EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks completely flipped the script after a sorry start on Friday night.
Vincent Blanchard kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give the Elks a dramatic 22-19 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The West Division-leading Elks trailed 16-0 late in the second quarter.
“I felt like the first half, we just weren’t all there mentally,” said Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo. “And then at halftime there was some words said in the locker room and guys came out fired up.
"It just goes to show the championship mentality that we have, to not play our best ball in the first half and then find a way to win a game against a divisional opponent, the first time we clinched a series against a Western opponent. This game had huge implications. “
The Elks, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2019, improved to 8-3.
It's the latest they have been in top spot in any season since 2015.
“I’m just really proud of the guys. I felt like we did not play our best ball and full credit to Winnipeg, they came out and were the better football team in the first half,” said Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam. “We regrouped at halftime and flipped the script. Full credit to the players in the room for doing it.”
The Bombers (5-5) have lost three of their last four.
“It was a tale of two halves for both teams,” said Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea. “We had a really good first half and Edmonton was probably thinking they could have been better in the first half. We didn’t play very well in the second half and didn’t make enough plays and they did. It was a tight battle.
"When you lose by three points to a good football team, that’s never going to be good enough. We have to find ways to make plays to get the outcome our way.”
Winnipeg had a strong opening drive, but ended up settling for a 15-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo.
The Blue Bombers again competently marched down the field on their next possession, but were stopped on a third-and-goal gamble from the five.
They kept coming and finally reached the end zone to start the second quarter as quarterback Zach Collaros found Tim White with a 30-yard touchdown pass.
Winnipeg then got into the red zone for the fourth time in a row, settling on a 20-yard field goal.
Edmonton continued to struggle as Fajardo was picked off at midfield by Jonathan Moxey, leading to a 52-yard field goal by Castillo.
The Elks finally got their act together with 1:31 to play in the first half as a long pass interference call led to a 15-yard TD pass to Austin Mack. The two-point convert attempt failed, making it 16-6 Winnipeg at the half.
Edmonton started the third quarter with a 42-yard Blanchard field goal.
The Elks continued to look like an entirely different squad as they marched downfield and tied the game on a one-yard QB keeper by Fajardo late in the third.
Edmonton had a chance to take its first lead four minutes into the fourth, but Fajardo fumbled at Winnipeg's 16-yard line. It was recovered by Cameron Lawson.
The Elks took the lead with six minutes left in the final quarter on a 34-yard field goal.
The Bombers tied the game again with 1:41 to play when Castillo hit a 53-yard field goal. However, the Elks were able to march back and seal the victory as time expired.
At one point, Winnipeg led 15-1 in first downs. Edmonton had a 23-18 edge in the category at the final whistle.
NOTES
Fajardo’s second-quarter TD pass to Mack was his 18th of the season, matching his career high… Castillo passed Troy Westwood for the franchise record for 50-plus yard field goals, a mark that now stands at 42… The Elks didn’t take any penalties in the game, while the Bombers had just two.
UP NEXT
Bombers: Host the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 29.
Elks: Have a bye week before heading to Calgary on Sept. 7.
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