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TORONTO — Tre Ford has the Edmonton Elks on one other house streak.
Edmonton (4-10) will chase a 3rd consecutive victory at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday night time when it hosts the B.C. Lions (9-4). The Elks are 4-2 since Ford, of Niagara Falls, Ont., turned the beginning quarterback, however these wins have come over the membership’s final 5 contests.
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Ford helped Edmonton snap a doubtful 22-game house shedding streak final month with a 30-20 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks. The Elks then added a 25-23 choice over Calgary at Commonwealth Stadium on Sept. 9.
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Ford, Canadian College’s high participant in 2021 whereas at Waterloo, offers opposing defences two considerations. Since changing into the starter, Ford has accomplished 81-of-117 passes (69.2 per cent) for 1,163 yards with seven touchdowns and 4 interceptions, registering a career-best 317 yards within the victory over Ottawa.
However the six-foot-one, 185-pound Ford, Edmonton’s ’22 first-round decide, has additionally rushed for 471 yards and three TDs in 47 carries, over that span. And the 25-year-old quarterback has helped rally the Elks to comeback wins over Calgary and Saskatchewan of their final two video games.
Ford hasn’t accomplished it alone.
Operating again Kevin Brown has run for 662 yards on 86 carries (7.7-yard common) with three TDs over Edmonton’s final six video games. He has been particularly dominant on the bottom the final two contests, speeding for 143 and 175 yards, respectively.
That’s additionally a testomony to the play of Edmonton’s offensive line, and the Elks’ resolve each time they do fall behind. And when Ford takes off, a wholesome Eugene Lewis — the East Division’s excellent participant final season — anchors a strong receiving corps.
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However B.C. (9-4) will once more current a strong problem. The Lions haven’t solely gained the 2 earlier conferences with the Elks to clinch the season sequence, each victories have been shutouts (22-0 at B.C. Place on June 17, 27-0 at Commonwealth on July 29).
The Lions are additionally coming off an emotional 41-37 house win over Ottawa, rallying from a 19-point deficit. That victory was B.C. head coach Rick Campbell’s seventieth, the identical quantity his father, Hugh, amassed throughout his illustrious CFL profession.
Edmonton has the CFL’s high speeding assault (133.4 yards per recreation) however is ranked a distant eighth in passing (209.8 yards per recreation). So the onus shall be on B.C. to restrict the Elks’ floor recreation and put them in second-and-long passing conditions, one thing that’s been simpler mentioned than accomplished with the elusive Ford beneath centre.
However Ford has thrown for greater than 200 yards simply as soon as in his six begins, and the Lions have the CFL’s third-ranked move defence (239.5 yards per recreation).
B.C. can safe a CFL playoff spot with a win however would additionally achieve this with a loss if Montreal dispatched Calgary this week.
The Lions have additionally gained six straight video games versus the Elks. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. has thrown for 300 or extra yards in 5 consecutive contests, having compiled 1,732 yards and 14 TDs in that span.
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Choose: B.C.
Saskatchewan Roughriders versus Ottawa Redblacks (Friday night time)
At Ottawa, the Redblacks (3-10), who’ve misplaced seven straight, shall be with out veteran kicker Lewis Ward (season-ending torn pectoral muscle). Final week’s defeat in B.C. has been the story of Ottawa’s season as 5 of these seven losses have been by 4 or fewer factors. Saskatchewan (6-7) allowed 265 speeding yards final week towards Edmonton and faces an offence that’s third general in that class (131.3 yards per recreation) and incorporates a cellular quarterback (Dustin Crum).
Choose: Saskatchewan.
Montreal Alouettes versus Calgary Stampeders (Saturday afternoon)
At Calgary, the Stampeders (4-9) are coming off the bye. CFL groups are 12-4 following the break and 10-3 at house. That’s not excellent news for Montreal (6-7), which has dropped 4 straight and is taking part in for a ninth consecutive week. The Alouettes are additionally 2-4 versus the West Division and misplaced 23-20 at house final week to Toronto after David Cote’s late game-tying discipline objective strive was blocked. Then once more, the Stamps are simply 2-4 at McMahon Stadium and 2-3 dealing with East Division opponents.
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Choose: Calgary.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats versus Toronto Argonauts (Saturday night time)
At Toronto, an intriguing matchup because the Argos (11-1) have gained 5 straight and cemented not solely the season sequence (3-0) however first within the East Division. What’s value watching now could be how the defending Gray Cup champs handle their closing six regular-season video games. Hamilton (6-7) is in a battle for third with Montreal and has gained two straight. Rookie Taylor Powell is 0-2 versus Toronto however 3-1 in his final 4 begins, passing for 1,080 yards and eight TDs whereas speeding for 79 yards.
Choose: Hamilton.
Final week: 2-2.
General: 41-18.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Sept. 20, 2023.
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