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News September 10, 2021

PREVIEW | Elks -vs- Stampeders

@evandaum

EDMONTON – A decade in the making, a sweep in the Labour Day Series against the Calgary Stampeders is finally within sight.

Fresh off a 32-20 win over the Stamps on Monday, the Edmonton Elks head into Saturday night’s Labour Day Rematch presented by Save-On-Foods with their eyes on a sweep of their provincial rivals.

It was 2004 when Edmonton last won back-to-back games against the Stampeders Labour Day week, and now this version of the Green and Gold are keen to make a serious statement as the second half of this abbreviated CFL season approaches.

Edmonton enters the contest looking for their first home win of the season after winning consecutive road games to even their record at 2-2.

The Elks are also seeking the club’s first three-game winning streak since weeks 5-8 (bye in Week 6) of 2018.

Edmonton Elks (2-2-0) -vs- Calgary Stampeders (1-4-0)

  • DATE | TIME: Saturday, September 11 | 5:00 p.m. MT
  • LOCATION: The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium | Edmonton, AB
  • BROADCASTS: TSN | 630 CHED | ESPN+
  • 50/50 (James H. Brown Injury Lawyers): Click here to buy your tickets (anywhere in AB)

DEPTH CHARTS: EDMONTON (CLICK HERE) | CALGARY (CLICK HERE)

INJURY REPORTS: EDMONTON & CALGARY (CLICK HERE)

MEDIA NOTES: CLICK HERE

Current Elks coach and former receiver Winston October was part of the Green and Gold’s 2004 Labour Day Series sweep.

ELKS EYEING SWEEP

The Elks enter Saturday looking for what’s proven to be an elusive sweep for the Green and Gold against their provincial rivals.

In fact, it’s been 16 seasons since Edmonton last swept the Labour Day series. The Green and Gold emphatically won both the Labour Day Classic (25-7) and the Rematch (44-12) back in 2004. That season just happens to be the last time the Stamps started a season 1-5, and the last time Calgary missed the playoffs.

WESLEY AIDS O-LINE

De’Ondre Wesley made his CFL and Elks debut in the Labour Day Classic last week. The veteran of seven career NFL games (2017-19) was the latest newcomer to an offensive line that’s been anything but set in stone this season.

The former Baltimore Raven will get his second start at left tackle this week after missing time earlier this season when he travelled back to the US for the birth of his second child. Wesley’s debut may have been delayed, but expect him to have staying power on an offensive line that has been anything set in stone due to injuries dating back to training camp.

In fact, Saturday’s game will be the first time this season the Elks feature the same starters on the offensive line in back-to-back games.

ADDING AN ALL-STAR

Edmonton won the Derrick Moncrief sweepstakes earlier this week, adding to the good vibes around the team after Monday’s win in Calgary.

A CFL all-star in Saskatchewan back in 2019, the Oklahoma State product joins the Elks after spending the 2020 season split between the L.A. Rams and Las Vegas Raiders practice squads.

Moncrief is in Edmonton after travelling to his new home on Thursday, and is expected to take the field for the Elks early next week when the team returns to practice.

 

    • With 398 passing yards on Monday, Trevor Harris now as 11 games with 300-plus passing yards in Green and Gold. Harris was named the CFL’s Top Performer of the Week for his standout performance.

In case you hadn’t noticed, James Wilder Jr. is enjoying a renaissance season in Edmonton. The veteran running back leads the CFL in rushing yards with 366 through four games.

  • Wilder Jr. is also sixth in the league in yards after catch, with 95 of his 121 receiving yards coming via YAC.
  • Since we’re on the topic of big offensive numbers, the Elks top the CFL in yards per game this season at 424.8. That’s the best by a significant margin, with Calgary second at 368.4 per game.
  • While the offence hasn’t struggled to move the ball, the Elks defence has held its own as well. Edmonton is tops in the CFL with just 184.5 yards against per game.

  • All-time vs. Calgary: Edmonton is 128-101-3 (70-43-1 at home | 58-58-2 in Calgary)
  • Last 10 meetings: Edmonton is 3-7-0
  • Elks 2019 record: 0-3
  • Last meeting: Week 5 of 2021 (Sept. 6) | Edmonton (32) at Calgary (20)