Elks defeat Argos 28-20 for second straight win
Steven Dunbar Jr.'s early fourth-quarter touchdown catch proved to be the difference as the Elks emerged with a 28-20 victory over the Toronto Argonauts in a game between two teams clinging on to playoff hopes on Friday.
The Elks (3-6) have now won two games in a row.
'I'm really proud of this unit,' said Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo. 'Our challenge this week was to do something we haven't done this year, and that's to stack two wins on top of each other.'
Fajardo, who started the season as backup to Tre Ford, was 25-of-31 passing for 273 yards.
'He's doing a great job with the offence right now,' said Elks head coach Mark Kilam. 'They are really rallying around each other. I thought (running back Justin) Rankin did a nice job and that the receivers were really blocking on the permitter. A credit to those guys for sure.'
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After being held without a single rushing yard in his team's previous game, Rankin had 92 yards on the ground and 87 yards receiving.
The Argos (2-8), meanwhile, have lost three straight.
'I thought the fight was there and guys were battling and we had a chance to win that game,' said Argos head coach Ryan Didwiddie, noticeably calmer than after his team's previous loss. 'But where we are at it in the season, we can't afford to lose any more games. It just wasn't our day.
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'Sometimes I feel like we are just snake-bitten, but I thought Nick gave us a chance to win.'
Argos quarterback Nick Arbuckle threw for 382 yards on the night.
The teams traded field goals on their first possessions, with Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu converting a 14-yard attempt after the Argos were set up by a 56-yard catch by Dave Ungerer, and Edmonton's Vincent Blanchard making a 30-yard boot through the uprights.
Blanchard added a 20-yard field goal late in the opening quarter.
Hajrullahu responded with a 45-yard field goal to start the second.
Toronto's defence stepped up with a big play five minutes into the second as Wynton McManis intercepted Fajardo at the Edmonton 37. However, the Argos were held to a 20-yard field goal.
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Edmonton finally got the game's first major with just over a minute to play in the first half as running back Justin Rankin scampered in from two yards out.
Toronto added a punt single before halftime.
The Argos surged ahead midway through the third quarter as Arbuckle floated a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jake Herslow.
The Elks clawed back to within a point behind a 52-yard Blanchard field goal to make it 17-16 with four minutes remaining in the third.
The Elks' defence came up big late in the third, forcing an Arbuckle fumble at the Edmonton 17, that was recovered by Robbie Smith.
Edmonton marched all the way down the field, culminating in a four-yard TD pass deep into the end zone from Fajardo to Dunbar. They added a single off the ensuing kickoff to lead 24-17.
Toronto came back with a 29-yard field goal from Hajrullahu.
Blanchard attempted a 43-yard field goal but was wide for a single.
The Argos attempted a fake punt with two minutes left in the fourth but were stopped short and turned the ball over on downs at their own 35, leading to a 22-yard field goal by Blanchard.
Edmonton was able to stop a late Toronto drive to put the game away.
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'The belief was there,' Fajardo said. 'There was no panic on the sideline. Last week the offence had the walk-off touchdown and then this week we needed the defence to make a play and they made a play for us. It was truly an incredible night. I'm not sure how much more my heart can handle these CFL games that go down to the wire. But you don't want it any other way.'
NOTES
Toronto had won four of the previous five meetings between the two squads. It was their first meeting of the season, with another coming in Week 15. They split the season series in 2024, with the games being decided by a total of four points. … Blanchard also handled punting duties with Cody Grace out with a knee injury suffered in the Elks' last game against Montreal.
UP NEXT
Argos: Host the B.C. Lions on Saturday.
Elks: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday.
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