The Edmonton Elks opened the 2023 CFL season against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday. The Elks dropped a narrow 17-13 decision before a crowd of 32,233, the largest for a Green and Gold home opener since 2013.
In his first regular season game with the Elks, star receiver Eugene Lewis hauled in five passes for 148 yards. Edmonton running back Kevin Brown rushed for 59 yards and added 22 more from three receptions.
Edmonton’s defence held the Riders to just one touchdown. Elks defensive lineman Jake Ceresna sacked Trevor Harris twice, while Nyles Morgan and Kai Gray intercepted the Saskatchewan quarterback.
“We’ve got to feed off our defence,” Lewis said in a post-game interview on 630 CHED, radio home of the Elks. “Our defence made some great plays and we’ve got to compliment them for what they’re doing. But at the same time, this is the first game. I saw some good potential stuff with us out there, there’s just some things we’ve got to clean up, but I’m still real excited for the rest of the season, it’s just one game.”
Saskatchewan jumped in front 7-0 after a touchdown pass from Harris to Derel Walker with 9:11 remaining in the first quarter. Elks rookie kicker Dean Faithfull connected from 17 yards for his first career field-goal to cut the Riders’ lead to 7-3 late in the first quarter.
On the opening play of the second quarter, Edmonton’s Taylor Cornelius took the snap at his own seven yard-line and threw the ball up for Lewis, who made a spectacular leaping grab at the Elks’ 50 before taking off untouched to the endzone, giving Edmonton the lead.
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The 102-yard touchdown tied for the fourth-longest reception in Elks history, and set a new record for longest reception in a Green and Gold season- or home-opener as well as the longest reception by a player in his Edmonton debut. Lewis signed with the Elks as a free-agent during the offseason.
Brett Lauther kicked a field goal for Saskatchewan midway through the second quarter to knot the score at 10-10.
The third quarter saw Saskatchewan outscore Edmonton 4-3 to take a one-point lead into the final 15 minutes. Faithfull and Lauther each hit a field goal, while Lauther also had a single from a missed field goal. Lauther then extended the Roughriders’ lead to 17-13 with a 46-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
After Morgan intercepted Harris at the Saskatchewan 21-yard line, the Elks drove to Saskatchewan’s goalline, but were unable to punch the ball in for a touchdown on three rush attempts by Kai Locksley from the one-yard line, resulting in a turnover on downs with 4:11 remaining.
The Elks will be back in action on Saturday, when they travel to Vancouver to take on the B.C. Lions. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. MDT.
Be there Sunday, June 25 at Commonwealth Stadium when the Edmonton Elks host the Toronto Argonauts for ’90s Night. Being part of the action has never been more affordable, with tickets starting at just $15. Click here to get your tickets now and be part of the tradition.
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