On Friday night at Mosaic Stadium, the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosted the Edmonton Elks looking to even their record. Meanwhile, the Elks needed to win this game, or else they were eliminated from playoff contention.
In the first quarter, Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo completed four passes for 36 yards, plus a roughing the passer penalty, helped lead the Roughriders down to the Elks’ 14-yard line. Then, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther made a 22-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 10:37 left.
On the next Saskatchewan drive, Cody Fajardo dropped back to throw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Shaq Evans. Evans had an Edmonton defender on him when he caught the touchdown to extend the Roughriders’ lead 10-0 with 6:08 left.
Before the first quarter ended, Edmonton kicker Sergio Castillo made a 23-yard field goal, cutting Saskatchewan’s lead 10-3 with 2:48 left. After the Roughriders went two-and-out, Edmonton had the ball to start the second quarter.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius threw a 30-yard pass to Derel Walker. Three plays later, Cornelius scored a touchdown with a quarterback sneak, tying the game 10-10 with 11:26 left in the second quarter. After Edmonton’s defense stopped Saskatchewan, their offense was back out for the next series. It took one play for the Elks to take the lead when Taylor Cornelius threw a 77-yard touchdown to Dillon Mitchell, putting them up 17-10 with 9:15 left.
Late in the second quarter, Brett Lauther, who missed a 36-yard field goal when the ball hit the upright, made a 39-yard field goal, trimming Edmonton’s lead 17-13 with 1:24 left. Then, just before halftime, Edmonton tried to get those points back, but kicker Sergio Castillo missed a 51-yard field goal, and they headed to the locker room with a 17-13 lead.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 8/13 for 155 yards, one touchdown, seven carries for 80 yards, and one touchdown. Edmonton’s offense had 296 yards, while Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo was 9/11 for 118 yards, one touchdown, and four carries for 28 yards. Saskatchewan’s offense had 155 yards.
In the third quarter, Edmonton got those three points back when Sergio Castillo made a 13-yard field goal for a 20-13 lead with 8:15 left. Late in the third quarter, Saskatchewan kicker Brett Lauther missed a 38-yard field goal wide left, but Christian Saulsberry took a knee in the endzone, giving up a single point, 20-14 at the end of the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Edmonton added three more points on a 43-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo for a 23-14 lead with 12:17 left. Midway through the fourth quarter, Saskatchewan cut the Elks’ lead 23-17 on a 35-yard field goal by Brett Lauther.
Late in the fourth quarter, Cody Fajardo led the offense down to Edmonton’s seven-yard line and threw a touchdown pass to Brayden Lenius to take a 24-23 lead with 1:08 left.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius threw a couple of passes for 30-yards before Sergio Castillo made the eventual game-winning 47-yard field goal to give Edmonton a 26-24 lead with 28-seconds left.
Saskatchewan did have one more possession, but Fajardo’s hail mary went incomplete, and Edmonton won 26-24. Edmonton improved to 4-10, and Saskatchewan continues heading in the wrong direction with a 6-8 record.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius went 13/24 for 237 yards, one touchdown, eight carries for 93 yards, and one touchdown. Running back Kevin Brown had 14 carries for 109 yards, while wide receiver Derel Walker had five catches for 109 yards. Edmonton’s defense allowed 311 yards, 55 tackles, eight sacks, one forced fumble, and seven pass breakups. Edmonton has a bye next week.
Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo was 20/27 for 230 yards, two touchdowns, and six carries for 47 yards. Running back Frankie Hickson had ten carries for 14 yards, while wide receiver Shaq Evans had three catches for 54 yards and one touchdown.
The Roughriders’ defense had problems with tackling and gave up 439 yards, 38 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and three pass breakups. Saskatchewan has a bye next week.
