Elks rout Argonauts 42-12 behind Ross's 85-yard pick-six
Edmonton improved to 7-3 on the season, snapping a two-game skid and staying within striking distance of Saskatchewan atop the CFL's West Division.
The Edmonton Elks defeated the visiting Toronto Argonauts 42-12 on Saturday, ending a two-game losing streak and improving to 7-3. J.J. Ross's 85-yard interception return for a touchdown highlighted the win, and he added a late interception to seal it. Toronto fell to 4-5, snapping a two-game winning streak.
Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 25 of 31 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown without an interception, while backup Cole Snyder, Justin Rankin and Joshua Cephus each scored rushing or receiving touchdowns for Edmonton. Kicker Vincent Blanchard converted all four of his field-goal attempts. Toronto's Chad Kelly threw for 265 yards on 21-of-31 passing with one interception, and backup Nick Arbuckle scored the Argonauts' only touchdown.
The game was tight in the first half, with Edmonton leading just 11-9 before Toronto briefly pulled ahead 12-11 late in the second quarter on Arbuckle's touchdown. Edmonton then pulled away in the second half, adding field goals and touchdowns from Rankin and Cephus before Ross's pick-six put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter.
The win keeps Edmonton, which hasn't made the playoffs since 2019, in contention behind the 6-2 Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division. The Elks host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers next Friday, while the Argonauts host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.