The Edmonton Elks and B.C. Lions meet Saturday in the CFL West Division final at Commonwealth Stadium after long Grey Cup absences for both teams.
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The Edmonton Elks and the B.C. Lions will meet Saturday in the CFL West Division final for a berth in the Grey Cup at Commonwealth Stadium.
The Elks last appeared in the Grey Cup in 2015, when they beat the Ottawa Redblacks 26-20. The Lions are aiming to end a longer drought, with their last Grey Cup appearance coming in 2011, when they defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34-23.
The matchup features Edmonton’s league-best rushing game against B.C.’s top-ranked run defence. The game also puts two quarterbacks on the field who can extend plays with scrambling ability.
Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo said the contest comes down to two standout units, calling it “two of the best defences in the league and two high-powered offences,” and adding, “They have the No. 1 defence against the run and we are the No. 1 team running the football, so something’s got to give.” He also emphasized ball security, saying, “The ball is the priority. If we can protect the football and keep their offence on the sideline, that gives us the best chance to win.”
The teams haven’t played each other since splitting a two-game series in July, and the roster situations have shifted since then. Edmonton was without middle linebacker Nick Anderson for both July games, while B.C. lost quarterback Nathan Rourke on the second play of the rematch.
Both teams are mostly healthy heading into the West final. Fajardo said he is excited to have his full slate of receivers available and described the offensive line as a key area, saying, “We haven’t had our starting five all year, maybe one game. This is our offence we envisioned coming out of training camp.”
Rourke helped spark B.C. to second place in the West after the team started 0-3, and the Elks expect their biggest challenge to be containing him when plays break down. Cornerback Tyrell Ford said Rourke can create big plays, adding, “When the play breaks down, you’ve got to stick to your receiver. He’s able to do all the crazy stuff he does, so we just got to keep him in the pocket.”
Ford also pointed to the Lions’ overall receiving group as an obstacle for Edmonton’s defence. “They’re really dynamic, and a lot of them are big bodies, so you’ve got to beat them to the spot when you’re covering them,” he said. “We’ve just got to make sure we tackle well. But, yeah, they’re all around a good unit, running back, receivers, everything.”
Rookie defensive back JJ Ross described Rourke as a difficult quarterback to contain, saying, “We all know it, but he’s not Superman,” and adding, “We just got to come in here and just do what we do, stick to the plan, and just lean on one another and trust one another.”
Momentum may favour B.C. heading into the game. The Lions had a late 9-1 run in the regular season, rested Rourke during losses in their final two regular-season games, and then won the West semifinal.
Elks offensive co-ordinator Jordan Maksymic said playing well consistently can carry over from week to week, saying, “I think just playing good football consistently is contagious, and that’s what they’re doing right now. So it’s absolutely going to be a stiff test.” Edmonton running back Justin Rankin said momentum can change quickly once the game begins, adding, “It’s awesome to come in with momentum. But when that first quarter ends, are you carrying the momentum or does that momentum stop in that first quarter? So it’s just a matter of who gets hot quicker, who makes less mistakes during the game.”
A weather forecast for the game calls for excellent conditions, with temperatures around 9 C at game time.
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