EDMONTON – The Elks fought until the bitter end, but their playoff hopes are over following a 28-24 defeat to the Roughriders on Saturday night.
Unfortunately, the 0-7 start to the season proved to be insurmountable when it came to securing their first playoff berth since 2019, but Saturday’s nights game proved to be a microcosm of their 2024 season.
Edmonton showed their flashes of brilliance, with quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson dicing his way through the Roughriders defence. The 36-year-old pivot completed 33 of 41 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns. But as has been the case this season, it was the Elks own errors that proved to be their undoing.
A late fumble by Kurleigh Gittens Jr halted the comeback attempt with 1:41 remaining in the contest. The turnover only compounded mistakes the Elks committed earlier in the game. An interception that went through the hands of Geno Lewis and into the waiting arms of Adam Auclair gave the Roughriders a chance to take the lead heading into the half.
Edmonton’s defence had their ups-and-downs as well. Coach Jason Shivers unit was able to take down former Elks QB Trevor Harris three times, while also intercepting him twice on the night. Their good will was undone by a bust in coverage that gifted Samuel Emilus an 88-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, eliminating the Elks early 8-0 lead.
“They made plays and we didn’t,” Head Coach Jarious Jackson said. “At the end of the day, we had two critical turnovers.”
“On defense, we gave up a freebie. We went up seven points and the following play, we have them backed up and we give them an explosion for a touchdown,” he added. “When plays like that happen, then to me, you’re destined to lose the game eventually.”
The Elks have two games remaining and a bye week to wrap up their season. They will head to Calgary on Saturday, Oct. 12 with a chance to sweep the Battle of Alberta, before finishing the 2024 campaign at home against the Toronto Argonauts on Oct. 25.
THEY SAIDHead Coach Jarious Jackson on his lost challenge:
“Well, yeah, I was just totally messed up on my part. You know, Gino was the one that was interfered with, and it wasn’t Curly where the ball was thrown. So I ended up losing the challenge over that.”
Jackson on the Elks pass game putting up close to 400 yards:
“I thought we did a heck of a job throwing it around the park. We tried to get the running game going. I think both sides did, for that matter. It was a point of emphasis from both teams to stop the run and not let them get going, so that’s fine. We decided to pass the ball a little bit, and I think we ended up with almost 400 yards passing. But, it’s all for not when you don’t win the game.”
Jackson on what the next few weeks hold for the team:
“I’ll think about that tomorrow. At the end of the day, it’s about all those guys in the locker room. We still have three weeks left in the season, two games. It’s about playing for pride and character at this point, right? We’re going to see what we’re made of as men these last three weeks and start working toward the future.”
