The Saskatchewan Roughriders held on for a 19-17 Friday night over the Edmonton Elks from Commonwealth Stadium for their third road win in a row. For the first time in Edmonton’s history, they finish the season winless at home 0-7.
The Roughriders were up 19-3 midway through the fourth quarter when the Elks made the game interesting, scoring fourteen unanswered points.
Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo went 24/33 for 241-yards, one touchdown, one interception, and five carries for 44-yards. Fajardo’s touchdown pass happened late in the second quarter from the pocket, finding Brayden Lenius, as he got hit for a 22-yard touchdown for a 10-3 lead with 1:51 left. Brayden Lenius finished the night with three catches for 39-yards and one touchdown.
Running back, William Powell led the Roughriders in rushing with 14 carries for 46-yards, and Kian Schaffer-Baker led in receiving with seven catches for 65-yards. Kicker Brett Lauther was a perfect 4/4, with his longest field goal being 46-yards. The defense recorded three sacks, two of them by AC Leonard, along with two forced fumbles.
For the Elks, quarterback Taylor Cornelius went 21/35 for 322-yards, two touchdowns, and two carries for 14-yards. Cornelius’s touchdowns happened in the fourth quarter, both to Daniel Vandervoort. Trailing 19-3, Cornelius scrambled out of the pocket and threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Vandervoort. The Elks tried a two-point conversion and failed, trailing 19-9 with 8:58 left.
The second touchdown happened with 1:25 left when Cornelius connected to Vandervoort for a five-yard touchdown. The Elks failed another two-point conversion. However, a penalty against the Roughriders gave them another chance, and the Elks got the two points trailing 19-17. The Elks tried an onside kick but couldn’t recover the ball, and Roughriders won the game.
Elks’ running back Walter Fletcher led the rushing with 14 carries for 74-yards, and Jalen Tolliver led in receiving with four catches for 75-yards. Kicker Sean Whyte was one-for-two in field goals, with his longest being 15-yards. The defense recorded three sacks, all of them by Derrick Moncrief, along with one interception and one forced fumble.
These two teams will meet again next week on Saturday, November 13th, at 7 pm on ESPN+.
