EDMONTON \u2013 The Edmonton Elks host the BC Lions for Dog Days of Summer presented by ATCO Energy in CFL Week 7 action at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday (July 16) at 7 p.m. MDT.<\/p>\n
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster<\/a>. Catch the action live on TSN<\/a>, 880 CHED<\/a> and CFL+<\/a>.<\/p>\n Edmonton (4-1) enters Friday\u2019s contest tied with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for first in the CFL West Division, while the Lions (1-3) currently occupy last place in the division.<\/p>\n REMATCH FROM WEEK 5<\/p>\n Although Edmonton and BC sit at opposite ends of the standings, the Elks\u2019 lone defeat the season came at the hands of the Lions, falling by a score of 36-24<\/a> in Kelowna just two weeks ago, on July 4.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can show better than what we did in Kelowna,\u201d Elks offensive lineman Mark Korte said. \u201cBC\u2019s a good team, though. I know their record maybe doesn\u2019t say it right now, but I think they\u2019re one of the best teams, so they\u2019re going to be a good test, and we\u2019re going to be ready for them. I think we all feel like we didn\u2019t have our best showing in Kelowna and we\u2019ll have our best showing on Friday night.\u201d<\/p>\n Dog Days of Summer is coming in HOT this Friday and you won\u2019t wanna miss this pup\u2011tastic event! \ud83d\udc3e<\/p>\n We\u2019re breaking down every FAQ you\u2019ve been sending our way, so you and your four\u2011legged MVP can roll in ready.<\/p>\n FULL DETAILS | https:\/\/t.co\/L12uJDNbR9<\/a>#GoElks<\/a> | @ATCOenergy<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3vyhLu0rcn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) July 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Following its loss to the Lions, Edmonton responded impressively, with a 40-17 victory over the Ottawa RedBlacks<\/a> at Commonwealth Stadium on July 9. BC, meanwhile, had a Week 6 bye, meaning the Lions will be playing the Green and Gold in back-to-back games.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s about revenge, I think every is its own entity,\u201d Elks coach Mark Kilam says. \u201cIt\u2019s so different each and every week, but we focused on the things that we felt like will give us the best chance to win this game and that\u2019s kind of the mentality that we have.\u201d<\/p>\n TURNOVER BATTLE IS KEY<\/p>\n In its five contests so far this season, the only instance of Edmonton losing the turnover battle is against the Lions in Week 5. That game saw BC pick off three passes and recover one Elks\u2019 fumble, while the Green and Gold had two takeaways, both interceptions of Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke.<\/p>\n Takeaways have proven a massive factor in the Green and Gold\u2019s strong start: Edmonton ranks first in the league with a turnover margin of +7, and also leads the league with 42 points scored off turnovers.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re playing team defence, rallying to the ball,\u201d Kilam said. \u201cGood things happen when you do that.\u201d<\/p>\n TWO-HEADED MONSTER<\/p>\n Edmonton\u2019s Justin Rankin is the talk of the CFL so far this season, and rightly so: the Elks running back ranks first in the league in total rushing yards (513), rushing yards per game (102.6), and rushing touchdowns (6), while also leading all CFL running backs in receptions (26), receiving yards (297) and receiving yards per game (59.4).<\/p>\n But Rankin isn\u2019t the only weapon in Edmonton\u2019s top-ranked ground offence, as evidenced last week against Ottawa when third-year Elks running back Javon Leake rushed for 85 yards on 10 attempts in his breakout performance of the season. It was an emphatic reminder to the league of why Rankin dubbed himself and Leake \u201cThunder and Lightning<\/a>\u201c.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s my guy, we\u2019re always trying to get packages in where we\u2019re both in the game,\u201d Leake said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of formations that you\u2019ve got to figure out with us in the game together, and at the same time it\u2019s fun, seeing my brother out there, (getting to play) with him. The more we keep doing that, it\u2019s going to be difficult for defences to stop us.\u201d<\/p>\n PROTECT THIS HOUSE<\/p>\n For decades, Commonwealth Stadium was one of the most difficult venues for opposing CFL teams to visit, and that vibe seems to be back now at Play Alberta Field.<\/p>\n Going back to last season, Edmonton is 6-1 in its last seven home games, including victories both times playing at Commonwealth Stadium this year. A win on Friday would give the Green and Gold victories in its first three home games of the season since 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing we want to do is get the fans out,\u201d Elks defensive back Kordell Jackson said following his team\u2019s Week 6 triumph against the visiting RedBlacks. \u201cSo any time you\u2019re winning at home, and you get the fans excited, more and more people show up, and that\u2019s what we want. We want to get back to the glory days, that\u2019s our goal for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Edmonton\u2019s most recent regular season victory against the Lions also came at Commonwealth Stadium, in August 2024.<\/p>\n