Edmonton Elks' remaining schedule the hardest in the complete CFL

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There isn’t a warmer group within the Canadian Soccer League’s West Division proper now than the Edmonton Elks.

Sure, the identical downtrodden Elks who began the yr by nosediving to a franchise-worst 0-9 file have all of a sudden change into one of many hardest to beat, profitable 4 of their final 5 to by some means keep alive within the playoff hunt inside their very own division, regardless of showing all however lifeless within the water by the season’s midpoint.

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After all, sitting 4-10 with simply 4 video games remaining, it was all the time going to take a miracle for Edmonton to achieve the post-season, even through a possible japanese crossover.

And that doesn’t change this week with the B.C. Lions visiting Commonwealth Stadium on Friday (7:30 p.m., TSN, 630 CHED).

Particularly because the Elks have but to register a single level towards the Lions in not one however two earlier conferences this season, falling by embarrassments of 22-0 in Week 2, and 27-0 in Week 8, earlier than head coach and basic supervisor Chris Jones overhauled the offence by shifting gears to a brand new offensive coordinator in Jarious Jackson, and a brand new beginning quarterback in Tre Ford.

And it’s confirmed nothing however profitable, resulting in a lift in scoring to the tune of 29 factors per recreation over the six video games to ensue, up from a measly common of 13 factors over their first eight video games.

To place into perspective simply how deep a gap they dug themselves early on, that 29-point common can be adequate for third total proper now. However all totalled, the 20 factors per recreation the Elks are scoring this season remains to be a league low.

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However at this level, they’ll take any and all factors as they arrive.

They usually’ve simply so occurred to be coming at some fairly opportune instances currently.

Over the previous six video games below Ford, the Elks have led every one by at the very least a landing.

And in each of the final two, Edmonton has shut out the opposition by a mixed 34-0 in fourth quarters on the best way to mounting comebacks from double-digit deficits for the win.

It has been a very exceptional turnaround, and one powered by a floor recreation the likes of which the league hasn’t witnessed in twenty years.

With Jackson calling the performs, the Elks offence has averaged 205 speeding yards in every of their final six video games, together with posting performances of 200-yards-plus within the final three video games — a mark final completed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders again in 2002.

The final group to breach the 200-yard mark on the bottom in 4 straight video games was Edmonton in 1991 on their technique to making it seven in a row.

In his final two video games, Elks working again Kevin Brown rushed a mixed 34 instances for 318 yards and two touchdowns, with a 9.4 yards-per-carry common the likes of which he made a reputation for himself with throughout his NCAA Division 1 days with Incarnate Phrase.

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And if that wasn’t sufficient of a lift to the bottom recreation, Ford has adopted go well with with at the very least 50 speeding yards in every of his six begins this season, together with 4 of 70-plus yards and a career-high 135-yard efficiency within the Labour Day loss.

“A number of the issues which have helped us within the run recreation, Tre’s scramble numbers are going so as to add one other 70 yards to your complete,” mentioned Jones. “That’s to not diminish something that we’ve carried out, as a result of definitely we’ve handed the ball off to our tailback and carried out some good issues. However then, you’ve acquired to consider additionally a scrambling quarterback.

“He extends drives to provide you extra alternatives to run the soccer. And people yards depend as speeding yards. And he’s carried out a pleasant job. I imply, he’s most likely averaged, I might assume, 70 yards a recreation since he’s been taking part in.”

The actual problem for the Elks begins Friday, the place an Edmonton victory can be the primary of the season towards an opponent with a profitable file.

Thus far, the Elks have defeated Ottawa (now 3-10), Hamilton (6-7), Calgary (4-9) and Saskatchewan (6-7), whereas the Lions, at 9-4, are one in all simply three groups with extra wins than losses.

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So far as the lay of the land over the remaining 4 video games in terms of the mixed file of opponents, the Elks have the hardest remaining schedule within the league with B.C., Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg combining for a .692 win proportion.

Thankfully, Ottawa (.635), Hamilton (.563) and Calgary (.561) have the subsequent hardest schedules remaining, which all occur to be the three groups Edmonton would want to beat out to safe a crossover spot.

LAY OF THE LAND
​(Workforce | Remaining opponents | Mixed file)

West Division

Winnipeg | Bye, TOR, @B.C., Bye, EDM, @CGY | 28-24 (.538)
B.C. | @EDM, SSK, WPG, @HAM, CGY, Bye | 30-37 (.448)
Saskatchewan | @OTT, @B.C., HAM, @CGY, TOR, Bye | 33-31 (.516)
Calgary | MTL, @HAM, Bye, SSK, @B.C., WPG | 37-29 (.561)
Edmonton | B.C., Bye, @TOR, MTL, @WPG, Bye | 36-16 (.692)

East Division

Toronto | HAM, @WPG, EDM, OTT, @SSK, @OTT | 32-48 (.400)
Montreal | @CGY, @OTT, OTT, @EDM, Bye, HAM | 20-46 (.303)
Hamilton | @TOR, CGY, @SSK, B.C., Bye, @MTL | 36-28 (.563)
Ottawa | SSK, MTL, @MTL, @TOR, Bye, TOR | 40-23 (.635)

BEAR TRACKS

The Elks aren’t the one Edmonton group to get their floor recreation going this yr.

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Fourth-year College of Alberta Golden Bears working again Matthew Peterson carried the load in a 26-22 victory over the the No. 3-ranked College of Saskatchewan Huskies on the street Friday.

His career-high 191 speeding yards contributed to 295 all-purpose yards, together with a 104-yard run within the third quarter that not solely set a brand new college file, however cracked the U Sports activities top-10 of all-time.

After a 3-0 begin to the season, the Bears are presently ranked ninth within the nation, with their subsequent recreation on the street Friday (7 p.m.) towards the equally undefeated College of British Columbia Thunderbirds within the battle over first place in Canada West.

E-mail: [email protected]

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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