Elks' Perfect Record Falls
Edmonton Elks' perfect season ends as previously winless B.C. Lions secure their first victory
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The undefeated Edmonton Elks lost their perfect record on July 4, falling 36-24 to the previously winless B.C. Lions in Kelowna. The loss dropped Edmonton to 3-1, raising immediate questions about whether their hot start was as impressive as it looked, Edmonton Journal reported.
B.C. quarterback Nathan Rourke improved his career record against Edmonton to 7-0 with the win. The Lions have now won 13 of their last 14 games against the Elks, dating back to 2011, according to Calgary Herald.
James Butler Shreds Edmonton's Run Defense in Kelowna
Running back James Butler was the game's standout player. He rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries. That was a massive jump from his season average of 39 rushing yards per game heading into the contest, Toronto Sun noted.
Backup Zander Horvath added two more touchdowns for B.C. — one on a one-yard run in the first quarter and another on an 18-yard catch in the fourth. B.C. kicker Sean Whyte hit three field goals in the first half alone. The Lions led 29-21 at halftime and never looked back, according to Fairview Post.
Fajardo's Three Interceptions Doomed Edmonton's Comeback Bid
Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo put up big numbers — 395 passing yards and three touchdowns on 34 completions. But three costly interceptions killed Edmonton's drives and kept the team from closing the gap in the second half, The Whig reported.
Edmonton's leading rusher Justin Rankin, who averaged 129 yards per game before the match, was held to just 19 yards on 7 carries. He stayed involved through the air, catching 10 passes for 100 yards, but the ground game never got going. The turnover margin — 4-2 in B.C.'s favor — told the real story, according to Pincher Creek Echo.
Were the Elks Really That Good? Early Schedule Under Scrutiny
Edmonton's three wins came against Ottawa, Montreal, and Winnipeg. Two of those teams — Ottawa and Winnipeg — had combined for just one win at the time of those games. Analysts at outlets like TSN and 3DownNation quickly pointed out the soft nature of that schedule, according to Chatham Daily News.
B.C., meanwhile, was still considered a Grey Cup contender despite their 0-3 start. The Lions held +750 odds to win the championship before the game, slightly better than Edmonton's +900. Lions head coach Buck Pierce had flagged the problem himself before kickoff: "We've had a lot of self-inflicted mistakes and execution errors. Those get you beat," Brantford Expositor reported.
West Division Race Stays Tight With Rematch on the Way
Despite the loss, Edmonton remains tied for first place in the CFL West Division with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, both at 3-1. B.C. climbed to 1-3 with the win, moving out of the division basement, Fort Saskatchewan Record reported.
The two teams will meet again quickly. A rematch is set for July 17 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. B.C. will use a bye week before then to search for a new special teams coordinator — the team fired Cory McDiarmid on June 28 after a series of costly special teams errors against Calgary. The sellout crowd of over 19,000 fans in Kelowna also drew praise from city mayor Tom Dyas, who called "Touchdown Kelowna" a major economic win for the region, according to Whitecourt Star.
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