10.16.2026 | Game Recap: Elks 35 Blue Bombers 27

The Edmonton Elks defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers by a score of 35-27 in CFL Week 20 action at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday (Oct. 16).

With the victory, the Elks clinch first place in the West Division and will host an opponent to be determined in the division final on Nov. 7.

“It feels great,” Elks coach Mark Kilam said. “Day 1 meeting this week we said, what a great opportunity to be able to clinch at home in front of our fans, so I’m really proud of the guys to be able to find a way to do it.”

Elks quarterback Fajardo threw touchdown passes to Austin Mack and ShunDerrick Powell while also rushing for a pair of majors. Vincent Blanchard made both of his field-goal attempts for the Green and Gold.

“I couldn’t be any prouder of this team,” Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo said. “I’ll say this, not one single person outside of this building thought we could do what we did tonight, and we did that, so there’s more to accomplish, but we’ll keep the critics where they’re at and we’re just going to keep winning football games.”

Justin Rankin had a huge game on the ground for the Elks, carrying the ball 23 times for 133 yards. The running back also made two catches for 10 yards.

Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros completed 28 of 33 passes for 331 yards with a pair of touchdowns but also threw two costly picks. Edmonton cornerbacks Nick Anderson and Kenny Logan Jr. each came up with an interception.

Edmonton fell behind by as much as 11 in the first half and trailed 21-17 at halftime, but as has been the case all season long, the Elks demonstrated their remarkable ability to rally.

“We’re resilient, we believe in each other,” Rankin said. “That’s something I’ve been saying since Day 1, is we wholeheartedly believe in one another. No matter what the score is, no matter what quarter it is, whether we’re playing good, playing bad, you never see guys arguing on the sidelines, and if it is, it’s just an accountability argument.”

This is Edmonton’s first time placing atop the division standings since 2015. That year saw the Green and Gold capture the Grey Cup after defeat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Final and the Ottawa RedBlacks in the championship game.

The Elks finish the season 3-0 against Winnipeg, winning all three games by eight points or less. The last time that Edmonton beat the Blue Bombers three times in the same year was 1979. There is a chance the prairie rivals could meet again this year in the division final.

Winnipeg drops to 8-9 and is now fourth in the West Division. The Blue Bombers will clinch a playoff spot if the Calgary Stampeders lose at home to the BC Lions on Saturday (Oct. 17).

First Quarter

Winnipeg jumped out in front when Zach Collaros threw to Nic Demski for a 13-yard touchdown just over 10 minutes into the game. The Elks got on the board with am 18-yard field goal from Blanchard on the final play of the opening quarter.

Second Quarter

Logan Jr. picked off Collaros inside the Winnipeg 20-yard line, setting up a nine-yard touchdown pass from Fajardo to Powell to give Edmonton the lead early in the second quarter. The Blue Bombers responded with touchdowns on back-on-back possessions, first with a 32-yard pass from Collaros to Ontaria Wilson, and then with Bryce Perkins scoring on a quarterback sneak. But Edmonton’s Montrell Washington returned the ensuing kickoff deep into Winnipeg territory, and Austin Mack caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Fajardo on third-and-goal with just seconds remaining before half, cutting the Bombers’ lead to 21-17 at the break.

Third Quarter

Edmonton took the opening possession of the second half to the endzone, with Fajardo scoring on a quarterback sneak to put his team in front. Blanchard then sent the kickoff into Winnipeg’s endzone where Trey Vaval conceded a single point, making the score 25-21 in favour of the Elks. Late in the third, Sergio Castillo made a field goal from 23 yards, pulling Winnipeg within one point as the game headed to its final quarter.

Fourth Quarter

With just under nine minutes remaining, Blanchard split the uprights from 52 yards to restore a four-point lead for Edmonton. The Elks then chewed up the clock with a 13-play drive lasting nearly seven minutes, culminating in a two-yard rush for a touchdown by Fajardo with 1:39 left. Castillo hit a 53-yard field goal with two yards for a touchdown in the final minute, but Winnipeg’s subsequent onside kick was recovered by the Elks, who ran out the clock.

Up Next

The Elks wrap up their regular season schedule when they take on the host Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Oct. 24 (1:00 p.m. MDT)