Edmonton Elks drop perfect record to winless B.C. Lions in Week 5 upset
The Elks' 3-0 start ended Saturday with a 36-24 loss in Kelowna, dropping them to 3-1 alongside Saskatchewan atop the West Division.
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The Edmonton Elks' dream start to the season ended July 5, when they fell 36-24 to the previously winless B.C. Lions at Kelowna's Apple Bowl.
Edmonton arrived 3-0, the league's last undefeated team. The loss drops them to 3-1 and into a tie for first place in the West Division with Saskatchewan. It was as decisive a setback as Week 5 could deliver—a win Saturday would have positioned the Elks for three straight weeks against winless opponents, a schedule gift that evaporated.
Quarterback Nathan Rourke ran B.C.'s offence to perfection, completing 27 of 36 passes for 320 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions while improving to 7-0 against Edmonton. Running back James Butler punched in two touchdowns on 135 rushing yards and 27 receiving yards across 15 carries and three catches. The Lions won the turnover battle 4-2 and out-gained Edmonton 475 to 416 yards.
Edmonton's Cody Fajardo threw for 495 yards and three touchdowns but was picked off three times. Star rusher Justin Rankin, the league's leading ground-gainer, was bottled up for just 17 yards on nine carries, though he added 100 receiving yards. Wide receiver Austin Mack had a game-high 140 yards and one touchdown on eight catches.
B.C. has won 13 of the past 14 games against Edmonton dating to 2011. The Lions head into a bye week before the teams meet again on July 17 in what is now a much sharper rivalry fixture.
