The Edmonton Elks hosts the Montreal Alouettes for their first and only meeting of the season between these two historic franchises on Saturday afternoon from Commonwealth Stadium.
| Kickoff | 2:00 p.m. MT |
| Gates open | 1:00 p.m. MT |
| Game theme | Christmas in October |
| Broadcasts |
Radio: 630 CHED TV: TSN International: CFL+ |
COMING TO THE GAME? CLICK HERE FOR EVERYTHING GAMEDAY
Montreal arrives in Edmonton on a three-game win streak, after a 29-3 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on Monday afternoon. The Elks are looking to snap to a two-game losing streak after falling to the Toronto Argonauts 35-12 last week.
Tre Ford is set to make his ninth consecutive start and first against the Montreal Alouettes. With this start, the Canadian pivot has now seen action against all eight opposing teams. Ford enters week 19 first among all qualified players in the CFL with an average of 9.5 rushing yards per attempt and second in the CFL with an average of 70.1 rushing yards per game.
For the first time since becoming an Edmonton Elk in the off-season, receiver Eugene Lewis will line up against some familiar faces. Lewis spent his first six years (2017-2022) in Montreal, racking up over 4,300 receiving yards and was awarded the Terry Evanshen Trophy as the CFL East Division’s Most Outstanding Player in 2022. In 10 games this season, Lewis sits second on the Elks with 625 receiving yards and is 28 yards away f-rom 5,000 in his career.
Edmonton’s defence continues to be bolstered by their bookends, as Jake Ceresna and AC Leonard are currently tied for third in the CFL with 11 sacks each. It’s the first time since 1996 that the Double E have had multiple players with 10-plus sacks. Ceresna had a monster game against the Alouettes in 2022, registering two sacks and two forced fumbles on Oct. 1, meanwhile, Leonard had a career high eight tackles in a game versus Montreal in 2021 when he was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Fittingly, veteran Manny Arceneaux is tied with Montreal Alouettes great Ben Cahoon for the fourth longest receiving streak in CFL history. Arceneaux needs one catch to reach 145 consecutive games with a reception and sole possession of fourth place as he continues to chase history.
Edmonton split the season series with the Alouettes last season (1-1). The Elks picked up 32-21 win at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on July. 14, 2022, with the Als returning the favour with a 25-18 win at Commonwealth Stadium on Oct. 1, 2022.
Edmonton is 49-32-2 in the regular season against Montreal. The teams have met 11 times in the Grey Cup with Elks holding an impressive 8-3 record.