CFL Week 10 Wrap: Elks, Alouettes & Argonauts Win, Chad Kelly News, Rourke Released

EDMONTON 33 BC 16

EDMONTON – Boris Bede kicked three field goals as the Edmonton Elks won their second game in a row, and second of the season, defeating the B.C. Lions 33-16 on Sunday at Commonwealth Stadium.

The Elks are now 2-7. It was their first win at home this season, and just the third in their last 31 games stretching back to Oct. 26, 2019.

The Lions are heading in the opposite direction, losing their third game in a row to drop to 5-4.

The Lions were quick off the mark, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive. In for Vernon Adams Jr., who suffered a knee injury last week against Winnipeg, quarterback Jake Dolegala marched the team downfield before David Mackie pounded the ball in from the one.

Running back Javon Leake picked up where he left off last week for the Elks early in the second quarter, scoring a 12-yard rushing TD.

Elks QB Tre Ford put together another strong drive to put Edmonton in front 15-10, capped off by a one-yard plunge by backup Dakota Prukop. They added another single on the ensuing kickoff.

Ford took a hard hit late in the second and was replaced for the remainder of the game at pivot by McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

BC led 10-1 after the first quarter, Edmonton led 19-10 at halftime. The Elks took a 19-16 lead into the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Lions: Host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-6) on Sunday, Aug. 18.

Elks: Visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-7) on Saturday.

MONTREAL 33 HAMILTON 23

MONTREAL – Two early turnovers set the tone for another strong showing by the Montreal Alouettes’ defence on Saturday night.

The Alouettes jumped out to an early lead, then held off the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ late rally in a 33-23 win at Percival Molson Stadium, overcoming their East Division rivals for a second consecutive week.

“Our defence came to play, right from the get-go,” Maas said. “In a game where we know they’re hungry, they know they gotta get this one, but when you come out like that, it’s a good indication of what’s in store for the rest of the game.”

In his second straight start, Als quarterback Davis Alexander connected on 17 of his 24 passing attempts for 247 yards and two touchdowns.

Third string QB Dominique Davis — signed earlier this week following a season-ending injury to backup Caleb Evans — snuck into the end zone from the one-yard line to give Montreal a commanding 26-9 lead with 13:35 left in the contest.

Ticats starting quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was pulled from the game in the first quarter after throwing an early interception. Taylor Powell came on in relief, completing 30 passes for 319 yards and two touchdowns, while also leading Hamilton in rushing with 52 yards on the ground.

UP NEXT

Tiger-Cats: Host the Edmonton Elks (1-7) next Saturday.

Alouettes: Visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-3-1) on Friday.

TORONTO 39 CALGARY 25

TORONTO – Again when the Toronto Argonauts needed a spark, Janarion Grant delivered. Grant and DaShaun Amos scored key second-half touchdowns to lead Toronto past Calgary 39-25 on Friday night. The Argos erased a 15-7 halftime deficit by outscoring the Stampeders 32-10 in the second half.

Five nights earlier, Calgary outscored Toronto 21-0 in the fourth quarter for a 27-23 home victory.

Grant’s electrifying 86-yard punt return TD at 6:35 of the third quarter put Toronto ahead 16-15 before Nick Arbuckle found David Ungerer III for the two-point convert.

“We call him the life of the party, he’s our heat beat,” said Toronto running back Ka’Deem Carey of Grant. “When his heart starts beating, all of ours do and he took it to the crib.”

Grant has four return TDs this season — three on punts, one on a kickoff.

Calgary led 8-7 after the first quarter and 15-7 at halftime. Toronto took a 21-15 lead into the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Calgary (4-5) fell to 0-5 on the road and has just one win in its last 11 games away from McMahon Stadium. They return home on Thursday to host Ottawa.

Toronto heads on a bye week before hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-3-1) on Aug. 22.

SASKATCHEWAN 22 OTTAWA 22

OTTAWA – Opposing teams rarely agree on things, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Ottawa Redblacks agreed their matchup Thursday was the craziest game they’ve ever been a part of. The game ended in a 22-22 tie, but it was the events that led to the tie that left players and coaches shaking their heads.

The Roughriders had taken a 22-19 lead in the second overtime on a 29-yard Brett Lauther field goal and had appeared to hold Ottawa off on its attempt to secure the win.

Fans had started to pile onto the field — and players from both teams had started making their way to the locker room — when it was suddenly announced that Saskatchewan had been called for roughing the passer after a Command Centre review, and the game was back on.

The Redblacks took advantage and were able to tie the game on a 14-yard Lewis Ward field goal to extend its unbeaten streak to four games and improve to 5-2-1.

“I was in the locker room so I thought it was over,” said Ottawa quarterback Dustin Crum, who was called into action after Dru Brown was injured early in the second quarter. “They came running in and told me they called roughing the passer, and that we’re playing.

“So I said, ‘Alright.’”

Crum finished the game 21-for-32 for 211 yards and one interception. He also ran the ball for 72 yards and one touchdown.

With the tie, Saskatchewan snapped a two-game losing streak to go to 5-3-1.

“Craziest ending I’ve ever been a part of,” said Saskatchewan quarterback Shea Patterson, who went 30-for-49 for 299 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. “I liked how we stayed together to the last minute and just fought together as a family throughout the entire game.”

“I was really proud of how hard the entire team played,” said Roughriders head coach Corey Mace. “Special teams was unbelievable…Everyone played extremely hard for each other, so I just wanted them to lean on that. It wasn’t a win, which is always what we come out to do, but it wasn’t a loss. Just something to build off momentum-wise, I guess.” 

UP NEXT

Roughriders: Host the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, Aug. 16.

Redblacks: Head to Calgary to take on the Stampeders Thursday, Aug. 15.

CHAD KELLY ONE STEP CLOSER TO A RETURN

TORONTO – The CFL has initiated a review to determine a possible reinstatement for suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly.

The league announced Saturday it has received Kelly’s confidential psychological assessment, a requirement as part of his suspension on May 7, and will complete an examination of the results with the help of experts before making a decision.

Kelly was suspended for Toronto’s two exhibition games and at least its first nine regular-season contests for violating the CFL’s gender-based violence policy.

It followed an independent investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both Kelly and the club.

The Argonauts played their ninth game of the regular season in a 39-25 victory over the Calgary Stampeders on Friday night.

Kelly, the league’s outstanding player last season, had to undergo confidential assessments by an independent expert and attend mandatory counselling sessions conducted by a gender-based violence expert. Both had to be completed to the satisfaction of the CFL, which could reinstate Kelly but also modify the discipline.

“Yesssir!!! Thank you Lord!” Kelly posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday morning.

The former coach filed a statement of claim with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, alleging a pattern of harassment by Kelly, beginning with unwanted romantic advances and escalating into instances of threatening language.

The coach said the Argos did not act when told of Kelly’s behaviour and that she was informed in January her contract with the club would not be renewed.

The complainant had joined the franchise in 2018 and said her contract had previously been continually renewed.

Two league sources told The Canadian Press in June that the lawsuit was settled through mediation involving all of the parties. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity as there was no formal announcement about the resolution being reached.

There was also no indication regarding specific details of the settlement.

NATHAN ROURKE RELEASED BY FALCONS

ATLANTA – Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke has been cut from an NFL training camp roster for the second time this year.

The Atlanta Falcons released Rourke on Sunday, just 10 days after he signed with the team.

Rourke joined the Falcons on Aug. 1, less than a week after he was cut by the New York Giants.

New York claimed Rourke off waivers May 7, but he didn’t see much action during the first week of camp.

The 26-year-old from Victoria finished last season with New England. He was inactive for two games before dressing as a backup in the Patriots regular-season finale versus the New York Jets on Jan. 7. 

Rourke originally signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars following two seasons with the CFL’s B.C. Lions. 

The six-foot-two, 209 pound pivot was named the league’s top Canadian in 2022 after completing 78.7 per cent of his passes for 3,349 yards and 25 TDs over 10 regular-season contests. 

He also ran for 304 yards (7.8-yard average) and seven TDs despite missing time with a Lisfranc injury. 

(Canadian Press)