lions out to a big lead like they did in the series opener, which was 24-5 after 42 minutes. The Australians also need to give a young backline, particularly 22-year-old flyhalf Tom Lynagh and 21-year-old center Joseph Aukuso-Sua'ali'i, some front-foot ball to generate better attacking opportunities. 'We want to go out there, we want to oppose ourselves physically, we want to back our skills and we just want to go out and start fast,' Wilson said. 'The 6-2 bench means … more reason to go out there, throw your body around knowing there's some quality bench players to come and finish.' Pressure on Andy Farrell's 2025 squad is determined to join the Lions greats by winning the series 3-0, regardless of how the head coach has tried to downplay that objective. 'They want to wrap up the series and we want to keep the series alive, so there's no doubting there's a lot on the line for both teams,' Wilson said. 'There's a lot of pressure on, and it's what you love about it.' The Lions have won the opening test in the last two series Down Under — in 2001 and 2013 — and lost the second test in Melbourne. In '01, the Australians won the deciding match for an historic series victory in Sydney. The Lions won the third test in Sydney 12 years ago to reclaim the trophy. 'We have put ourselves in a good position after the first test, but we know there will be a massive reaction from this Wallaby team,' head coach Andy Farrell said as he announced a Lions starting lineup containing three changes. 'We will have to be a lot better than we were last week.' Owen Farrell, a late inclusion in the squad and making his fourth Lions tour, was added to the bench after leading the team to a win over the First Nations and Pasifika squad on Tuesday in their last mid-week game of the tour. Ireland midfielder Garry Ringrose was a late exclusion from the second test starting lineup after reporting symptoms of concussion, allowing Huw Jones to retain his spot at outside center in new midfield combination with Bundee Aki. England's Ollie Chessum was drafted in to partner skipper Maro Itoje as a replacement for injured Ireland lock Joe McCarthy, and Andrew Porter replaced Ellis Genge at loosehead, giving the Lions an all-Ireland frontrow. The Lions are now 7-0 in Australia, including the victory in the first test and wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force, Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams. ___ AP rugby:


CTV News
15 hours ago
- CTV News
Elks QB Fajardo finally set to face former team as Roughriders host Elks
Edmonton Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo (7) stretches out for the touchdown during first half CFL action against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Winnipeg Thursday, June 26, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods REGINA — After a week of speculation, the Edmonton Elks have confirmed that quarterback Cody Fajardo will have a homecoming of sorts against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday in Regina. Fajardo, who was dealt to Edmonton by Montreal in the off-season, played three seasons for the Riders before signing with the Alouettes prior to the 2023 CFL season. Fajardo went on to lead the Als to a 26-24 victory over the favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2023 Grey Cup game, being named game MVP after completing 21-of-26 passes for 290 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. In the first five games of the season, Fajardo has served as backup to Tre Ford. Both quarterbacks shared first team reps during practice this week with Elks head coach Mark Killam being coy about who would start against the Riders. 'You're just going to have to wait until we release the depth chart,' Killam said during a media scrum on Tuesday. On Thursday morning, the Elks sent out their depth chart for Friday with Fajardo pencilled in as the starter. Having also played for the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions, this will be Fajardo's first start ever against the Riders. Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace had a sharp answer when he was asked Thursday if he cared who the Elks were going to start at quarterback. 'We always care, but it just kind of narrows the focus a little bit,' he said. 'It'll be another night of preparation for the guys to narrow in. Now with that being said, you still could see both . . . . We were preparing for both but certainly there will be a little heavier emphasis now on Cody.' In his three seasons with Saskatchewan, Fajardo had a record of 27-17 as starter, totalling 11,046 passing yards with 53 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. After two seasons with the Alouettes, he was dealt to the Elks for McLeod Bethel-Thompson, with Davis Alexander replacing Fajardo as Montreal's starting quarterback. Earlier this week Fajardo told reporters what he thought the Elks need to do to be successful on offence. 'We've got to stay on the field, second down conversions, a lot of people are talking about it,' he said. 'The second thing is that narratives don't win football games, and they don't lose football games so everybody can write whatever they want.' Fajardo took over from Ford in the fourth quarter against the B.C. Lions on July 13, finishing five of seven passing for 78 yards and one touchdown in a 32-14 loss. Mace, who signed on as Saskatchewan's head coach in 2024, is familiar with Fajardo. In 2021, as a coach with the Calgary Stampeders, Mace's defence faced Fajardo in three games. Yet Mace explained that preparation is more about the present than the past. 'Sometimes you've got to be careful just looking at players as who they've always been. You kind of want to look at who they are current day,' he said. 'He's a heck of a quarterback, so we've got to be on our P's and Q's defensively to make sure we make it as tough as day possible on him,' Mace added. The Riders have come out of the starting game hot while the Elks have struggled. Yet the Riders know firsthand what can happen when a team underestimates an opponent. The Elks came into Regina last season with an 0-7 record while the Riders had a 5-2 mark, but the Elks posted a 42-31 victory with Ford passing for 250 yards and Javon Leake rushing for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Jameer Thurman says the Riders will not be taking the Elks lightly on Friday. 'I don't think we're underestimating them,' he said. 'If you remember, last year they came in here and they got their first win of the season against us. So, I made sure to let all the guys know what happened last time they came here, and they ran the ball all over us as well. 'So, we are dialed in on that, and we're not taking anybody for granted.' EDMONTON ELKS (1-4-0) AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (5-1-0) Friday at Mosaic Stadium HARRIS IS HOT: Riders quarterback Trevor Harris set a CFL record in a win over B.C. last week with his ninth consecutive game with a completion rate of 70 per cent or higher. He currently leads the league with a completion percentage of 76 per cent. LEAKE IS SPECIAL: Leake leads the CFL in punt return yards (288), average (16.9 yards) and returns of 30-plus yards at three. Leake has one punt return for a TD this season, going 94 yards against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 6. MEYERS MAKING A MARK: Riders receiver Dohnte Meyers has 394 yards receiving with four catches of 30-plus yards. In last week's 33-27 victory over the B.C. Lions, Meyers caught seven passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard TD on Saskatchewan's opening drive of the game. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025. Jeff DeDekker


Winnipeg Free Press
16 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Edmonton QB Fajardo finally set to face former team as Roughriders host Elks
REGINA – After a week of speculation, the Edmonton Elks have confirmed that quarterback Cody Fajardo will have a homecoming of sorts against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday in Regina. Fajardo, who was dealt to Edmonton by Montreal in the off-season, played three seasons for the Riders before signing with the Alouettes prior to the 2023 CFL season. Fajardo went on to lead the Als to a 26-24 victory over the favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2023 Grey Cup game, being named game MVP after completing 21-of-26 passes for 290 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. In the first five games of the season, Fajardo has served as backup to Tre Ford. Both quarterbacks shared first team reps during practice this week with Elks head coach Mark Killam being coy about who would start against the Riders. 'You're just going to have to wait until we release the depth chart,' Killam said during a media scrum on Tuesday. On Thursday morning, the Elks sent out their depth chart for Friday with Fajardo pencilled in as the starter. Having also played for the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions, this will be Fajardo's first start ever against the Riders. Saskatchewan head coach Corey Mace had a sharp answer when he was asked Thursday if he cared who the Elks were going to start at quarterback. 'We always care, but it just kind of narrows the focus a little bit,' he said. 'It'll be another night of preparation for the guys to narrow in. Now with that being said, you still could see both . . . . We were preparing for both but certainly there will be a little heavier emphasis now on Cody.' In his three seasons with Saskatchewan, Fajardo had a record of 27-17 as starter, totalling 11,046 passing yards with 53 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. After two seasons with the Alouettes, he was dealt to the Elks for McLeod Bethel-Thompson, with Davis Alexander replacing Fajardo as Montreal's starting quarterback. Earlier this week Fajardo told reporters what he thought the Elks need to do to be successful on offence. 'We've got to stay on the field, second down conversions, a lot of people are talking about it,' he said. 'The second thing is that narratives don't win football games, and they don't lose football games so everybody can write whatever they want.' Fajardo took over from Ford in the fourth quarter against the B.C. Lions on July 13, finishing five of seven passing for 78 yards and one touchdown in a 32-14 loss. Mace, who signed on as Saskatchewan's head coach in 2024, is familiar with Fajardo. In 2021, as a coach with the Calgary Stampeders, Mace's defence faced Fajardo in three games. Yet Mace explained that preparation is more about the present than the past. 'Sometimes you've got to be careful just looking at players as who they've always been. You kind of want to look at who they are current day,' he said. 'He's a heck of a quarterback, so we've got to be on our P's and Q's defensively to make sure we make it as tough as day possible on him,' Mace added. The Riders have come out of the starting game hot while the Elks have struggled. Yet the Riders know firsthand what can happen when a team underestimates an opponent. The Elks came into Regina last season with an 0-7 record while the Riders had a 5-2 mark, but the Elks posted a 42-31 victory with Ford passing for 250 yards and Javon Leake rushing for 169 yards and three touchdowns. Linebacker Jameer Thurman says the Riders will not be taking the Elks lightly on Friday. 'I don't think we're underestimating them,' he said. 'If you remember, last year they came in here and they got their first win of the season against us. So, I made sure to let all the guys know what happened last time they came here, and they ran the ball all over us as well. 'So, we are dialed in on that, and we're not taking anybody for granted.' EDMONTON ELKS (1-4-0) AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (5-1-0) Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Friday at Mosaic Stadium HARRIS IS HOT: Riders quarterback Trevor Harris set a CFL record in a win over B.C. last week with his ninth consecutive game with a completion rate of 70 per cent or higher. He currently leads the league with a completion percentage of 76 per cent. LEAKE IS SPECIAL: Leake leads the CFL in punt return yards (288), average (16.9 yards) and returns of 30-plus yards at three. Leake has one punt return for a TD this season, going 94 yards against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 6. MEYERS MAKING A MARK: Riders receiver Dohnte Meyers has 394 yards receiving with four catches of 30-plus yards. In last week's 33-27 victory over the B.C. Lions, Meyers caught seven passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns, including a 50-yard TD on Saskatchewan's opening drive of the game. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.