09.19.2026 | Game Recap: Elks 19 Argonauts 24

The Edmonton Elks saw their four-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday (Sept. 19), with a 24-19 loss to the host Toronto Argonauts in CFL Week 16 action at BMO Field.

Cody Fajardo scored Edmonton’s lone touchdown, while Vincent Blanchard made four of five field goal attempts for the Green and Gold.

Fajardo was 31-of-42 passing for 360 yards but threw two interceptions, including a pick in the endzone with just seconds remaining as Edmonton was driving for the go-ahead score.

“Everything wasn’t clicking for us,” said Fajardo during a post-game interview on 880 CHED, radio home of the Elks. “We felt like everything was an uphill battle. We fought, we thought we still had a chance to win the football game. This team, we find ways to win, that’s what we’re built on, and tonight we just didn’t.”

Justin Rankin led Edmonton with 89 rushing yards, while Elks receiver Austin Mack made seven catches for a game-high 116 yards.

Ralph Holley, Dymere Miller and Kevin Mital each scored a touchdown for Toronto. Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly was 19-of-31 yards for 373 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Edmonton outgained the Argonauts 483-354 in net offence and held possession for 38:45 of the game’s 60 minutes but came away with one touchdown from six trips to the redzone.

“When you drive the field and don’t come away with points, you make it really hard on your team,” Fajardo said.

Toronto finished the game with a total of -1 rushing yards against the Elks’ defence. Edmonton’s Kordell Jackson and JJ Ross each picked off a Kelly pass.

The Elks jumped ahead 3-0, but that would be their only lead, as Edmonton spent the majority of the game playing from behind. Toronto led at the end of every quarter.

Despite the defeat, Edmonton remains first in the CFL West Division with a record of 10-4, four points ahead of the second-place Saskatchewan Roughriders, who are 8-5.

“The good news we had a two-game buffer in the standings, so you drop one, it sucks, but we’ve just got to get back on track next week at home in front of our great fans,” Fajardo said.

First Quarter

Blanchard capped off the opening drive of the game with a 33-yard field goal to put the Elks ahead 3-0. Toronto responded with a touchdown less than a minute later, as Kelly threw to Mital for the major. Lirim Hajrullahu then made a 20-yard field goal to extend the Argonauts’ lead to 10-3.

Second Quarter

Nearly 10 minutes into the second quarter, the Elks evened the score at 10-10 after a quarterback sneak by Fajardo into the endzone. Kelly connected with Miller on a 19-yard passing touchdown to put the Argos back in front, before Blanchard hit an 18-yard field goal on the last play of the half to send the teams into the break with Toronto leading 17-13.

Third Quarter

Edmonton crept closer early in the third quarter, as Blanchard drilled a 16-yard field goal to pull his team within a point. The Elks were driving for another score, but a snap sailed past Fajardo into midfield, where Argonauts defensive lineman Holley scooped up the ball and rumbled all the way to the endzone.

Fourth Quarter

With 11:40 left in the fourth quarter, Blanchard hit his fourth field goal of the game, a 19-yard kick, to cut Toronto’s lead to 24-19. The Elks kicker, however, missed his next field goal attempt, from 42 yards, with just over six minutes remaining. Edmonton’s final drive ended when Tarvarus McFadden picked off Fajardo in the endzone with just 19 seconds to play.

Up Next

The Elks return to action next Saturday (Sept. 26) when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Commonwealth Stadium at 5 p.m.

Tickets for all Elks home games are available through Ticketmaster.