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LIVE BLOG Week 8: Edmonton Elks at Saskatchewan Roughriders

A moment-by-moment look at the Canadian Football League contest between the Edmonton Elks and Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday night at Mosaic Stadium
Randy Palmer
week-8-blog-micah-johnson
Roughriders defensive tackle Micah Johnson will be looking to get all sorts of pressure on Cody Fajardo and the Edmonton Elks on Saturday night.Saskatchewan Roughriders

10:04 p.m.
And that's the ball game. Saskatchewan hangs on for a 21-18 win behind eight sacks from the defence. Riders are 6-1 and take over first place in the West Division, Edmonton falls to 1-5 and are in last place.

10:03 p.m.
Riders defence comes up huge, with Ray getting his second sack for a two-yard loss and Johnson getting his second sack for an 11-yard loss with 10 seconds left.

10:02 p.m.
Fajardo runs for 12 yards and slides but is clipped by Campbell for a roughing the passer penalty, Edmonton up to own 32 with 24 seconds left.

9:56 p.m.
Ouellette cracks off a 17 yard run to get down to the Edmonton 49 with 1:45 to play, but a stuff and sack by the Edmonton defence has the Riders punting. Couch gets off a great one for 46 yards out of bounds to the Edmonton 5 with 24 seconds left.

9:53 p.m.
Touchdown Edmonton. Fajardo finds Dunbar in the back of the endzone for the touchdown and it's all of a sudden a four-point game. Eight plays, 71 yards, 3:10 off the clock, 21-18 Saskatchewan with 1:56 to play.

9:50 p.m.
Edmonton has something going, with Fajardo completing 20-, 14- and 12-yard passes to Rankin and a 21-yarder to Smith to get down to Riders 13.

9:41 p.m.
And a short pass and incompletion and once again a two-and-out, Edmonton gets the ball back on own 39 with 5:35 remaining. Turning into a slog here in the fourth quarter, but with a two-score lead, the Riders will take it.

9:38 p.m.
Fajardo sacked again on first down, Ray gets the job down for a seven-yard loss. A short pass later and another Elks two and out, Riders get the ball back on own 35 with 7:08 remaining.

9:35 p.m.
First play of the drive and Emilus is injured after making a catch, looks like lower left leg. Leaves under own steam but gingerly. Riders end up going two-and-out, Edmonton gets the ball back on own 36 with 8:41 to play.

9:30 p.m.
Elks go two-and-out, Riders get the ball back on their own 39. 

Edmonton's touchdown...

9:27 p.m.
Riders go two-and-out, Edmonton gets the ball back on own 15 after illegal block call.

9:24 p.m.
Touchdown Edmonton. Fajardo escapes the rush, finds Julien-Grant way down the field, he makes the catch and avoids a tackle before finishing off the 57-yard major. Three plays, 57 seconds, 60 yards, 21-11 Saskatchewan leads woth 13:25 left in the game.

Carney's second sack...

9:17 p.m.
Couple of plays get Riders down to Edmonton 38, Lauther has a 46-yard field attempt and it's right down the middle on the final play of the third quarter. 21-4 Saskatchewan leads.

9:14 p.m.
Riders get home on Fajardo again, Reavis with a 10-yard sack and after a short pass completion, Edmonton punting again. McCray sets Riders up at Edmonton 46.

9:11 p.m.
Three plays and Riders are punting, Elks get ball back on own 25.

9:06 p.m.
Sayles hauls down Dunbar behind the LOS for a four yard loss, Fajardo sacked by Carney for the second time tonight, Edmonton punting on a second and 23 from their own 23. McCray fumbles the punt return and Edmonton recovers but a no yards penalty gives the Riders the ball at their own 53.

9:00 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN RIDERS! Harris finds Johnson for an eight-yard pass into the back corner of the end zone, and things are starting to look comfortable for Saskatchewan. Six plays, 101 yards, three minutes, 18-4 Riders with 8:15 to play in third quarter.

8:58 p.m.
Meyers has 30-yard catch and a roughing the passer penalty on the same play, all of a sudden the Riders are on the Edmonton 10.

8:56 p.m.
Emilus hauls in a 34-yard pass ad Awachie has his first catch of the season to get to midfield.

8:51 p.m.
Short run to the outside and a five-yard sack by Carney and the Elks are punting. Riders get the ball back on own nine yard line. Play is challenged by Edmonton, saying a bobble my McCray was last touched by an Elks player before going out of bound, but the orginal call stands.

8:45 p.m.
Robustelli gets shot by a sniper making his break on first down, Ouellette is well covered on a pass to the flat on second down and Couch is punting. Short punt and 21 yard return by Leake has Elks starting from Riders 53 with 13:19 on the clock.

8:41 p.m.
Second half is underway, Riders get the ball on their own 33 to get the second 30 minutes underway.

Saskatchewan first half stats: Harris 13-for-19 passing for 158 yards and one touchdown. Ouellette eight carries for 28 yards, Emilus four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Johnson five catches for 58 yards. Allen four tackles and a sack. 187 yards total offence.

Calgary first half stats: Fajardo 13-for-18 passing for 148 yards. Fajardo two carries for seven yards. Mathis two catches for 51 yards, nine players with at least one catch. Jackson and Ross with four tackles each. 142 yards total offence.

Way closer of a battle than many were expecting, so the second half will see if the Riders can hang on and if the Elks can continue to hang around... 

8:24 p.m.
Edmonton gets off a couple plays but a holding penalty prevents the drive from progressing, and we're at half time..

8:21 p.m.
Harris quickly gets Riders down to Edmonton 43, Lauther has a 51-yard field goal and it's good with yards to spare. Saskatchewan leads 11-4 with 24 seconds remaining in first half.

8:18 p.m.
Riders get a quick two and out on two incomplete passes, including a bat down on second down by Reavis,  and Riders get the ball back on own 46 with 1:10 left in the half.

8:13 p.m.
TOUCHDOWN RIDERS! Sam Emilus takes a flick pass behind the line and gets to the outside before going 15 yards and taking advantage of some sloppy tackling for the major. Seven plays, 1:44 off the clock, 8-4 Saskatchewan with 1:40 remaining in the half.

8:11 p.m.
Riders are on the move, thanks to pass interference penalties on Johnson and Robustelli and two first-down catches by Johnson. Down to Edmonton 15.

Allen's sack...

8:03 p.m.
Fajardo hits Dunbar for a 41 yard pass to get out of the shadow of his goalposts, but an incomplete pass and 18-yard sack by Allen and Edmonton is punting. Riders get the ball back on own 29 with 3:22 left in half. 

And here's Edmonton's impressive goalline stand:

Here's Sam Emilus' big catch on the previous drive...

7:58 p.m.
Tommy Stevens in for third-down goalline gamble and it looks like the Elks got the stop. It's close, play is reviewed, and Edmonton gets the turnover on downs. To say the least, this is not the start the Roughriders envisioned heading into this game. 

7:56 p.m.
Elks jump on third down gamble, Ouellette runs four yards and one yard to the Edmonton 2.

7:53 p.m.
Huge pass downfield to the sideline finds Emilus wide open at Edmonton 35 and yards after catch get him down to Edmonton 20. Two more short passes to Emilus and Duncan-Busby and Rider are in the red zone at the Elks 12.

Here's Micah Johnson's sack that helped stall Edmonton's previous redzone drive.

7:50 p.m.
Fortunately for Saskatchewan, the Elks aren't moving on this drive either. Two and out, Edmonton punts, but a roughing the kicker penalty and no yards penalty see third down replayed from the Elks 17. That punt sees McCray get off a nice return up to Edmonton 39, but a holding penalty sees the Riders scrimage at their own 40.

7:45 p.m. 
Harris is at only 50 per cent passing two minutes into the second quarter, well off his season average of 76 per cent. Elks are doing a good job on the Riders receivers so far.

7:44 p.m.
Riders are struggling to get anything going on offence and after a pass is batted down at the line after three plays, Couch is punting again. Elks get the ball back at the Edmonton 16.

7:37 p.m.
Two more passes and Edmonton is down to Riders seven, but Johnson gets a sack. Another near sack sees Fajardo scramble befoe throwing incomplete into the end zone. Blanchard hits a field goal from 15 yards, Edmonton leads 4-1 with seven seconds left in first quarter.

7:32 p.m.
Fajardo has Edmonton rolling, picking up a couple of first downs before a slick pump fake springs Mathis for a pass over the middle for 31 yards down to the Saskatchewan 22. 

7:26 p.m.
Couple of incomplete passes to Robustelli and Ouellette see Riders punting from own 51, Edmonton gets ball back on own 29.

7:21 p.m.
Elks get their first first down of the game and get down to Saskatchewan 52 before punting. Grace gets off a 56-yard boot and McCray downs it in the end zone for a single. 1-1 tie with 7:57 to play in first.

7:15 p.m.
Riders take four plays to get down to Edmonton 44, Lauther attempts 47-yard field goal and but misses wide left. Ball goes through the end zone for the rouge, 1-0 Saskatchewan with 10:47 to play in first quarter.

7:11 p.m
A stuffed run and short pass to the sideline and the Elks go two-and-out quick. Riders get the ball back at their own 47.

7:09 p.m.
And we're underway! Edmonton has ball at own 29 yard line.

7:07 p.m.
Roughriders win the coin toss and have deferred to the second half.

7:01 p.m.
Here we go! Players are on the field, the natonal anthem is coming up and kick-off is moments away for the Christmas in July game!

6:25 p.m.
The Roughriders are an 8.5 point favourite, which is kind of ridiculous for a professional football game, so Luc is taking the points. The over/under is at 54.5 points, and Luc goes with the under. So a relatively close, low-scoring game is the bet!

4:24 p.m.
Of course, the biggest question heading into any game at Mosaic Stadium the rest of the season will be air quality, and that won't be a concern -- readings at the field are under 1 (Low Risk) across the board, which is virtually clear. The forecast doesn't see anything higher than 4 (Moderate Risk) on Friday night, well under the 8 (High Risk) cutoff.

As for the weather, it's shaping up to be a warm night in Regina, with a temperature around 27 C with a humidex of 31 C at game time. There will be a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of a thunderstorm, with things clearing as the evening progresses. Winds will be breezy, coming out of the west at 30 km/h before becoming light in the evening.

4:00 p.m.
The air is clear, it’s setting up to be a beautiful night, and it’s almost time to check out some Saskatchewan Roughriders football!

The Green and White take the field for Week 8 of the Canadian Football League season with a 5-1 record and a chance to take over first place in the West Division with a win over the Edmonton Elks, who hold a 1-4 record and are last in the West.

Saskatchewan took a 33-27 victory over the B.C. Lions (3-4) last Saturday, while Edmonton is coming off a bye week. They faced the Lions two weeks ago and dropped a 32-14 decision, which precipitated the changes to their line-up you can read about below.

week-8-riders-edmonton-depth-chart

The Saskatchewan Roughriders depth chart. As expected, back-up running back Ka’Deem Carey is out after a serious knee injury last week, with rookie Mario Anderson having been re-signed this week and taking his place. Langenburg product Noah Zerr is in at left guard after Zack Fry suffered a concussion in a motor vehicle accident earlier this week. Brayden Noll comes off the practice roster as the sixth man for the offensive line.

Trevor Harris will look to continue what has been a stellar showing thus far as QB1, as he’s completed 117 of 154 passes (76 per cent, best in the CFL) for 1,626 yards while hitting for nine touchdowns and four interceptions. KeeSean Johnson has been his favourite target with 30 catches and 45 yards receiving. A.J. Ouellete is third in the CFL in rushing with 77 carries for 428 yards. Linebacker Jameer Thurman continues to lead the team in tackles with 39, Rolan Milligan Jr. and Tevaughn Campbell each have two interceptions and a pick six.

week-8-edmonton-depth-chart

The Edmonton Elks depth chart. The biggest news is the return of Cody Fajardo to Mosaic Stadium as the starting quarterback in Edmonton. There was a quarterback controversy all week for the Elks, as Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam waited until Thursday to officially name Fajardo the starter over Tre Ford.

It’s the first start of the season for Fajardo, who played three seasons with the Riders from 2019 through 2022. He’s seen limited duty this season, with nine completions for 107 yards, most of those coming when he took over from Ford in the third quarter against B.C..

Steve Dunbar Jr. is their top receiver with 22 catches for 251 yards, while Kurleigh Gittens Jr. has 181 yards receiving and three majors. Justin Rankin leads their ground game with 41 carries for 239 yards. Nick Anderson leads the Elks defence with 38 tackles and one sack.

Tegan Witko, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates are currently on the air across the Riders Broadcast Network with the pre-game show, and you can catch the Voice of the Roughriders Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder with the game call at 7 p.m.

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