Elks rout Redblacks 40–17 with Rankin's three touchdowns; move to 4–1 atop West
Running back Justin Rankin scored on the ground and through the air as Edmonton bounced back from last week's loss to beat winless Ottawa Thursday night.
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The Edmonton Elks returned to winning form Thursday, routing the winless Ottawa Redblacks 40–17 behind running back Justin Rankin's three-touchdown performance.
Rankin carried the ball 14 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns while adding three receptions for 43 yards and another score. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 19 of 24 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns as the Elks' offence dominated after struggling last week in a 36–24 loss to B.C.
"We needed that," Fajardo said after the win. "My message to the guys this week was to get back to playing our brand of football, and that's our brand of football—running the ball, quick passes, take your shots here and there."
The Elks opened the scoring on their first drive with a 19-yard Rankin touchdown run. They extended the lead with field goals by Vincent Blanchard before halftime, reaching 16–7. Ottawa pulled within two in the third quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Ayden Eberhardt, but the Elks pulled away in the fourth, with Rankin catching a 33-yard touchdown pass with 6:28 remaining.
With the victory, Edmonton improved to 4–1 and moved ahead of Saskatchewan into first place in the West Division. The Redblacks, still searching for their first win, fall to 0–5. Head coach Ryan Dinwiddie urged his players to stick together as Ottawa seeks answers.
