The Edmonton Elks were defeated 37-29 by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Commonwealth Stadium on Thursday night, in the 100th all-time regular season meeting between the teams.
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Kevin Brown, Steven Dunbar Jr., and Kyran Moore scored touchdowns for the Elks, who led early and rallied late but were unable to snag their first victory of the 2023 season.
“We’re disappointed, I think anyone in this situation would be disappointed,” Elks linebacker Jake Ceresna said in a post-game interview on 630 CHED, radio flagship of the Green and Gold. “We know we’re a better football team and we’re just now showing it, and we just have to do a better job of playing sound football and four quarters.”
Strong Start for Elks
The game couldn’t have started better for the Elks, as Jordan Reaves recovered a fumble by the Ti-Cats on the opening kickoff. Edmonton drove to the Hamilton 17, before settling for a 24-yard field goal by Dean Faithfull to take an early 3-0 lead.
Faithfull’s second field goal of the night, from 40 yards with 3:43 remaining in the second quarter, gave Edmonton a 6-0 lead before two quick scores by the Ti-Cats staked Hamilton to a 10-6 lead at halftime.
The second half also started well for the Elks, with Edmonton taking a 13-10 lead after Moore scored his first touchdown as an Elk on a 54-yard reception from quarterback Taylor Cornelius.
HE JUST KEPT GOING :O #CFLGameday | @GoElks pic.twitter.com/DHZAkmLfLH
— CFL (@CFL) July 14, 2023
The Ti-Cats went back in front when Shiltz rushed four yards for a touchdown, then added to their lead when Hamilton’s Stavros Katsantonis intercepted Cornelius at the Edmonton 33-yard and ran the ball back to the endzone. Hamilton added a field goal from Marc Liegghio and a touchdown reception from Tim White prior to take a 34-13 lead into the fourth quarter.
Edmonton cut the lead to 34-19 early in the fourth quarter when running back Brown scored on a two-yard rush for his second touchdown of 2023.
After a Liegghio field goal put Hamilton up 37-19, Jarret Doege led the Elks on a 88-yard, eight-play drive, culminating with a seven-yard pass to former Ti-Cats receiver Dunbar, Jr., who scored his first touchdown in Green and Gold. Faithfull kicked a career-high 45-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining.
Green and Gold legend Ricky Ray, a member of both the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and EE Wall of Honour, was on hand to take in Thursday’s game, his first time back at Commonwealth Stadium since being added to the EE Wall of Honour in 2019.
The Elks will be back in action next Thursday, July 20, when they visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at IG Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. MT.
Go western when the Elks battle the division rival BC Lions on Country Night, Saturday, July 29 at Commonwealth Stadium. 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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