Roughriders rally to beat Elks 28-26 in Edmonton, Tommy Stevens scores three TDs
Roughriders vs Elks recap: Saskatchewan’s backup quarterback Tommy Stevens scored three short-yardage touchdowns to lift the Roughriders to a 28-26 win over the Edmonton Elks at Commonwealth Stadium, evening the season series. (reddit.com)
Key scoring plays that decided the game
The contest opened with Edmonton taking an early lead when Justin Rankin finished a drive with a three-yard touchdown run. Saskatchewan answered quickly after Johnny Johnson’s long kickoff return set up a first-quarter one-yard plunge by Tommy Stevens to tie the score.
Edmonton regained momentum with a 24-yard field goal from Vincent Blanchard to start the second quarter, but Stevens plunged in again from short yardage later in the period to give Saskatchewan the lead. A 44-yard Blanchard field goal trimmed the Riders’ advantage before halftime, keeping the game tight at the break.
After a lengthy weather delay in the third quarter, the game resumed with special-teams miscues and a missed 42-yard attempt by Saskatchewan’s Alex Hale, which left points off the board for the visitors. The defensive battle intensified in the second half as both teams traded field goals and short drives.
A pivotal moment came in the fourth quarter when a Riders fumble near Saskatchewan’s goal line was negated by an Edmonton penalty for too many men on the field, allowing Stevens to score his third short-yardage touchdown. That score proved decisive as Saskatchewan converted a two-point toss later in the quarter to stretch the lead. (reddit.com)
Quarter-by-quarter turning points
Edmonton built its early advantage on a well-executed opening drive that featured methodical runs and timely third-down conversions. The Elks’ offense, led by Cody Fajardo, repeatedly moved the chains but struggled to finish drives with touchdowns inside the red zone.
Saskatchewan’s response was rooted in explosive special-teams work, including an 87-yard kickoff return that set up a touchdown in the first quarter. That play shifted field position dramatically and injected life into the Riders’ offense at a crucial moment.
The second quarter saw both teams trading short-field goals and stiff defensive stands, while the hour-plus weather stoppage disrupted the game’s rhythm. When play resumed, the third quarter unfolded as a defensive battle until the late-period penalties and short-yardage efforts in the fourth reshaped the outcome. (reddit.com)
Tommy Stevens’s role and short-yardage impact
Tommy Stevens, the Roughriders’ backup quarterback, was used primarily in short-yardage and goal-line situations and delivered three touchdowns on those opportunities. Stevens’s scoring runs were textbook short-yardage executions—powerful, direct and effective at squeezing through compact defensive fronts.
The Riders’ coaching staff leaned on Stevens’s ability to convert near the goal line, a role he has filled throughout his CFL career. His short-yardage proficiency has been a feature since joining Saskatchewan and has provided the team with a reliable scoring option when the starting quarterback is used in a different package. (riderville.com)
Coaches’ assessments and player reactions
Roughriders head coach Corey Mace praised his roster depth and credited role players for stepping up when called upon. Mace emphasized that the win reflected collective effort and situational execution, particularly in short-yardage plays and on special teams.
Edmonton coach Mark Kilam said penalties and missed opportunities late in the game cost the Elks a victory at home. Kilam noted his team fought through the adversity but that untimely infractions ultimately shifted the game’s balance.
Trevor Harris, Saskatchewan’s starting quarterback, acknowledged an uneven first half from the offense but pointed to late-game drives and key receptions that helped the Riders close out the win. Harris highlighted his receivers’ contributions on critical downs and the importance of converting in the red zone. (reddit.com)
Special teams, penalties and game management
Special teams were a major factor in the contest, with an 87-yard kickoff return early setting up an immediate score for Saskatchewan. Edmonton’s kicker, Vincent Blanchard, connected on multiple field goals, including a 24- and 44-yard attempt that kept the Elks within striking distance throughout the night. (cfl.ca)
Penalties proved costly for Edmonton late in the game, including a critical too-many-men infraction that nullified a defensive takeaway and allowed the Riders to score instead. Those breakdowns in discipline were a point of emphasis for the Elks’ staff after the game and were singled out as contributors to the narrow loss.
Weather interrupted the third quarter for more than an hour, altering momentum and forcing both teams to adjust twice. The stoppage affected tempo and play-calling, particularly for offenses that were trying to establish a flow before the delay. Observers noted that the game’s second half bore the marks of disrupted rhythm and conservative play-calling. (reddit.com)
Standings implications and season context
The Roughriders improved to 5-2 in the West Division with the victory, moving into sole possession of second place in the CFL West. Edmonton fell to 6-2, remaining at or near the top of the division but losing ground in the short term after a home defeat. (reddit.com)
Last week’s meeting between the same clubs produced a dramatic finish when Vincent Blanchard nailed a 57-yard walk-off field goal to lift the Elks to a 36-34 win in Regina. That result made Saturday’s rematch a de facto tiebreaking heavyweight clash that produced contrasting styles and outcomes across the two games. (cfl.ca)
The two teams are scheduled to meet again late in the regular season in Regina, in what both coaching staffs called a likely deciding matchup for divisional positioning. Those future stakes underscore the importance of Sunday’s result for both clubs as they navigate a compressed schedule with few margin-for-error weeks remaining. (ca.news.yahoo.com)
Injuries, roster notes and attendance
Saskatchewan was missing running back AJ Ouellette due to a knee issue, forcing adjustments to the backfield and short-yardage packages. The Riders relied on quarterback-run packages and two-minute offense principles to manage possessions in Ouellette’s absence.
Edmonton’s offensive production remained credible despite not finishing drives with touchdowns consistently, and several key plays—most notably long gains from Cody Fajardo—kept the Elks within range throughout the fourth quarter. The visitors were able to run out the clock after the Elks’ late touchdown narrowed the gap.
A crowd in excess of 31,000 attended the contest at Commonwealth Stadium, providing a boisterous environment that underscored the rivalry’s intensity on Alberta soil. Fans on both sides were vocal, and the stadium atmosphere rose during every pivotal sequence of the fourth quarter. (reddit.com)
What the game revealed about each team’s strengths
Saskatchewan demonstrated balanced situational football—relying on special teams to flip field position, short-yardage packages to score in close quarters and late-game clock management to secure the win. The Riders showed an ability to win without needing explosive offensive output from their starter alone, highlighting roster depth and tactical flexibility.
Edmonton’s strengths remained its passing attack and field-goal reliability, exemplified in previous weeks by long-range kicks and the ability to convert in pressure situations. However, the Elks’ vulnerability to penalties and difficulty converting red-zone opportunities in this game were exposed and will likely be focal points for correction in practice.
Coaching staffs from both clubs will take different lessons from the night: Saskatchewan will reinforce situational play-calling that maximized its short-yardage advantage, while Edmonton looks to tighten discipline and improve red-zone scoring efficiency as the season progresses. (cfl.ca)
Next steps on the schedule for both clubs
The Roughriders return home next and are scheduled to host the Ottawa Redblacks in their next outing, an opportunity to build on the momentum and rebalance the running game in front of their home crowd. The Redblacks matchup will come on short rest and presents a chance for Saskatchewan to consolidate its divisional position. (ca.news.yahoo.com)
Edmonton’s immediate path takes them on the road to face the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 8, a critical East Division visit that will test the Elks’ ability to regroup and correct the mistakes that cost them in Edmonton. The league’s compressed calendar means both teams must quickly turn their focus to preparation and recovery. (press.goelks.com)
Final adjustments and roster moves will be monitored closely this week as both clubs evaluate short-yardage packages, kicking reliability and injury reports. Special-teams personnel, in particular, could see schematic tweaks after a game in which field position and kicking had clear influence on the final result. (globalnews.ca)
In the end, Saskatchewan’s ability to convert short-yardage opportunities and manage the clock down the stretch produced a one-possession win in a matchup that both franchises and their fans expect to revisit with playoff implications later this season.
