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Game Recaps June 27, 2024

GAME RECAP | Lions 24, Elks 21

@arcurimike

VANCOUVER – It was deja vu for the Elks once again.

Former EE kicker Sean Whyte knocked through a field goal with zeros on the clock to send the Elks home with a 24-21 defeat on Thursday night. It was the second-straight game the Elks battled one of the best teams in the CFL to the final whistle, but fell to a last second field goal.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson saw his streak of 300 yard passing games snapped, finishing the night with 247 yards and one touchdown on the evening. For the Lions, Vernon Adams Jr. continued his torrid start to the season, throwing for 331 yards and a score of his own.

Edmonton now drops to 0-4 on the season, with all of their losses coming on a combined 17 points. Their opponents this season currently sport a 11-1 record on the year.

“Are we in a hard spot? You dang right we are. We’re in a hard spot,” Head Coach Chris Jones said after the game. “Now all we’re going to do is just continue to dig and keep doing the things that we did to get out of wherever we came from.”

“I think that we got to realize that we’re not very far away, Jones added. “Every game comes down to the fourth quarter and we’ve got to find a way to execute and make more plays when it matters in the fourth quarter. And I’ll be honest with you, this is a tough, really tough group of kids in there. They’re not going to quit. They’re not going to lay down. I assure you that if there are some other teams that’s faced with this same adversity, it’d be a little different.”

The Elks now head into their first bye week of the season before returning to Commonwealth for their Dino Days game on July 14 against the Ottawa RedBlacks.

GAMEDAY ESSENTIALS

TURNING POINTS

In their first three games of the season, the Elks have needed just one play to go their way. In Game 4 it looked as if they had finally got it.

With the Lions driving down the field and deep inside the redzone, offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic called fullback David Mackie’s number for the short yardage conversion on third-and-one. The Western product was able to grind his way for the first down, but Elks defensive back Kai Gray used his helmet to pop the ball free on the tackle. Lucheiz Purifoy made the heads up play and tapped the ball out-of-bounds — giving the Elks possession and halting the Lions 10-play 96-yard drive.

The Elks made the Lions pay for the mistake. Bethel-Thompson and co. engineered an eight-play 76-yard drive, culminating in Dakota Prukop’s fourth rushing touchdown of the season to take an 18-13 lead.

The Lions were able to regain the momentum courtesy of an ill-timed pass interference penalty.

Edmonton looked as if they had gotten the second down stop, but Lions Head Coach Rick Campbell challenged the play for pass interference. On Adams Jr.’s deep pass to Ayden Eberhardt, it was judged that Leon O’Neal Jr. had broken up the pass a split second early, setting up the Lions in the red zone.

Mackie would make up for his earlier misstep, punching in the rock from the one-yard line for the major and a 21-18 Lions lead.

The two teams would trade field goals in the games final two minutes, with Whyte’s boot giving the home side the victory.

MITCHELL MAKING PLAYS

Through four games this season, Dillon Mitchell looks like a completely different player.

The Oregon product exploded on the scene as a CFL rookie, racking up 637 yards in only nine games. The 27-year-old was unable to follow up the sensational start in his sophmore season. However, through four games in 2024, Mitchell has been a revelation. The Elks wideout finished the night with four catches for 81 yards, leading the Elks in receiving yards for the third time in four games.

Mitchell now sits second in the CFL in receiving yards with 355.

BY THE NUMBERS

  • Nyles Morgan continues to rack up the tackles, adding 12 more to his season total of 28
  • Arkell Smith had a solid second game in the CFL, catching a team-high five passes for 70 yards
  • The Elks running game has once again struggled to get going, with Kevin Brown finishing his fourth consecutive game with 50 yards or fewer on the ground.
  • The B.C. Lions have not allowed a sack in each of their last three games