EDMONTON – The Elks enter their rematch game against the B.C. Lions in a much different situation than the last time the two teams faced off.
In the July 27 contest, the Green and Gold were knocked off for a third straight game by a last-second field goal, while the Pacific side roared on to their third straight win.
Now the tables have turned.
The Lions come in losers of their last two games, while Edmonton is riding high off an offensive explosion against the Saskatchewan Roughriders and their first win of the season. Those inside the locker room are hoping to carry on that momentum towards a difficult, but not impossible playoff push.
Edmonton still has five games in hand against the two West Division teams ahead of them in the standings (Calgary and Winnipeg), so the playoff hopes still burn on. In order to make those dreams a reality, they will have to string together a few wins and a limping Lions team certainly provides an opportunity.
“I think that’s kind of our main goal right now is to go 1-0 this week and to put two (wins) together here and hopefully go on a bit of a run,” Mark Korte said. “The main focus is putting together three or four good practices this week, roll that into a game, and get a win on Sunday.”
The biggest change in the rematch contest will be behind centre for the two teams. When the Elks took on the Lions at B.C. Place, it was a battle between Vernon Adams Jr. and McLeod Bethel-Thompson. Adams Jr was in the middle of a season where he looked like a front runner for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award, and he picked apart the Elks for 331 yards passing on the night.
The 31-year-old did not practice all week with a knee injury and is expected to miss a few weeks, meaning 6-foot-7 Jake Dolegala should get the nod on Sunday. As a member of the Roughriders last season, Dolegala showed some promise as a CFL passer, completing 216 of 333 passes for 2,641 yards and 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions.
Regardless of who is in, the Elks know they have to prepare for a Lions team hungry to get back in the win column.
“That’s what I’ve been preaching to the guys all week is the fact that they’re a great team,” interim Head Coach Jarious Jackson said. “Even though they’ve dropped two, they’re going to come in here hungry. Doesn’t matter that Vernon’s not playing, or (Jevon) Cottoy, or any of the other guys that are injured at this point in time.”
“They’re a well coached team and they’re going to be looking to get back on track. Even though we’re at home, this is a game that we’re going to have to take from them.”
Behind the Elks veteran centre in Korte will be Canadian QB Tre Ford. The 26-year-old is fresh off a dynamic performance against Saskatchewan where he completed nearly 82 per cent of his passes and helped the Elks rack up the most points (42) they’ve had since Sept. 8, 2018, when they defeated the Calgary Stampeders 48-42 in the Labour Day rematch.
Tre Ford was on 🎯 on Saturday. #GoElks pic.twitter.com/J3bvMtNsj9
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) August 7, 2024
In just under five quarters as a starter, Ford has tallied 377 yards passing, 68 yards rushing, and five touchdowns. The most impressive aspect of his game has been Ford’s willingness to disregard the run to look down field and make a play.
“That’s the beauty of it,” Jackson said. “He’s gotten to a point where it seems like he’s starting to do that a little more often than not.”
“Last week there was a couple times where he could have taken off, and he would have probably in years past, but he stepped up in the pocket and still found the throw — he kept his head and eyes up and downfield. That’s what we’re expecting out of him, not to just take off every time, but when the opportunity presents itself and you can go get that 10-15 yards, then by all means go do it.”