It’s a Sunday night game to close out Week 12 of the CFL season featuring two of the best teams in the league: the Edmonton Elks visit the Alouettes at Molson Stadium in Montreal.
The Elks have won three straight games and have taken some distance from their 0-7 start as they try to climb the standings in a very crowded West Division.
The Alouettes have won four straight and are not only the defending Gray Cup champions, but currently have the best record in the CFL at 9-1.
A win on Sunday would give the Elks their first four-game winning streak since the 2017 season. The offense and some timely turnovers from the defense and special teams led to the Elks’ turnaround. They rank third in the CFL in turnover ratio, at plus-five. During the three-game win streak, the Elks have scored 14 offensive touchdowns, averaged 40.7 points per game and averaged 439 yards of offense per game.
Sunday’s game is a matchup between the two highest scoring teams in the CFL, with the Elks first in the league (29.6 per game) and the Alouettes second (28.8 per game). Defensively, the Elks have struggled allowing the third-most points in the CFL (28.5 per game) compared to the Alouettes who have allowed the second-fewest points in the league (21.5 per game ).
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Elks quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson on the challenges of battling the Montreal Alouettes defense led by DC Noel Thorpe
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The Elks will have to slow down quarterback Cody Fajardo, who returns after missing the last four games with a hamstring injury. Fajardo has 1,636 passing yards, throws 10 touchdown passes and four interceptions and leads the CFL in completion percentage (77.5%).
The Alouettes have 2023 CFL and East Division All-Star Austin Mack back in the lineup. Mack returned from a stint with the Atlanta Falcons. He recorded 1,154 receiving yards for the Alouettes last season.
The Elks are dealing with more injuries. Running back Javon Leake is out with a hip injury and is on the one-game injured list. Kevin Brown returns after missing the last three games with a shoulder injury and makes his first start since July 28. He will look to maintain a strong rushing attack that has produced 199.3 yards and scored eight touchdowns during the three-game winning streak.
Elks interim head coach Jarious Jackson on what he’s looking for, with Kevin Brown returning at running back after sitting out the last three games
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Safety Loucheiz Purifoy suffered a contusion during practice on Wednesday and is on the one-game injured list. Offensive lineman Phil Grohovac has been placed on the six-game injured list with a pectoral injury. Offensive lineman Jakub Szott will make his Elks debut after signing with the team on August 12. Defensive back Jake Taylor (1-game injured) will not play due to a head injury he suffered last week in Hamilton, while defensive back Jeremie Dominque will. play his first game of the season, just like fellow defender JJ Ross.
The following are the projected offensive and defensive starters for the Elks:
Offence
Quarterback: McLeod Bethel-Thompson
Running back: Kevin Brown
Offensive line: Martez Ivey, David Foucault, Mark Korte, Shane Richards, Brett Boyko
Recipients: Eugene Lewis, Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Hergy Mayala, Tevin Jones, Dillon Mitchell
Defense
Defensive line: Noah Taylor, Noah Curtis, Shawn Oakman, Elliott Brown
Linebackers: Nick Anderson, Nyles Morgan, Leon O’Neal Jr.
Defensive backs: Kai Gray, Darrius Bratton, Derrick Moncrief, Kordell Jackson, Devodric Bymun
You can hear Sunday’s game between the Elks and Alouettes on 630 CHED, starting with Countdown to Kick-off with Courtney Theriault at 3:30 p.m. The opening kickoff from Montreal’s Molson Stadium is at 5 p.m. with Morley Scott and Dave Campbell calling all the live-action. Hear analysis from former Edmonton Football Team offensive lineman and two-time Gray Cup champion Blake Dermott.
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