For the fourth consecutive season, the Edmonton Elks will not be part of the CFL postseason. And with two games to go, the team needs to find the motivation to finish strong. This could be a chance to defeat their rivals on Saturday as the Elks head to McMahon Stadium looking for their third win this year over the Calgary Stampeders.
The Elks last beat the Stampeders during regular season play in 2002. They won both ends of this year's Labor Day series using comebacks and a strong offense, outscoring the Stampeders 72-36 in both games and recording nine interceptions.
Both the Elks and Stampeders failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 1945.
Elks interim coach Jarious Jackson says he's looking for his team to overcome the disappointment of not making the playoffs and put their best foot forward on Saturday in Calgary
Quarterback Tre Ford will start at quarterback for the Elks, his third start of the season and fourth appearance of the season. Ford is 2-1 this season and has recorded 604 yards, six touchdown passes and three interceptions.
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Elks QB Tre Ford talks about the importance of his start against the Stampeders and what he sees of their defense
There are select players looking to reach some milestones on Saturday. Receiver Eugene Lewis is 64 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season. He caught a touchdown pass in six consecutive games, which tied the team record set by Tom Scott in 1982. The last receiver to catch touchdown passes in seven consecutive games was Ben Cahoon in 2003. Lewis leads the CFL in receptions for touchdown with eight.
Punter Jake Julien is poised to set a new mark for average punts in a season. Julien leads the CFL with a punting average of 54.7 yards, which would break the previous record of 50.6 yards set by Jon Ryan in 2005.
Linebackers Nyles Morgan and Nick Anderson are chasing 100 defensive tackles in a season. Morgan leads the CFL in defensive tackles with 97, while Anderson is second with 94. If Morgan and Anderson were able to reach 100 tackles each, they would be just the second duo in CFL history to do so.
With Tre Ford starting today for the Elks, McLeod Bethel-Thompson will not play on Saturday. Ford will be supported by Jarret Doege, with Dakota Prukop handling short-haul duties. Defensive tackle Noah Curtis returns to the lineup after missing last week's game for personal reasons. Linebacker Olivier Muembi will move to the practice squad.
The following are the projected offensive and defensive starters for the Elks:
Quarterback: Tre Ford
Running back: Justin Rankin (FB: Jakub Szott)
Offensive line: Martez Ivey, David Foucault, Mark Korte, Shane Richards, Brett Boyko
Receivers: Eugene Lewis, Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Zach Mathis, Tevin Jones, Dillon Mitchell
Defense
Defensive line: Noah Curtis, J-Min Pelley, Shawn Oakman, Elliott Brown
Linebackers: Nick Anderson, Nyles Morgan, Derrick Moncrief.
Defensemen: Kai Gray, Darrius Bratton, Loucheiz Purifoy, Kordell Jackson, Devodric Bymun
You can listen to Saturday's game between the Elks and Stampeders on 880 CHED starting with Countdown to Kick-off with Courtney Theriault at 11:30 a.m. The opening kickoff at McMahon Stadium in Calgary will be at 1pm with Morley Scott and Dave Campbell calling all the action live. Hear analysis from former Edmonton Football Team forward and two-time Gray Cup champion Blake Dermott.
