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The Edmonton Elks ended the longest playoff drought in their franchise history on Saturday, crushing the Calgary Stampeders 53-16 in the Labour Day rematch at home. The dominant victory clinched Edmonton’s first post-season berth since 2019, snapping a five-year absence that ranked as the team’s worst since the 1960s.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns. His seasonal total now stands at 23 touchdown passes, surpassing his previous career high of 18 by five. Wide receiver Joe Robustelli caught two of those scoring passes, while kicker Vincent Blanchard contributed three field goals.
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The win also marked Edmonton’s fourth consecutive victory, lifting the team’s record to 10-3. Meanwhile, Calgary dropped to 5-8 and remains last in the West Division after losing two straight games.
Elks Coach Praises Three-Phase Performance
Head coach Mark Kilam expressed pride in how his team performed across all areas of the game. “That felt really good, a three-phase win,” Kilam said. “This place was rocking. What we’re trying to build this place into, it’s going to be a hard place to come play in the playoffs.”
Fajardo echoed that sentiment after the game. “Phase 1 to any Grey Cup run, you’ve got to clinch first,” he said. “We’ve done that, but it’s just Phase 1 of a four-step plan. It was a very good team win. A lot of guys went down and we were shuffling the deck.”
How the Game Unfolded
Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. threw an interception on his team’s second possession. Nick Anderson picked it off, and Blanchard converted the opportunity into a 32-yard field goal to give Edmonton a 3-0 lead.
The Stampeders responded. A pass interference penalty helped Calgary move downfield, and Adams connected with Erik Brooks on a 13-yard touchdown pass to take the lead. However, Edmonton quickly answered. A long interception return by Tyrell Ford set up a 42-yard Blanchard field goal to narrow the gap.
Edmonton then took control. A big passing play from Fajardo to rookie ShunDerrick Powell set up a one-yard touchdown run by third-string quarterback Cole Snyder, giving the Elks a 13-7 lead with just over three minutes left in the second quarter. Robustelli then hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Fajardo to push the lead to 12 points. Calgary kicker Rene Paredes added a 38-yard field goal before halftime, sending the teams to the break with Edmonton ahead 19-10.
Unfortunately for the Elks, running back Justin Rankin left the game with a first-half injury and did not return.
Edmonton came out strong in the third quarter. Joshua Cephus made an impressive 35-yard touchdown catch to cap a solid drive. Blanchard then added a 26-yard field goal on the next possession. After Paredes responded with a 41-yard field goal for Calgary, the Elks delivered a decisive blow. Silas Hubert blocked a punt in the end zone and recovered it himself for a defensive touchdown, extending Edmonton’s lead to 36-13.
Calgary fumbled the ball away on its own 46-yard line shortly after. That turnover led to an 18-yard touchdown pass from Fajardo to Robustelli. Later, backup quarterback Taylor Powell hit Zach Mathis for a 15-yard touchdown strike to push the score further. Paredes added a 45-yard field goal, and Blanchard closed out the scoring with a 46-yard field goal.
In total, Edmonton scored 24 points in the fourth quarter alone. The 53-16 final also marked the fifth time in franchise history that the Elks have scored 50 or more points against Calgary. The last time they reached that mark against the Stampeders was in 1991.
Stampeders Acknowledge the Defeat
Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson did not make excuses after the loss. “We just got beat,” Dickenson said. “They outplayed us, were the better team, had a better plan, everything. They took it to us, and we have to be honest about that and move forward.”
Calgary linebacker Marquel Lee also acknowledged the team’s struggles. “We’re in a lull right now,” Lee said. “We’ve got to look in the mirror this week and fix the mistakes and come back better and execute a whole better.”
Notes and What Comes Next
Stampeders kicker Rene Paredes, who made his CFL debut in 2011, played in his 250th career regular-season game on Saturday. Calgary receiver Reggie Begelton also returned from a lengthy leg injury, suiting up for the first time since June 14, 2025. The announced attendance at the game was 31,531.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, September 19. Calgary hosts the Ottawa Redblacks, while Edmonton travels to face the Toronto Argonauts.
