On Friday night at TD Place, the Edmonton Elks took on the Ottawa Redblacks in a battle of two last-place teams. The Elks were looking for their third win of the year, while the Redblacks were aiming to win their second game of 2022.
The Redblacks struck first in the first quarter when quarterback Caleb Evans scrambled up the middle for a 21-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 6:17 left. Late in the first quarter, Elks’ kicker Sergio Castillo made a 52-yard field goal, cutting Ottawa’s lead 7-3 with 2:51 left. Ottawa had the ball and faced a 3rd and 7 to begin the second quarter.
Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward missed a 40-yard field goal but got a single point after Duron Carter was tackled in the endzone for an 8-3 lead. Later, Ward missed a 47-yard field goal but got another single point, 9-3, with 8:30 left. After the Elks went three-and-out, the Redblacks offense returned to work and made it to Edmonton’s six-yard line before Lewis Ward made a 13-yard field goal for a 12-3 lead with 5:04 left.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius led the offense with a couple of passes for 32 yards, plus a 12-yard run to get them to Ottawa’s 16-yard line. Six plays later, Kai Locksley scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, but a missed extra point made it 12-9 with 2:20 left. Ottawa’s offense made some progress but punted the ball on third down. The Elks ran out the clock trailing 12-9 at halftime.
In the second half, it was all Elks. First, Taylor Cornelius went with a fake handoff before throwing an 18-yard touchdown to Kenny Lawler, putting Edmonton up 16-12 with 11:03 left. Then, Edmonton marched down to Ottawa’s two-yard line before Ante Milanovic-Litre scored a two-yard touchdown for a 23-12 lead with 3:34 left.
The Redblacks made little progress on offense before punting the ball to Edmonton as the Elks had the ball facing a 2nd and 10 to start the fourth quarter.
The Elks chewed up a lot of time on their way to reaching the Redblacks’ four-yard line. Then, quarterback Taylor Cornelius threw a four-yard touchdown to Derel Walker for a 30-12 lead.
Ottawa changed quarterbacks with Nick Arbuckle in for Caleb Evans. The Redblacks could not generate much offense, and the Elks beat the Redblacks 30-12 for their third win of the season. Meanwhile, the Redblacks drop to 1-8.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius went 16/27 for 208 yards, two touchdowns, and five carries for 47 yards. Running back, Ante Milanovic-Litre had 13 carries for 53 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver Kenny Lawler had five catches for 81 yards and one touchdown. Edmonton’s defense allowed 294 yards, 44 tackles, two sacks, and three pass breakups.
Ottawa quarterback Caleb Evans went 10/16 for 111 yards and led the rushers with nine carries for 82 yards and one touchdown. Wide receiver Jaelon Acklin had five catches for 50 yards, and the defense allowed 328 yards, 47 tackles, one sack, and four pass breakups. These two teams will meet again next Saturday at 7 pm on ESPN+.
