The Edmonton Elks have lastly discovered their approach into the win column.
Justin Rankin scored a pair of touchdowns because the Elks captured their first win of the season, developing large to defeat the Ottawa Redblacks 39-33 on Sunday.
“It was a whole 60-minute effort,” mentioned Elks head coach Mark Kilam. “It was gritty. Some guys went down, we had some shifting elements. Guys had been throwing up at halftime. It took loads, it took everybody within the room, and I’m happy with them.”
Edmonton (1-3) snapped a three-game dropping skid to begin the CFL marketing campaign.
“We had a superb begin, we went out and scored on our first two drives, which was actually good,” mentioned Elks quarterback Tre Ford, who handed for 212 yards and two TDs.
“We sputtered a bit within the second quarter and a little bit bit into the third, however we had been capable of put some drives collectively and rating some extra factors. I feel our crew simply got here collectively.”
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Ottawa dropped to 1-4 with its second straight loss.
“I don’t suppose we began effectively,” mentioned Ottawa coach Bob Dyce. “We gave up explosives, each on particular groups and defence, and didn’t actually create that many offensively. We had been undisciplined at occasions and didn’t execute the way in which we have to execute.”
The Redblacks took 9 penalties for 118 yards.
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“The sport is just too exhausting to win within the first place, so we are able to’t be shifting backwards,” mentioned Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown, who returned from damage. “Personally, I didn’t really feel like I performed very effectively early. I assumed they’d a superb plan. They had been pushing and testing our endurance and there have been occasions the place I wasn’t affected person.
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“It’s a superb studying expertise, however numerous issues to enhance on, for certain.”
The Elks had a powerful begin to the competition, scoring on their opening drive. Ford lofted a move to Rankin and he shrugged off a defender and scampered for a 45-yard landing. Edmonton added a single on the following kickoff.
Ottawa responded with a 42-yard subject objective from Lewis Ward.
Edmonton saved it approaching its second possession with one other lengthy drive, capped off when Ford pitched it to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and he scrambled eight yards into the top zone.
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The Elks obtained a uncommon punt return landing 5 minutes into the second quarter when Javon Leake broke free and went 94 yards to attain regardless of virtually letting up too quickly and getting caught. It was Edmonton’s first punt return TD since Aug. 28, 2015.
Ottawa lastly obtained it going late within the second with a stable drive completed off by a six-yard TD move from Brown to Eugene Lewis.
The Redblacks obtained a dramatic punt return landing of their very own with lower than two minutes to play within the first half as Kalil Pimpleton bobbed and weaved his approach 97 yards into the top zone to chop Edmonton’s result in 22-17 at halftime.
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After having a fumble return TD overturned on a penalty, Ottawa obtained a 42-yard subject objective from Ward to open the third quarter.
The Elks responded with a 21-yard subject objective by Vincent Blanchard.
Rankin got here up large once more with 3:36 left within the third, discovering a seam up the center and blazing 74 yards into the top zone for the foremost.
Ward booted a 43-yard subject objective to shut out the half and added one other from 28 yards out 4 minutes into the fourth to chop Edmonton’s result in six factors.
Blanchard countered with a 35-yard three-pointer.
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Ottawa gambled on a 3rd and three with three minutes left within the recreation however was denied, main to a different 35-yard subject objective from Blanchard, who added a single on the next kickoff.
The Redblacks fought to the top, including a 14-yard TD move to Andre Miller.
BROWN COMES UP SHORT
Brown returned from lacking the final three video games with a hip damage seeking to move for greater than 400 yards for his fourth consecutive recreation. Solely Warren Moon, Kent Austin and Doug Flutie had additionally achieved it 3 times in a row in CFL historical past. Sadly, Brown solely managed 316 yards passing on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Redblacks: Go to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday, July 12.
Elks: Host the B.C. Lions on Sunday, July 13.
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