Follow EDMONTON ELKS

© 2026 Edmonton Elks. All rights reserved.

Menu
@
Game Recaps August 2, 2025

GAME RECAP: Tiger-Cats 28, Elks 24

EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats battled each other and the elements at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.

In a game that was suspended for over an hour because of lightning in the area, the Ti-Cats prevailed 28-24, scoring the winning points with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when Bo Levi Mitchell connected with Tim White for a 27-yard touchdown.

“When good teams play each other it’s the team that makes the plays down the stretch that usually wins, we had an opportunity to do that, we did not,” Elks head coach Mark Kilam said.

Hamilton’s comeback spoiled a historic performance from Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo, who set the CFL record with 17 consecutive completed pass attempts to start a game. The veteran pivot finished the game with 2o completions for 257 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Elks running back Justin Rankin had a huge game, leading his team in both rushing yards (69) and receiving yards (64), while scoring both a rushing and receiving touchdown. Edmonton’s Cole Synder ran for a major, and Vincent Blanchard went one-for-one on field goals and made all three of his extra point attempts for the Green and Gold.

“We did a lot of good stuff, but it wasn’t good enough to come out with a victory,” Rankin said. “I think our biggest thing is just finishing. We’re playing well up until the end of the game, and we just got to learn how to finish.”

With the victory, the red-hot Ti-Cats extend their winning streak to a league-best six games. After coming up just short to the Saskatchewan Roughriders by a score of 21-18 in Regina last week, the Elks have now taken the top two teams in CFL’s overall standings down to the wire in back-to-back weeks, losing by a combined total of just seven points.

“I think it’s the hardest (loss) of the year, by far. We felt like we had that one, we felt like we were the better team on the field tonight, too,” Fajardo said.

“That’s a team that’s got a lot of momentum, and they understand how to win football games late, but we let that that slip one through our hands, in front of a good turnout, good weather minus the little delay. But overall, for me personally, this one stings a lot more than all the other ones.”

The game got off to an explosive start with the first three possessions all resulting in touchdowns. Hamilton jumped ahead 7-0 after Kiondre Smith caught a 24-yard pass from Mitchell just over one minute into the contest. The Elks responded when Rankin rushed 10 yards to the endzone to cap off a 10-play, 72-yard drive. Hamilton then got the ball back and drove the field before Greg Bell scored a two-yard rush TD to restore the Ti-Cats’ lead.

Edmonton tied the score when Snyder scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard QB keeper early in the second quarter. The teams headed to the locker rooms tied 14-14 at halftime.

The Elks took the opening possession of the second half and marched 53 yards in just four plays, culminating with Fajardo and Rankin linking up for a 13-yard touchdown. Edmonton’s lead would last only a few minutes, however, as the Ti-Cats responded with a three-yard touchdown completion from Mitchell to White, levelling the scoreboard at 21 points apiece.

With 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the game was halted due to lightning in the area. After play finally resumed, Blanchard split the uprights on a 33-yard field goal to give his team a 24-21 lead with 8:40 remaining in the fourth quarter. White’s second touchdown of the game put the Hamilton back in front by a score of 28-24 with just over two minutes to play.

The Elks drove into Hamilton territory, but a turnover on downs with just over a minute ended their hopes.

Edmonton is back in action in just six days, when the Green and Gold visit the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 8. The Elks’ next home is against the defending Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts at 7 p.m. on Aug. 15. Tickets are available now.

THEY SAID

Kilam on if he can take things away from taking Hamilton to the wire:

“For sure. Not right now, but when I watch the film I will. I’m tired of talking about being close, though. We’ve got to make these plays at the end of the game, that’s why we work so hard during the week, to put ourselves in a position to be able to do that, and eventually we’ve got to be able to make them.”

Rankin on the dealing with the delay:

“You got to deal with it. There isn’t too much to mentally prepare for you stuff like that. It kind of sucks, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to play football. You put your helmet back on strap your chin strap back up and go play football.”