EDMONTON — Vincent Blanchard set the single-game field goal record with nine and Joshua Cephus made the winning grab in overtime as the Edmonton Elks came out on top against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, claiming a 37-35 win at home. Blanchard made the record-breaking kick in overtime as the two teams traded field goals, meaning that overtime would have to be won with a two-point conversion.
A ‘two-point shootout’ became necessary after the Elks’ defence stood strong, denying the Ticats a touchdown when the road team had a first-and-goal opportunity with their second possession of the extra frame. After Harrison Frost failed to convert the first two-point attempt, Cody Fajardo delivered to Cephus to win it for the hosts.
Hamilton’s loss combined with Calgary’s win earlier on Saturday means that the Tiger-Cats are officially eliminated from playoff contention, locking in a crossover in the postseason.
Blanchard scored the first 18 points for the Elks, who had to wait until late in the third quarter for their first major. Justin Rankin dashed for 34 yards and then Fajardo punched it in from the goal line for his fifth rushing score of the season.
The Ticats stayed within striking distance with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Frost delivered a play-action pass across the middle to Tyler Ternowski for 31 yards and the score, making it 25-23 after Marc Liegghio’s extra point.
Liegghio missed a 51-yard field goal attempt after the three-minute warning but his defence had his back with a pivotal takeaway, as Reggie Stubblefield laid out to pick off Fajardo, positioning Frost and the offence at Edmonton’s 33 with less than two minutes remaining. Liegghio then guided in a 21-yard kick to put Hamilton up 29-26, their first lead since the first quarter.
With less than a minute on the clock, a 37-yard kickoff return by Montrell Washington helped bring the trailing Elks close to field goal range. Fajardo and company were unable to find a walk-off touchdown, with Blanchard’s seventh field goal of the evening instead sending it to overtime.
Fajardo finished with 32 completions on 47 attempts, passing for 298 yards to go with his rushing touchdown. Rankin had 11 carries for 74 yards and caught four balls for 42 yards receiving.
Harrison Frost threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns and was intercepted by JJ Ross in the second quarter. Larry Rountree III ran for 91 yards and scored the game’s first touchdown late in the first quarter. Receiver Keric Wheatfall exited the game in the first quarter with an apparent lower body injury and did not return.
RELATED
- Marc Liegghio 30-yard field goal (9:09, Q1) | HAM 3, EDM 0
- Vincent Blanchard 40-yard field goal (5:51, Q1) | HAM 3, EDM 3
- Larry Rountree III 39-yard rushing touchdown (3:01, Q1) | HAM 10, EDM 3
- Vincent Blanchard 37-yard field goal (14:53, Q2) | HAM 10, EDM 6
- Vincent Blanchard 22-yard field goal (9:35, Q2) | HAM 10, EDM 9
- Vincent Blanchard 54-yard field goal (3:02, Q2) | EDM 12, HAM 10
- Vincent Blanchard 25-yard field goal (0:08, Q2) | EDM 15, HAM 10
- Vincent Blanchard 40-yard field goal (8:08, Q3) | EDM 18, HAM 10
- Harrison Frost 34-yard touchdown pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (5:55, Q3) | EDM 18, HAM 16
- Cody Fajardo one-yard touchdown run (3:09, Q3) | EDM 25, HAM 16
- Harrison Frost 31-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Ternowski (14:47, Q4) | EDM 25, HAM 23
- Jake Julien 62-yard punt single (11:01, Q4) | EDM 26, HAM 23
- Marc Liegghio 47-yard field goal (6:27, Q4) | EDM 26, HAM 26
- Marc Liegghio 21-yard field goal (0:53, Q4) | HAM 29, EDM 26
- Vincent Blanchard 27-yard field goal (0:02, Q4) | HAM 29, EDM 29
- Marc Liegghio 42-yard field goal (OT) | HAM 32, EDM 29
- Vincent Blanchard 37-yard field goal (OT) | HAM 32, EDM 32
- Vincent Blanchard 35-yard field goal (OT) | EDM 35, HAM 32
- Marc Liegghio 12-yard field goal (OT) | EDM 35, HAM 35
NEXT UP
The Tiger-Cats will remain on the road in Week 18 when they meet the Ottawa REDBLACKS for the first time this season on Friday, October 2. Hamilton has claimed four of the past five matchups against Ottawa.
Meanwhile, the Elks will get the week off before taking on the Tiger-Cats once again on Friday, October 9, this time at Hamilton Stadium.