Elks not to be taken lightly

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This article was published 17/10/2023 (728 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was back to business for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who returned to IG Field Tuesday after the bye week to prepare for a pivotal game against the visiting Edmonton Elks.

If that sounds like a familiar refrain, that’s because it is. There was similar hype around the Bombers most recent match, a thrilling 34-26 overtime road win over the B.C. Lions in Week 18 that improved the Blue and Gold to 12-4 and put them in prime position to seal the West Division.

That brings us to the present, where the well-rested Bombers will be able to clinch the West with a victory over the lowly Elks Saturday night. Edmonton was officially eliminated from the playoffs with a loss to the Toronto Argonauts two weeks ago, and currently boast a CFL-worst record of 4-13.

Still, the Bombers aren’t going to treat this one lightly, understanding that previous records don’t guarantee future success.

“It was no surprise to anyone around the league — coaching staffs, players — that they were going to win games and make it very tough,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “They are a physical group that flies around, a roster that’s staffed with athletes. They’re tough and nobody thinks anything different.”

What O’Shea was alluding to is Edmonton’s relative resurgence in the second half of the season after a disastrous start to the year. Nothing went right out of the gate for the Elks, who dropped their first nine games before finding somewhat of a groove the following few weeks.

At one point, the Elks were considered among one of the league’s hottest clubs, winning four of five games before dropping their last three. A big part of that success came from the decision to move on from quarterbacks Taylor Cornelius and Jarret Doege and start Canadian pivot Tre Ford.

Ford, who played for the University of Waterloo and was drafted by the Elks with the No. 8 pick in the 2022 CFL Draft, brought some much-needed enthusiasm to a stale Edmonton attack. He’s a versatile QB, capable of doing damage with his arms and legs, averaging a modest 198 passing yards and an impressive 68 rushing yards per game.

“You don’t dedicate people to a quarterback normally in schemes, and he’s a guy where you have to start looking at, ‘OK, are we going to dedicate someone to match up on him in certain situations,’” Bombers middle linebacker Adam Bighill said. “So, you got to play that game with them and be able to give them different looks, because he’s a quarterback that can take off with his legs and hurt you. Those quarterbacks in any league — NFL, CFL — are going to be the most dangerous.”

Kenny Lawler spent the 2022 season with the Elks, which marked the first year under GM/HC Chris Jones. Edmonton finished last place in the West last year, tying the Ottawa Redblacks for the league’s worst record, at 4-14.

Back with the Bombers this season, the veteran receiver has a unique perspective on the Elks, as there are several returning players from last year’s squad. Asked how he felt Edmonton might attack its final game of the season without the motivation of earning a playoff berth, Lawler expects a spirited effort from the opponent.

“(The Elks) can still shake things up within the West playoff race. They’re a competitive team, they’ve shown that at times this year, and the players still have one more game to put on tape, to maybe build some momentum going into next year.”– Winnipeg Blue Bomber wide receiver Kenny Lawler

“The expectation will be they’ve got one more game left, so they’re going to come out here and give it all they got,” Lawler said. “They can still shake things up within the West playoff race. They’re a competitive team, they’ve shown that at times this year, and the players still have one more game to put on tape, to maybe build some momentum going into next year.”

The Bombers are 2-0 against the Elks this season, earning a 28-14 home victory on July 20 before beating Edmonton on the road a month later, 38-29, in Week 10. In the most recent game, the Elks built up a 22-0 lead before the Bombers, with QB Dru Brown in for an injured Zach Collaros, orchestrated a triumphant comeback.

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There’s a chance the Bombers could have the West already wrapped up prior to kickoff. For that to happen, the Lions would have to lose at home to the Calgary Stampeders Friday night.

A Lions win and a Bombers loss this week, however, would leave Winnipeg one more chance to clinch the West with a victory over the Stampeders in the last game of the regular season. A victory over the Elks this week would eliminate all the pressure in having to win the final week and give the Bombers the opportunity to rest players heading into the playoffs.

“It’s going to be a challenge, for sure,” Collaros said. “We’re going to have to execute at a high level, play fast and physical — all the things we talk about every single week and if we do that, we like our chances.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

Every piece of reporting Jeff produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.