A moment-by-moment look at the CFL contest between the Roughriders and Elks from Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton
8:59 p.m.
It’s victory formation time even with some clock issues, and that’s the ballgame. The Roughriders defence overcomes some early struggles and a nasty breakdown late in the game but are outstanding the rest of the night, and it’s a 29-26 Saskatchewan win!
8:59 p.m.
Elks take an unnecessary roughness penalty with 43 seconds remaining, first down Saskatchewan.
8:55 p.m.
Conley breaks an 11-yard run and nearly gets another ridiculous hurdle, but has to settle for 11 yards down to the Edmonton 17. 1:09 to play in the game.
8:53 p.m.
Roughing the passer after a Conley catch and the Riders are up to the Edmonton 30 with 1:40 remaining in the game.
8:49 p.m.
Stevens is into the game, and he comes up limping after a nine-yard run. He stays in and gets the first down. 2:04 remaining in the game.
8:48 p.m.
Hooo, what a big play. Fajardo sacked for a loss of 13 yards back to the Edmonton six, and the Elks are punting!
8:47 p.m.
Riders almost get a coverage sack, but Fajardo ends up scrambling for two yards.
8:46 p.m.
Holding call pushes Elks back to their own 17 on first down with 2:52 to play.
8:42 p.m.
Riders go two-and-out, after the punt Edmonton starts their next drive from their own 27 at the three minute warning. In for an interesting finish, folks.
8:39 p.m.
Touchdown Edmonton. Fajardo finds Luther in double coverage for the major. The Elks make it look comically easy, taking only three plays to go 72 yards and make it a 28-26 game with 4:27 to play in the game. Drive took only 2:32 by the way, kind of an epic collapse.
8:36 p.m.
Rankin catches a pass over the middle and there’s the big play that the Riders wanted to avoid, as he goes for 51 yards down to the Riders 21. Mack then has a 17-yard catch to the Saskatchewan four.
8:33 p.m.
Edmonton gets the ball on their own 38 to start their next drive.
8:30 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN ROUGHRIDERS! Harris airs one out deep to the back of the endzone for KeeSean and he obliterates his man on the route, hauling in the pass at the sideline for the major. KeeSean then catches the two-point convert. Six plays covering 70 yards on a masterful drive, and it’s 28-19 Saskatchewan with 6:21 to play.
Okay, let’s do one to the left and one to the right 🙌
The Riders pull ahead in Edmonton!
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8:26 p.m.
Johnson III with a huge catch over the middle for 27 yards to get up to the Elks 21, and then has a screen pass go for 15 yards down the sideline to the Edmonton six.
8:22 p.m.
Drive stalls there, Blanchard has a 22 yard field goal attempt and it’s good. A solid stand by the D and the Riders hold the lead 20-19 with 10:21 to play in the game.
8:19 p.m.
Fajardo is flushed and scrambling but finds Julien-Grant for 26 yards up to the Riders 38, then Luther has a 19 yard catch to get up to the Sask 19.
8:17 p.m.
Edmonton starts the fourth quarter on their own 36 after the kickoff.
8:13 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN RIDERS! Two tries and the Riders use a play that requires a strange aligning of the universe that has never happened before and will be studied for ages… Stevens runs in from a yard out and scores his third touchdown of the game! Two point convert attempt fails. Nine plays, 70 yards, 20-16 Saskatchewan at the end of the third quarter.
That’s three! A hat trick for Tommy Stevens 🎩
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8:10 p.m.
Hah. Elks appear to force a Stevens fumble but it’s called back because of a… too many men call. Riders ball on the two with Stevens having three cracks at the end zone.
8:06 p.m.
Mimbs catches an 18-yard pass and Riders are in business in the red zone at the Elks seven.
8:04 p.m.
Harris is in trouble but Conley catches a checkdown pass and goes for 29 yards up to the Edmonton 30.
When in doubt, find Quali Conley!
A nice catch and run to move the Riders up the field.
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8:03 p.m.
Ooof. Harris throws a hospital pass to KSB and he gets absolutely hammered after the catch. Riders first down at their own 51, but at what cost?
7:59 p.m.
Blanchard ends up with a 13-yard field goal attempt, and it’s good. 16-14 Elks with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter.
7:58 p.m.
Fajardo finds Cephus for 22 yards up to the Saskatchewan nine, but the Riders defence stiffens, with Roberson getting his first sack for a four-yard loss and Fajardo then being forced to run for seven yards.
7:56 p.m.
Some shoddy tackling on back-to-back plays and the Elks gain 10 yards on a pass that could have been stopped for a loss, and another 10 on a Rankin that went through four players.
7:52 p.m.
And it’s wide left. I’ll leave it at that.
7:51 p.m.
Drive stalls there after another uncharacteristic drop by KSB, and the Riders are kicking a field goal from the Elks 42.
7:48 p.m.
Welp, you’ll be seeing that on internet highlights. Conley does a reverse hurdle over an Elks defender and turns it into a 12-yard gain to midfield.
DID YOU SEE THAT?! 🤯
Watch more angles of this INSANE reverse hurdle from Quali Conley!
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QUALI CONLEY REVERSE HURDLE!
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7:45 p.m.
A couple of short passes that get snuffed out quick by the Riders and the Elks are punting. A horsecollar tackle on Wiebe on the return gets the Riders up to the 40 to start their next drive.
7:44 p.m.
Well, that didn’t work. Conley is stopped for a two-yard loss and Harris underthrows a deep ball to KSB and it’s intercepted. Not much different than a punt, though, as Elks get the ball on their own 38.
7:41 p.m.
Riders get the ball on their own 39 to start the third quarter.
7:40 p.m.
We’re moments away from kick off for the second half after an hour and 21 minutes, including the halftime break. Riders get the ball to start the second half.
7:37 p.m.
Oh boy, Tevaughn Campbell is out of the game with an upper body injury, that’ll see Malcom Bell into action in the second half. It was the offensive line that couldn’t stay healthy last year, this time it’s the defensive secondary.
7:31 p.m.
The teams are back on the field for the warm-up, we should be 10 minutes away from getting things going.
7:07 p.m.
Sigh. Another 30 minute delay, players will be allowed back on the field at 7:30 p.m. and then have a 10 minute warm-up since they’ve had to wait longer than an hour. So, 7:40 p.m. at the earliest before we’re back in action.
6:51 p.m.
Environment Canada radar indicates that things might be clearing up quick, so hopefully we’ll be back in action inside the next 45 minutes or so. Oh, and so folks know, if for some reason this delay lasts three hours, it’ll go into the books as a tie.
6:36 p.m.
We’ve got lighting to go with the rain, the fans have been told to shelter in the concourse, and we’re in a delay. CFL protocol is 30 minutes between lightning strikes, so we’re going to be waiting for a bit, folks.
6:31 p.m.
Welp, those clouds in the background of the game have arrived. It’s pouring at Commonwealth Stadium, looks like we’re going to be in for in interesting second half weather-wise.
6:19 p.m.
A pass for no yards and short run for Conley and the Riders punt with seven seconds left to end the first half. 17-13 Saskatchewan in a contest that sees both defences doing a pretty good job.
6:17 p.m.
An incompletion and snuffed checkdown and the Elks are punting. Riders get the ball back on their 24 with 1:01 to play in the half.
6:15 p.m.
Harris gets sacked for a three yard loss and a short pass sees Riders punting. Elks get the ball on their 23 with 1:37 remaiining in the half.
6:13 p.m.
A deep incompletion broken up by Exume and a screen pass sniffed out by Rose for a seven yard loss and the Elks are settling for a field goal. It’s good from 44 yards, 14-13 Saskatchewan with 2:24 to play in the half.
6:10 p.m.
A roughing the passer penalty gets Edmonton up to the Riders 30 after a 17 yard catch by Julien-Grant.
6:08 p.m.
Edmonton takes a procedure penalty on first down and it’s first-and-15 Elks at the three minute warning.
6:06 p.m.
Harris find KeeSean for the first down on second down, but it gets punched out by the defender. Riders punt, Edmonton ball on their own 53 after the punt. Riders are badly losing the field position game right now, and that’s playing with fire.
6:03 p.m.
Another great job by the defence, especially after that start. Rankin gets stuffed behind the line, and a checkdown to O’Leary-Orange gets snuffed after five yards. Edmonton punts, Riders get the ball back on their own two after an objectionable conduct call with 4:34 left in the half.
5:59 p.m.
Aw man, Conley has a long pass go off his hands and Harris then nearly sacked before getting up to the 19. Riders are punting from their four, Elks get the ball back with great field position on their own 50.
5:55 p.m.
There we go defence! The Riders blitz gets home on second and five for a six yard loss and the Elks are punting. Saskatchewan gets the ball back on their own 15 after an illegal block penalty with 8:11 to play in the half.
Stopped by Caleb Sanders! 🛑
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5:51 p.m.
Oh my. Elks standout defensive lineman Noah Taylor picks up his second objectionable conduct penalty on the kick-off and has been ejected. That’s a huge loss for Edmonton.
5:49 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN RIDERS! You’ll never guess in a million years what happened… two runs by Stevens two yards out and it’s in for the major! Eight plays, 70 yards, 14-10 Saskatchewan with 10:08 to play in the first half.
Tommy Stevens with another sneak 👀
Riders take the lead!
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5:46 p.m.
Harris finds DDB for 16 yards and the Riders are in the red zone at the Edmonton two.
5:44 p.m.
Oh goodness, when you’re hot you’re hot. KSB has a 10 yard catch and two plays later Harris should have been intercepted, but the ball is deflected to KSB and he goes 27 yards up to the Elks 29.
RIGHT PLACE. RIGHT TIME. SCHAFFER-BAKER.
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5:42 p.m.
Blanchard has a 24 yard field goal attempt to start the second quarter, it’s good, 10-7 Edmonton.
5:39 p.m.
Fajardo finds Leake on a checkdown pass but he’s met immediately by Sayles for no yards. 7-7 tie at the end of the first quarter.
5:38 p.m.
Catch by Julien-Grant for 13 and Edmonton is into the red zone.
5:36 p.m.
Catches by Cephus and Mack and the Elks are up to the Riders 37.
5:31 p.m.
Riders get a first down, but Harris sacked for a six-yard loss on the next play, and they’re pushed back to their own 32. A short pass later and they’re punting, Edmonton gets the ball back on their 23 with 3:40 to play in the first quarter.
5:25 p.m.
That’s better. Rankin stuffed on first down, and an incompletion on second down has the Elks punting. Sask gets the ball back on the 21.
5:24 p.m.
Edmonton starts the next drive at their own 34 after another good return from Leake.
5:23 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN ROUGHRIDERS! It takes Stevens two tries from three yards out, but he gets through and gets the job done. Three plays, nine yards, 7-7 tie with 9:11 to play in the first quarter. Now can the Riders defence look better than a low-grade FCS team on this drive?
Touchdown Riders!
What a start to this rematch 🤯
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5:19 p.m.
Johnny Johnson III gives the Riders the response they needed right off the hop, taking the kickoff 87 yards down the sideline all the way to the Edmonton nine.
HUGE 87-YARD RETURN FROM JOHNNY JOHNSON III
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5:15 p.m.
Touchdown Edmonton. Rankin breaks one, two, three, four tackles and he’s into the end zone. The Elks just made the Riders defence look like a college team on their first drive. Seven plays, 62 yards, 7-0 Edmonton 4:53 into the game.
Justin Rankin starts the game with a BANG to get Edmonton rocking! 🚨
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5:14 p.m.
Mack has a catch at the 16 and gets up to the five and it’s first and goal.
5:11 p.m.
A pass catch and roughing the passer penalty and Edmonton is already up to the Riders 38. Then a checkdown pass to Rankin and they’re at the 26. Exactly the start Saskatchewan didn’t want to have.
5:10 p.m.
Leake has a 37 yard return on the kickoff and the Elks are starting on their own 48 to start the game.
Big return from the Elks to get us started here in Edmonton!
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5:06 p.m.
Edmonton wins the coin toss and will get the ball to start the game, Riders get the ball in the second half. Kick-off is moments away!
4:57 p.m.
Here are Luc’s Three Keys to the Game for Saskatchewan:
1 – Can’t give up explosive plays. An obvious one. Communicate in the secondary and do everything possible to avoid giving up the monster gains and touchdowns that hurt Saskatchewan so bad last week.
2- Offence has to finish drives today. If you want to win a game like this, you have to score touchdowns and not kick field goals. This doesn’t involve the kicking controversy, either, just simple fact — points are going to be important when two high-impact offences are on the field, and six is much better than three in that situation.
3 – Keep Edmonton in second-and-seven or more. They were able to hold Justin Rankin down last week, so do it again and get the Elks into second-and-long as often as possible. That enables the Rider defence to get a bit more creative and could force Fajardo into more mistakes
4:50 p.m.
Here’s the updated depth chart with Emilus now out.
4:21 p.m.
The injury report is starting to hit the Riders hard. Sam Emilus was a game-time decision and told Dave at the hotel today that he was pretty sure he could go, but no luck. That takes away one of Trevor Harris’ biggest weapons, but Daniel Wiebe gets the start in his place, so a great chance for a Saskatchewan kid to have an impact!
2:03 p.m
The Rider Broadcast Network pre-game show is currently on the air, and you can catch Teagan Witko and Wes Cates and all sorts of special guests in the lead-up to game time. The Voice of the Roughriders Dave Thomas and analyst Luc Mullinder take over from there, with kick-off set for 5 p.m.
2:02 p.m.
Games between the Roughriders and Elks in Edmonton in recent years have often seen supporters of the Green and White almost outnumber the home team, but that won’t be the case tonight.
Football fans in Edmonton have finally realized what they have, and a crowd of over 30,000 is expected at Commonwealth Stadium, leading to the upper deck being opened for the first time since 2023.
So we should have a pretty good atmosphere on our hands tonight!
2:01 p.m
It’s going to be another warm one in Edmonton, with a temperature of 27 C and humidex of 31 C expected at game time. Winds will be out of the south at 20 km/h and gusting to 40 k/m, switching to the northwest as the game progresses. There’s also a good chance of rain in the forecast for later in the contest, with a 60 per cent chance of precipitation.
Now for the news we’ve all been expecting and dreading this summer.
While air quality conditions from forest fire smoke are currently at 5 (Moderate Risk) in Edmonton according to the Environment Canada Air Quality Health Index, it’s expected to rise as high as 7 (High Risk) by game time. That puts the contest in jeopardy of being delayed if observable conditions are bad enough, or if things continue to deteriorate and hit the 8 (High Risk) range.
So we’ll have to wait and see how things turn out, but hopefully stay clear enough to get the game in without delay.
2 p.m.
It’s the rematch everyone has been talking about, it’s another battle between the top two teams in the West Division, it’s the Saskatchewan Roughriders taking on the Edmonton Elks tonight at Commonwealth Stadium!
You’d pretty much have to be living under a rock if you have heard about this one.
The two teams engaged in one of the best games you’ll ever see in the CFL last Thursday at Mosaic Stadium, with the clubs combining for nearly a thousand yards of offence in Edmonton’s walk-off 36-34 victory.
Trevor Harris had 386 yards passing and four touchdowns in the narrow loss, with Kian Schaffer-Baker having the best game of his career with eight catches for 185 yards.
Thing is, Edmonton’s Cody Fajardo absolutely went off, throwing for 510 yards and finding Austin Mack for a couple of long-range majors.
Much of the discussion this week in Riderville has been how to stop that passing game from striking again, and we’re only a few hours away from finding out if all the planning and preparation in that direction has had an effect.
Edmonton comes into the contest with a 6-1 record, Saskatchewan is second in the division with a 4-2 mark.
The biggest news heading into the contest is who won’t be playing for the Roughriders, as standout running back A.J. Ouellette has been moved to the six-game ilst with a knee injury. Quali Conley gets his second start of the season in his place.
The Riders will also be without all-star defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr., as he also moves to the six game with a knee injury.
Saskatchewan’s depth chart:
Edmonton’s depth chart:
