‘Towards the tip of the sport, we had been going to need to provide you with a giant cease to assist our crew out’
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There was a time in Edmonton when speaking a couple of Chris Jones defence was the identical factor as calling it dominant.
On the way in which to the 2015 Gray Cup championship through the head coach’s earlier time on the house sideline of Commonwealth Stadium, the double-E defence was not solely the stingiest squad within the Canadian Soccer League when it got here to permitting factors, but in addition made contributing to the scoring a routine.
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Final week, the Edmonton Elks confirmed shades of a few of that former glory on the way in which to arising with a victory-sealing security that put issues out of attain for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a 36-27 win at Mosaic Stadium.
For the Elks, it was the following essential step in a last-ditch effort to salvage an 0-9 begin to the season with a late push that has seen them go on to win 4 of their final 5 video games. The one hotter crew proper now’s the first-place Toronto Argonauts, who’re on a five-game win streak.
For Saskatchewan, it was the primary time falling to the Elks this yr after squeaking by with wins separated by a mixed 5 factors of their two earlier conferences that made up the season collection.
The opposite two noticed Edmonton fall quick by one yard, as Saskatchewan got here up with back-to-back-to-back goal-line stands within the season-opener, earlier than Edmonton allowed them to attain the game-winning rouge of their second assembly.
On Friday, the Roughriders had been trailing by a landing late within the sport when a coffin-corner punt became the nail of their coffin, when the Elks adopted up by scoring a security sack that tipped the scales of their favour to a two-score lead.
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With two minutes remaining within the fourth quarter, Jake Dolegala took the snap out of the shotgun whereas standing in his personal finish zone. And the Roughriders quarterback wouldn’t make it again out, getting grabbed from behind by Sam Acheampong, whereas fellow Elks defensive lineman Jake Ceresna barricaded the goal-line for the help.
“There have been a few scores we gave up early the place it was form of on the defence and we simply knew the offence was going to get us again within the sport,” Ceresna advised 630 CHED post-game. “And towards the tip of the sport, we had been going to need to provide you with a giant cease to assist our crew out too.
“So, it was simply all three phases taking part in properly and it’s a collective win.”
The Elks resurgence started at across the identical time Jones made the swap at quarterback to Tre Ford, and at offensive co-ordinator to Jarious Jackson, which has had a outstanding trickle-down impact by the remainder of the crew.
The Elks working sport has been second to none over that span, whereas going hand in hand with an offensive line that was singled out Tuesday on the CFL’s Honour Roll as the highest unit of the week.
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Defensively, with the offence contributing extra towards time of possession, the Elks have been in a position to catch their breath in a while in video games, and have now backstopped consecutive fourth-quarter comeback efforts.
“Anytime you’ve got No. 2 taking part in quarterback for you, I simply imagine we’ve got an opportunity to win the sport,” Ceresna stated. “I imply, it’s simply enjoyable to look at, man, simply to see what sort of athlete he’s and run round.
“I’m certain you guys are having the identical ideas, what an athlete that man is. And the power for him to make performs and lengthen performs. It takes me again to 2018, taking part in with Mike Reilly, the place you simply knew one thing particular was going to occur. I simply assume he’s a particular man and there’s no ceiling for that man, you understand? Sky’s the restrict.”
It must also be famous Edmonton’s first factors of the sport got here on a catch by defensive lineman A.C. Leonard, who for the second time this season caught a cross from short-yardage quarterback Taylor Cornelius on a second-and-one faux. This one went 10 yards for a landing to get the Elks on the board within the second quarter.
“Properly, we bought hit with the identical factor. It was the identical actual play,” Jones stated of a little bit of trickery by Saskatchewan on second-and-inches that went 57 yards downfield within the third quarter. “However A.C.’s participant. He was, like, the No. 1 or 2 tight finish within the (U.S.) out of highschool, so he’s an amazing athlete that may do a whole lot of issues.
“Wally Buono thought sufficient of him to convey him to camp as a receiver in B.C. a very long time in the past.”
E-mail: [email protected]
On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
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