REGINA — Trevor Harris threw for 268 yards and two touchdowns because the Saskatchewan Roughriders retained first place within the CFL’s West Division with a 21-18 victory over the Edmonton Elks on Friday.
The win improved Saskatchewan’s report to 6-1, one win forward of the Calgary Stampeders, who fell to 5-2 with a 23-21 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday. The Elks, coming off a bye week, dropped to 1-5 and sit final within the West.
Main 11-4 at halftime, the Riders took management of the sport within the third quarter on each side of the ball.
Whereas Saskatchewan’s offence scored 10 factors, the defence restricted the Elks to 4 yards of whole offence on three possessions. The Riders collected three of their eight sacks within the quarter.
Saskatchewan elevated its result in 18-4 on an eight-yard landing move from Harris to KeeSean Johnson halfway by means of the body. A 46-yard subject purpose by Brett Lauther on the ultimate play of the quarter put the Riders forward 21-4.
The Elks narrowed the hole to 21-11 early within the fourth quarter when Cody Fajardo hit Kaion Julien-Grant on a 57-yard scoring move.
Fajardo, compelled out of the pocket, discovered a wide-open Julien-Grant within the left flat. After a Riders defender missed his deal with, the Canadian receiver took it to the top zone.
Regardless of the heavy stress, Fajardo continued to maneuver the Elks within the fourth quarter, culminating with a 13-yard landing move to Steven Dunbar Jr. to chop the Saskatchewan result in 21-18 with 1:56 left within the sport.
The Elks selected to kick the ball away after the landing, relatively than trying an onside kick. The Riders responded with consecutive first downs earlier than punting the ball away.
Edmonton began its closing possession by itself five-yard line with 24 seconds remaining.
The Elks moved to the 32-yard line after a 12-yard scramble by Fajardo and a 15-yard roughing penalty in opposition to the Riders.
Saskatchewan, nonetheless, sealed the victory by sacking Fajardo on the ultimate two performs of the sport. Micah Johnson, Malik Carney and Shane Ray had two sacks every for the Riders, whereas A.J. Allen and C.J. Reavis added one sack apiece.
Fajardo totalled 346 passing yards and two touchdowns on 26-of-33 completions in his first begin this season.
The Riders saved the most effective for final in a relatively pedestrian first half, scoring 10 factors within the closing two minutes of the second quarter. With the Elks main 4-1, Riders slotback Samuel Emilus took a shovel move from Harris and scooted 15 yards across the left finish for the sport’s first landing.
Saskatchewan elevated its result in 11-4 when Lauther made a 51-yard subject purpose with 22 seconds remaining within the first half.
Each offences had their challenges within the first half, though Fajardo linked with Dunbar Jr. and Zach Mathis on passes of 41 and 35 yards, respectively.
Fajardo, who performed for the Riders from 2019 to 2022, was making his first begin in opposition to Saskatchewan since leaving the franchise as a free agent and signing with the Alouettes in 2023.
Till the late outburst earlier than halftime, Saskatchewan’s greatest alternative was halfway within the second quarter when it reached the Edmonton two-yard line. Dealing with a 3rd and purpose state of affairs, the Riders gambled however the Elks stuffed backup quarterback Tommy Stevens on the one-yard line.
The Elks host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Aug. 2.
The Riders journey to Montreal to tackle the Alouettes on Aug. 3.
