![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/afb0351de6de8ee4cffa2dcc80f8eeea489656207f5797d384f7ec13c93f95b9-300x200.jpg\")
Toronto Argonauts’ David Ungerer III (83) is tackled by Edmonton Elks’ Kobe Williams (0) during first half CFL football action in Edmonton on Saturday, August 15, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Codie McLachlanEDMONTON \u2014 An 85-yard interception return for a touchdown by J.J. Ross helped the Edmonton Elks halt a two-game losing skid with a 42-12 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts on Saturday\nThe Elks (7-3) haven\u2019t made the CFL playoffs since 2019, but Edmonton kept the heat on the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-2) in the race for first place in the West Division. The \u2018Riders were set to visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday night.
\nThe Argonauts (4-5) lost after winning two straight.
\nCole Snyder, Justin Rankin and Joshua Cephus scored touchdowns and kicker Vincent Blanchard was successful on four field-goal attempts for Edmonton.
\nElks quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 25 of 31 pass attempts for 301 yards, one touchdown throw and no interceptions.
\nHis Argonauts counterpart Chad Kelly was 21-for-31 in passing for 265 yards and one interception.
\nBackup quarterback Nick Arbuckle scored Toronto\u2019s lone touchdown, while kicker Brad Lister was 2-for-4 in field-goal tries.
\nEdmonton\u2019s opening drive was interrupted when receiver Austin Mack was stripped of the ball and recovered by Adarius Pickett. Toronto converted the turnover into Lister\u2019s 36-yard field goal.
\nThe Elks responded with Blanchard\u2019s 52-yard field goal and his punt single.
\nEdmonton scored the game\u2019s first touchdown five minutes into the second quarter when Fajardo\u2019s 44-yard scramble set up a one-yard plunge for his backup Snyder.
\nLister missed field goals from 35 and 53 yards in the first half, but the Argonauts trailed 11-9 with just under a minute to play.
\nA 51-yard pass from Chad Kelly to Kevin Mital led to a one-yard touchdown plunge for Arbuckle. Toronto\u2019s two-point convert attempt failed.
\nThe Argos managed just four rushing yards in the first half, while Rankin had just one yard on six carries through the same span.
\nEdmonton\u2019s Brock Mogensen recovered Toronto\u2019s fumble on the second half\u2019s opening kickoff, and Blanchard kicked a 41-yard field goal.
\nLister booted a 31-yarder in response, before Blanchard hit from 46 yards out to make it 17-12 for Edmonton.
\nThe Elks began to pull away with four minutes left in the third. Rankin reeled in a 37-yard pass and followed up by running the ball into the end zone from eight yards.
\nEdmonton\u2019s defence delivered in the fourth quarter by stopping Toronto on a third-and-inches gamble on their own 26. Fajardo capitalized with a 10-yard TD pass to Cephus.
\nThe Elks\u2019 defence struck again in the fourth when a Kelly pass bounced out of the hand of the intended receiver into the mitts of Ross, who ran the ball back 85 yards for a touchdown.
\nEdmonton forced another turnover on downs in the quarter, and turned it into a Blanchard field goal. Ross intercepted Arbuckle with just over a minute to play.
\nUP NEXT
\nElks: Host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday.
\nArgonauts: Host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.
\nThis report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2026.<\/p>\n