Elks can clinch West Division top spot in Friday rematch with Ticats
The 11-4 Edmonton Elks visit Hamilton Stadium with a chance to lock up a home playoff game, a month after Vincent Blanchard kicked a CFL-record nine field goals in a double-overtime win.
Quarterback Harrison Frost and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-11) host the Edmonton Elks (11-4) at Hamilton Stadium on Friday night, looking for payback after Edmonton's 37-35 double-overtime victory on Sept. 26 eliminated Hamilton from playoff contention. In that game, Vincent Blanchard set a CFL record with nine field goals, and Cody Fajardo's two-point shootout pass to Joshua Cephus sealed the win after Hamilton had rallied from a 25-16 fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime.
Edmonton has already clinched a playoff spot but can secure top spot in the West Division with a win Friday combined with an Ottawa victory over B.C. The Elks can also lock up a home playoff game with a win and a Saskatchewan loss to Winnipeg on Saturday. Fajardo, who is 7-3 against Hamilton for his career, has set personal season highs with 4,439 passing yards and 23 touchdowns.
Frost threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in the earlier loss to Edmonton, then bounced back with 342 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-16 road win over Ottawa, a game in which receiver Kenny Lawler had six catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns to earn CFL player of the week. Running back Larry Rountree III rushed for 128 yards against Ottawa after gaining 91 yards and a touchdown versus Edmonton.
Edmonton last swept a two-game season series against Hamilton in 2017. Before Friday's game, the Ticats will add former running back Troy Davis, the franchise's all-time leader in carries, yards and 100-yard games, to their Wall of Honour.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.