RECAP: Ticats and Elks Go Down to the Wire in Edmonton
EDMONTON — Vincent Blanchard made nine field goals and Joshua Cephus made the winning grab in overtime as the Edmonton Elks came out on top against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, claiming a 37-35 win at home.
Blanchard set a new CFL record with the second of his two makes in overtime as Edmonton and Hamilton traded field goals, meaning that overtime would have to be won with a two-point conversion. After Harrison Frost failed to connect with Kiondre Smith on the first attempt, Cody Fajardo delivered to Cephus to win it for the home team.
A 'two-point shootout' became necessary after the Elks' defence stood strong, denying the Ticats a touchdown when the road side had a first-and-goal opportunity with their second possession of the extra frame. Hamilton's loss combined with Calgary's win earlier on Saturday means that the Tiger-Cats are officially eliminated from playoff contention and that there will be a crossover in the postseason.
The Elks found their first major late in the third after Justin Rankin dashed for 34 yards and then Fajardo punched it in from the goal line for his fifth rushing score of the season.
The Ticats stayed within striking distance with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Frost delivered a play-action pass across the middle to Tyler Ternowski for 31 yards and the score, making it 25-23 after Liegghio's extra point.
Hamilton's kicker couldn't deliver from 51 yards out with a field goal attempt after the three-minute warning but his defence had his back with a pivotal takeaway, as Reggie Stubbliefield laid out to pick off Fajardo and position Frost and the offence at Edmonton's 33 with less than two minutes remaining. Liegghio guided in a 21-yard kick to put Hamilton into their first lead since the first quarter.
With less than a minute on the clock, a 37-yard kickoff return by Montrell Washington helped push the trailing Elks close to field goal range. Fajardo and company were unable to find a walk-off touchdown, but Blanchard's seventh field goal of the evening sent the contest to overtime.
Tiger-Cats receiver Keric Wheatfall exited the game in the first quarter with an apparent lower body injury and did not return.
RELATED
» Depth Charts: HAM | EDM » Game Notes: Tiger-Cats at Elks » Injury Reports: Stay up to date » Sign up and watch CFL games on CFL+ in the U.S. and Internationally
SCORING PLAYS
Marc Liegghio 30-yard field goal (9:09, Q1) | HAM 3, EDM 0
Vincent Blanchard 40-yard field goal (5:51, Q1) | HAM 3, EDM 3
Larry Rountree III 39-yard rushing touchdown (3:01, Q1) | HAM 10, EDM 3
Vincent Blanchard 37-yard field goal (14:53, Q2) | HAM 10, EDM 6
Vincent Blanchard 22-yard field goal (9:35, Q2) | HAM 10, EDM 9
Vincent Blanchard 54-yard field goal (3:02, Q2) | EDM 12, HAM 10
Vincent Blanchard 25-yard field goal (0:08, Q2) | EDM 15, HAM 10
Vincent Blanchard 40-yard field goal (8:08, Q3) | EDM 18, HAM 10
Harrison Frost 34-yard touchdown pass to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (5:55, Q3) | EDM 18, HAM 16
Cody Fajardo one-yard touchdown run (3:09, Q3) | EDM 25, HAM 16
Harrison Frost 31-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Ternowski (14:47, Q4) | EDM 25, HAM 23
Jake Julien 62-yard punt single (11:01, Q4) | EDM 26, HAM 23
Marc Liegghio 47-yard field goal (6:27, Q4) | EDM 26, HAM 26
Marc Liegghio 21-yard field goal (0:53, Q4) | HAM 29, EDM 26
Vincent Blanchard 27-yard field goal (0:02, Q4) | HAM 29, EDM 29
Marc Liegghio 42-yard field goal (OT) | HAM 32, EDM 29
Vincent Blanchard 37-yard field goal (OT) | HAM 32, EDM 32
Vincent Blanchard 35-yard field goal (OT) | EDM 35, HAM 32
Marc Liegghio 12-yard field goal (OT) | EDM 35, HAM 35
NEXT UP
The Tiger-Cats will remain on the road in Week 18 when they meet the Ottawa REDBLACKS for the first time this season on Friday, October 2. Hamilton has claimed four of the past five matchups against Ottawa.
Meanwhile, the Elks will get the week off before taking on the Tiger-Cats once again on Friday, October 9, this time at Hamilton Stadium.