Justin Rankin scored a pair of touchdowns because the Edmonton Elks lastly captured their first win of the season, developing huge to defeat the Ottawa Redblacks 39-33 on Sunday.
Edmonton (1-3) snapped a three-game dropping skid to start out the CFL marketing campaign.
Ottawa, regardless of the return of quarterback Dru Brown, dropped to 1-4 with its second straight loss.
The Elks had a robust begin to the competition, scoring on their opening drive. Quarterback Tre Ford lofted a cross to Rankin and he shrugged off a defender and scampered for a 45-yard landing. Edmonton added a single on the following kickoff.
Ottawa responded with a 42-yard discipline aim from Lewis Ward.
Edmonton stored it approaching its second possession with one other lengthy drive, capped off when Ford pitched it to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and he scrambled eight yards into the tip zone.
The Elks obtained a uncommon punt return landing 5 minutes into the second quarter when Javon Leake broke free and went 94 yards to attain regardless of nearly letting up too quickly and getting caught. It was Edmonton’s first punt return TD since Aug. 28, 2015.
Ottawa lastly obtained it going late within the second with a stable drive completed off by a six-yard TD cross from Brown to Eugene Lewis.
The Redblacks obtained a dramatic punt return landing of their very own with lower than two minutes to play within the first half as Kalil Pimpleton bobbed and weaved his manner 97 yards into the tip zone to chop Edmonton’s result in 22-17 at halftime.
After having a fumble return TD overturned on a penalty, Ottawa obtained a 42-yard discipline aim from Ward to open the third quarter.
The Elks responded with a 21-yard discipline aim by Vincent Blanchard.
Rankin got here up huge once more with 3:36 left within the third, discovering a seam up the center and blazing 74 yards into the tip zone for the main.
Ward booted a 43-yard discipline aim to shut out the half and added one other from 28 yards out 4 minutes into the fourth to chop Edmonton’s result in six factors.
Blanchard countered with a 35-yard three-pointer.
Ottawa gambled on a 3rd and three with three minutes left within the sport however was denied, main to a different 35-yard discipline aim from Blanchard, who added a single on the next kickoff.
The Redblacks fought to the tip, including a 14-yard TD cross to Andre Miller.
Brown returned from lacking the final three video games with a hip harm trying to cross for greater than 400 yards for his fourth consecutive sport. Solely Warren Moon, Kent Austin and Doug Flutie had additionally accomplished it 3 times in a row in CFL historical past. Sadly, Brown solely managed 316 yards passing on Sunday.
Ottawa swept the season sequence 2-0 in 2024 with back-to-back wins in Week’s 6 and seven. … Edmonton had struggled mightily at house for the reason that pandemic, coming into the competition with a dreadful 5-30 house report in that span, which included a report 22-game dropping streak at one level.
Redblacks: Go to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday, July 12.
Elks: Host the B.C. Lions on Sunday, July 13.
