Justin Rankin scored three big-play touchdowns as the Edmonton Elks returned to their winning ways with a 40-17 victory over the struggling Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday.
Rankin had 107 yards on just 14 carries with two touchdowns on the ground, adding three receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Cody Fajardo went 19-of-24 passing with 340 yards and two touchdowns.
The Elks, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2019, moved ahead of Saskatchewan into first in the West Division at 4-1.
The Redblacks are still seeking their first foray into the win column, sitting at 0-5.
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QB Jake Maier went 26-of-39 passing for 293 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions.
The Elks opened the scoring on a competent opening drive, capped off by Rankin, who bounced off a defender and swung wide for a 19-yard touchdown. The league’s leading rusher, Rankin only had 19 yards total rushing in last week’s loss to the Lions, but managed 40 yards on the opening drive.
The score remained stagnant until midway through the second quarter when Elks kicker Vincent Blanchard nailed a 36-yard field goal.
Ottawa got on the board with four minutes left in the second with plenty of help from the Elks. Edmonton took three penalties on the drive including a roughing the kicker call after initially pinning the Redblacks, eventually allowing for a one-yard plunge by backup QB Bryson Barnes to make it 10-7.
Edmonton closed out the first-half scoring after a Tyrell Ford interception and an impressive 90-yard catch and run down the sidelines by Brendan O’Leary-Orange to the six-yard line that set up a 15-yard Blanchard field goal. The Elks quickly got the ball back for another Blanchard field goal from 50 yards out for a 16-7 lead at halftime.
With less than two minutes to play in the third, Ottawa closed the deficit significantly as Maier completed a 21-yard pass into the endzone to Ayden Eberhardt.
Fajardo brought his team right back to start the fourth quarter, completing a four-yard TD pass to Kaion Julien-Grant.
Ottawa responded with a 27-yard field goal from Brett Lauther to cut the lead to 23-17.
Rankin made an impact again with 6:28 to play in the fourth as he caught a Fajardo pass and weaved 33 yards for the major.
Maier was intercepted for the third time in Edmonton territory on the night, this time by Chelen Garnes, setting up yet another Rankin TD as he took a pitch and cut in and around the defence for a 31-yard run into the endzone.
The Ottawa pivot was picked off for the fourth time, the second by Kordell Jackson, on their next drive, leading to an 11-yard Blanchard field goal.
UP NEXT
Elks: Host the B.C. Lions next Friday.
Redblacks: Welcome the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to town next Sunday.
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