11.07.2026 | Game Recap: Elks 28 Lions 16

The Edmonton Elks are going to the biggest party in Canadian football.

With more than 40,000 fans cheering them on, the Green and Gold defeated the BC Lions by a score of 28-16 in the CFL Western Final presented by Wegovy at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday night.

“I want to give a shoutout to Edmonton,” Elks coach Mark Kilam said. “I got emotional when we first took the field. That place was unbelievable tonight.”

Edmonton advances to the 113th Grey Cup, where it will face the Montreal Alouettes at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Nov. 15. The Alouettes defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-23 in the Eastern Final at Percival Molson Stadium earlier on Saturday.

Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo led the way, completing 25 of 30 passes for 274 yards, including a touchdown toss for Austin Mack, while also rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown.

“The guys found a way to win, when nobody expected us to win this game. Nobody expected us to even be here,” Fajardo said. “That’s what our M.O. is., that’s what my M.O. has been as a quarterback my whole career, and I thrive on when people doubt me.”

Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard made all five of his field goal attempts. The Lions got a rushing touchdown from quarterback Nathan Rourke, and three field goals from Sean Whyte.

After trailing by three points at the break, the Green and Gold took over in the second half, outscoring BC 19-7 over the final 30 minutes.

“We’re a second half football team,” Kilam said. “That’s who this football team is. We’re comfortable late in the game when things get rough.”

Edmonton held the ball for nearly 35 minutes, and won the turnover battle 2-0. BC outgained the Elks 383-371 in net offence.

This was Edmonton’s first home playoff game since 2015, when the Green and Gold defeated the Calgary Stampeders en route to capturing the Grey Cup. Attendance was 40,182, the largest crowd for any Green and Gold home game since 2017.

“Hats off to the city,” Fajardo said. “They showed up for us. Forty thousand is incredible. Just from where it was to where it is now, for us players, that drove us to wanting to win that game more than anything else.”

First Quarter

Edmonton took the game’s opening possession deep into BC territory and capped off the drive with a 21-yard field goal from Blanchard to go in front 3-0. The home team added to its lead when Blanchard split the uprights from 48 yards with just over three minutes to go in the quarter.

Second Quarter

Whyte accounted for all the points in the second quarter, hitting three field goals, from distances of 13, 29, and 42 yards. The latter came on the final play of the half, sending the visitors into the break with a 9-6 advantage.

Third Quarter

Edmonton leveled the score midway through the third quarter, thanks to a 35-yard field goal from Blanchard. The Elks then surged ahead 16-9 with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter, as Fajardo sprinted five yards into the endzone to cap off a seven-play, 59-yard drive.

Fourth Quarter

BC answered in the first minute of the fourth quarter, evening the score after Rourke rushed eight yards for a touchdown. Blachard’s fourth field of the night, from 46 yards out, restored Edmonton’s lead at 19-16. Fajardo then connected with Mack for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 6:59 remaining, putting Edmonton ahead 25-16. Blanchard closed out the scoring with a 27-yard field goal.

Up Next

The Elks face the Alouettes at McMahon Stadium on Nov. 15. Kickoff is 5 p.m. ABT.