In a performance that left Saskatchewan Roughriders’ fans wondering if this season would be déjà-vu all over again, the Edmonton Elks delivered a humiliating 42-31 defeat at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday.
The Riders, boasting the CFL’s top rush defense, were embarrassingly shredded by the Elks’ ground game, surrendering 276 yards rushing. Javon Leake, filling in for the injured Kevin Brown, was the standout performer, amassing 169 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries. This disastrous showing revealed the supposed defensive prowess of the Roughriders to be nothing more than a paper tiger.
Burners engaged🚀@ny_king20 takes it 51 yards to the house for his second TD of the night!#GoElks #CFL pic.twitter.com/9teTfJ29fY
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) August 4, 2024
Quarterback Tre Ford was another thorn in the Riders’ side, passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Ford’s exceptional play included a standout performance from former Roughrider Tevin Jones, who scored twice and made a 93-yard touchdown catch that left the Roughriders scrambling.
The Riders did manage a brief glimmer of hope when Mario Alford ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown. However, this early success quickly faded as the Elks systematically dismantled their defense, leaving the Riders to watch in dismay as the game slipped away.
The victory, marking the first for Interim Head Coach Jarious Jackson and General Manager Geroy Simon, was hardly a comfort for the Roughriders, whose defense was exposed as woefully inadequate.
First win for the new crew 🙌#GoElks #CFL pic.twitter.com/akzUj4JTrJ
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) August 4, 2024
With this loss, the Roughriders’ season takes a significant downturn, overshadowed by their inability to handle the Elks’ offensive onslaught. The Elks will look to build on this momentum when they return to Edmonton for their next game against the B.C. Lions on August 11.
