On Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium, the Edmonton Elks hosted the Toronto Argonauts, looking to win their first home game since 2019. Meanwhile, the Argonauts were looking to get closer to a divisional title and host the Eastern Final.
In the first quarter, Edmonton kicker Sergio Castillo made a 50-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 10:12 left. Then, Toronto tied the game 3-3 with a 30-yard field goal by Boris Bede. Both offenses were able to move the ball a bit before stalling. The Elks reached Toronto’s 45-yard line to end the first quarter facing second down. Edmonton had 79 yards on offense, while Toronto had 47 yards.
In the second quarter, Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius threw two passes to Emanuel Arceneaux for 18 yards while running back Kevin Brown broke out for a 20-yard run as the Elks got to the Argonauts’ seven-yard line. Then, Taylor Cornelius threw a touchdown pass into coverage to Daniel Vandervoort for a 10-3 lead with 12:27 left.
On the kickoff, Toronto took a gamble when Jeremiah Haydel caught the ball and tried to throw to the other side of the field toward Javon Leake but overthrew him, and Edmonton recovered the ball. Haydel should’ve run with the ball after catching it. The Elks converted the turnover into points when kicker Sergio Castillo made a 37-yard field goal, making it 13-3 with 9:53 left.
After Toronto went two-and-out, the Elks’ offense was back on the field. Running back Kevin Brown had four carries for 33 yards. Edmonton kicker Sergio Castillo made his third field goal of the game for 47 yards, making it 16-3 with 3:53 left. Just before halftime, Toronto kicker Boris Bede made a 49-yard field goal, cutting Edmonton’s lead to 16-6 with 1:55 left. Toronto had one more opportunity to get more points but took a knee to end the half trailing 16-6.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 13/18 for 100 yards and one touchdown, while running back Kevin Brown had 11 carries for 84 yards as part of the Elks’ 190 yards on offense. Meanwhile, quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was 5/8 for 34 yards as the Argonauts had 80 yards on offense.
In the third quarter, Toronto kicker Boris Bede got the Argonauts closer to Edmonton with a 45-yard field goal and a 42-yard field goal, cutting Edmonton’s lead 16-12 with 3:24 left. After Edmonton went two-and-out, Toronto had the ball. Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a 39-yard pass to DaVaris Daniels as they reached the Elks’ 25-yard line to end the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Toronto quarterback Boris Bede made a 32-yard field goal to make it a one-point game, 16-15, with 15 minutes left. Then, Toronto’s defense came up with a big play when DeShaun Amos intercepted Taylor Cornelius’s pass. However, Toronto was unable to take advantage and punted the ball back to Edmonton.
On the third Edmonton play, quarterback Taylor Cornelius took off for 30-yards before being tackled at the Argonauts’ four-yard line. Then, Edmonton running back Kevin Brown rushed up the middle for the touchdown, making it 23-15 with 6:27 left.
After the play, quarterback Taylor Cornelius was evaluated for a concussion and missed the next series. He would return to the game later.
Edmonton recovered another miscue by Toronto’s special teams on the kickoff when Jeremiah Haydel fumbled the ball. However, when Royce Metchie intercepted Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford’s pass, Toronto got the ball back. Three plays later, Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to DaVaris Daniels. They tried to convert a two-point play to tie the game but missed it. The score was 23-21 Elks with 3:50 left.
Toronto’s defense forced Edmonton to go two-and-out, and the Argonauts were in a prime position to win the game. On the sixth play, Toronto running back A.J. Ouellette rushed up the middle for a 25-yard touchdown, putting the Argonauts up 28-23 with 27-seconds left.
Edmonton had one more opportunity to win the game, but Taylor Cornelius’s pass intended for Nih-Jer Jackson in the endzone was incomplete as time expired, and the Argonauts won the game 28-23. Toronto is now 10-6, while Edmonton falls to 4-13.
Toronto quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson went 19/28 for 273 yards, one touchdown, and three carries for 15 yards. Running back A.J. Ouellette had nine carries for 91 yards and one touchdown, while wide receiver DaVaris Daniels had three catches for 80 yards and one touchdown.
Toronto’s defense allowed 364 yards, with 51 tackles, two sacks, five pass breakups, and two interceptions. Toronto will have a chance to clinch the East Division next Saturday against the Montreal Alouettes at 4 pm on ESPN+.
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 18/30 for 185 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and three carries for 51 yards. Running back Kevin Brown had 19 carries for 121 yards, and one touchdown, while wide receiver Derel Walker had seven catches for 114 yards.
Edmonton’s defense allowed 393 yards, with 41 tackles, one sack, one pass breakup, and two fumble recoveries. Edmonton hosts the BC Lions next Friday at 9:30 pm on ESPN+.
