HAMILTON — Cody Fajardo ran in a touchdown and Zach Mathis scored a pick-six to give the Edmonton Elks a road win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the opening game of Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend on Friday evening. The Elks shut out the Ticats in the first half and scored three majors to Hamilton’s one in the second half to come out of Hamilton with a 27-12 victory, securing a home playoff game in the process.
The Elks were able to open up the ballgame early in the fourth quarter as Fajardo capped off a nine-play drive with his sixth rushing touchdown of the season. Up until that point there had only been three red zone visits by either squad, with the score stuck at 7-3 through three quarters of defensive football.
After Marc Liegghio kicked in his second field goal to make it a one-score game at 14-6, a fake punt attempt by the Ticats resulted in a Zach Mathis pick-six, putting Edmonton up 21-6. An Isaiah Wooden Sr. kickoff return went for 88 yards and a score on the following play, but the West Division-leading Elks were able to hang on and make it six wins in seven games.
Fajardo finished Friday’s game with 229 passing yards on 16 completions adding 40 rushing yards on nine attempts to go with his goal-line score. Shunderrick Powell ran for 49 yards and sealed the game with a late five-yard touchdown.
Malik Carney registered four sacks with three in the first half alone. His third takedown resulted in a turnover on downs against the Tiger-Cats. Taking over possession of the football at midfield, Fajardo found Austin Mack downfield for a 40-yard gain to set up Blanchard’s second field goal of the first half, doubling the Elks’ lead at 6-0 late in the first half. Mack would finish with a game-high 106 receiving yards on five catches.
Having already punched their ticket to the postseason back in Week 15, the Elks secured a home playoff game with their Week 19 win over Hamilton. A BC loss against Ottawa later on Saturday would mean that Edmonton hosts the Western Final.
Harrison Frost was 21-36 for 221 yards for Hamilton. Larry Rountree III had nine carries for 26 yards and three grabs for 48 yards. Kenny Lawler had three receptions for 57 yards.
RELATED
» Depth Charts: EDM | HAM » Game Notes: Elks at Tiger-Cats
SCORING PLAYS
- Vincent Blanchard 13-yard field goal (1:22, Q1) | EDM 3, HAM 0
- Vincent Blanchard 26-yard field goal (2:21, Q2) | EDM 6, HAM 0
- Vincent Blanchard 47-yard blocked field goal single (00:00, Q2) | EDM 7, HAM 0
- Marc Liegghio 18-yard field goal (3:04, Q3) | EDM 7, HAM 3
- Cody Fajardo one-yard rushing touchdown (10:16, Q4) | EDM 14, HAM 3
- Marc Liegghio 37-yard field goal (8:06, Q4) | EDM 14, HAM 6
- Zach Mathis 48-yard interception return touchdown (4:28, Q4) | EDM 21, HAM 6
- Isaiah Wooden Sr. 88-yard kickoff return touchdown (3:52, Q4) | EDM 21, HAM 12
- Shunderrick Powell five-yard rushing touchdown (0:29, Q4) | EDM 27, HAM 12
NEXT UP
In Week 20, the Elks will return to Edmonton to face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, October 16. The Elks can sweep the season series with the Bombers after claiming the two previous matchups earlier in the season.
The Tiger-Cats will get their final bye of the season in Week 20 before hosting the Ottawa REDBLACKS on the final day of the regular season on Saturday, October 24. Hamilton has claimed four in a row against Ottawa, including their most recent meeting in Week 18.