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- calendar_today November 8, 2026
Edmonton Elks Earn Grey Cup Spot With Win Over B.C. Lions
The Edmonton Elks took a major step towards revitalizing their franchise on Saturday, defeating the B.C. Lions 28-16 in the CFL West Final. The victory secured the Elks a place in the 113th Grey Cup game, marking their first appearance in the championship since 2015.
Grey Cup Set for November 15 in Calgary
The Elks will compete against the Montreal Alouettes next Sunday at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. The win was celebrated by the city and the 40,182 fans present at Commonwealth Stadium, with head coach Mark Kilam and quarterback Cody Fajardo expressing their gratitude to the supportive home crowd.
Leadership Acknowledges Fan Support
Coach Kilam highlighted the significance of Edmonton's turnout: "I want to give a shout-out to Edmonton because I got emotional when we first took the field; that place was unbelievable." Fajardo, now seeking his third Grey Cup win, echoed the sentiment: "Hats off to the city, 40,000 is incredible. From where it was to where it is now, for us, that drove us to wanting to win that game more than anything else. 40,000 in the stands, you could hear them; they were the difference tonight."
Turnaround Story for Edmonton
The Elks had missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons and at one point endured a 22-game home losing streak. Attendance at Commonwealth Stadium had declined before the team's turnaround began, which coincided with a change in ownership to Larry and Deb Thompson, the appointment of Chris Morris as president, Ed Hervey as general manager, and the hiring of Mark Kilam as head coach.
Cody Fajardo Faces Former Team in Championship
Quarterback Cody Fajardo, who was released by Montreal a year after leading them to a 2023 Grey Cup victory, will now face his former team in the final. Fajardo commented on the rematch: "What a hell of a story, eh? That's the CFL. To tell you the truth, when I saw them win the game (East Final over Winnipeg Blue Bombers), that's when I knew we were going to win. God has this funny thing about giving second chances, and he gave me a second chance." Fajardo also praised Montreal’s current quarterback, Davis Alexander, and spoke with respect about his former team.
Second Half Surge Propels Elks
The West Final was tightly contested in the first half, with the Lions leading 9-6 at halftime. In the second half, however, the Elks outscored the Lions 22-7. Coach Kilam remarked, "We're a second-half team, this is what we do, we want to take over the game." Fajardo played a pivotal role in the turnaround, completing 25 of 30 passes for 274 yards and one touchdown, and rushing 10 times for 84 yards and another score. Key B.C. penalties following Fajardo’s runs aided Edmonton’s momentum shift.
Lions' Response and Elks’ Three-Phase Performance
B.C. Lions head coach Buck Pierce acknowledged Edmonton's strong defensive and overall play: "There are certain instances in games where you have opportunities to capture momentum, and we just weren't able to get over that hump... They played their tails off." Fajardo described the team's effort as one of their best all-around performances and noted the effectiveness of halftime adjustments.
Looking Ahead to the Grey Cup
The Elks will now prepare for their matchup against the Montreal Alouettes at the Grey Cup, aiming to complete their turnaround with a championship win.
Related coverage
Source: cbc.ca.
