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The Edmonton Elks lastly managed to place up some factors in opposition to the B.C. Lions. Simply not sufficient of them.
Coming in having gained 4 out of their final 5 in a last-ditch playoff push, Friday’s 37-29 loss might very properly have put the Elks within the ditch on a season that started 0-9.
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Sitting 4-11 with simply three video games remaining, the Elks stay on the skin trying in on the Canadian Soccer League’s playoff image.
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“We acquired outplayed in all three phases. I believed, offensively, defensively and within the kicking sport they beat us on this sport,” mentioned Elks head coach and common supervisor Chris Jones, whose squad was swept 3-0 within the season sequence in opposition to the Lions this 12 months. “We’re nearer than possibly what we have been, however you don’t get comfort prizes for dropping the soccer sport.”
The Lions, who improved to 10-4, have been the primary workforce with a profitable document the Elks have confronted since discovering their profitable methods.
Vernon Adams Jr. accomplished 16 of 26 for 265 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, whereas Taquan Mitchell had 112 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries within the victory.
Tre Ford accomplished 20 of 27 for 182 yards and two touchdowns, however the fleet-footed quarterback was held to 43 yards on 5 carries, as Edmonton’s 219 yards of internet offence was overshadowed by B.C.’s 423 yards.
“They did a very good job game-planning, they have been ready for me,” Ford mentioned. “I couldn’t get out of the pocket and scramble a lot. They simply did a very good job containing me.
“Although I nonetheless thought we didn’t execute to the extent we needed to, it was positively a step ahead. The final two instances we performed them, we didn’t rating any factors and looking out again final 12 months, they blew us out a complete bunch. So, positively a step in the proper course.”
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The Lions opened with a seven-play, 63-yard drive that noticed Adams go five-for-five with 4 first downs and a landing, a five-yarder to Justin McInnis to guide 7-0.
As much as that time, B.C. had outscored Edmonton 54-0 on the season sequence, following shutouts of 22-0 and 27-0.
However the Elks acquired on the board Friday when rookie cornerback Kai Grey intercepted a go down the sideline and took it 56 yards the opposite method to tie the sport 7-7.
The Lions struck proper again with a swing go to Jevon Cottoy, who sidestepped a sort out by rookie protection linebacker Mark McLaurin to interrupt free for a 57-yard landing to guide 14-0.
Earlier than the primary quarter was accomplished, B.C. went forward 21-0 after a 68-yard Terry Williams punt return arrange a three-play, 24-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard landing run by Mizzell.
B.C. led the best way with 183 yards to simply 13 by Edmonton after quarter-hour. And a sack by defensive sort out Woody Baron on Ford 15 yards behind the road of scrimmage gave the house facet unfavourable yards to point out.
With 5:39 left within the half, Elks defensive halfback Darrius Bratton stepped in entrance of a go meant for McInnis put the ball again in Ford’s arms. However it slipped again out on the subsequent sequence, when former Elks defensive finish Mathieu Betts triggered a strip-sack for a lack of 12 yards, giving Edmonton 27 yards on the night time.
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However they gained some traction after McLaurin pounced on a fumble by Mizzell, resulting in a 33-yard catch up the center by a leaping Eugene Lewis into the crimson zone. It arrange a 10-yard landing reception by Dillon Mitchell to path 21-14, marking Edmonton’s first offensive factors in opposition to B.C. in 148:34 of play this season.
The 2 sides then traded discipline objectives to ship it into halftime with a 24-17 Lions lead, with B.C.’s Sean Whyte chipping one from the crimson zone and Edmonton rookie Dean Faithfull making good from 41 yards out.
Faithfull made dangerous from the identical distance to open second-half scoring with a missed single, as Edmonton trailed 24-18, earlier than hitting from 42 yards out with 5 minutes remaining within the third quarter to tug inside a discipline purpose of B.C.’s lead.
The Lions responded with a 21-yard catch by Alexander Hollins, earlier than the subsequent snap noticed Mizzell break for a 48-yard landing to go forward 31-21 heading into the fourth quarter.
A coach’s problem that resulted in defensive go interference in opposition to B.C. noticed the Elks lengthen a seven-play, 64-yard drive that included a conversion on third-and-six, and resulted in a four-yard landing catch by Mitchell to path 34-28 simply contained in the three-minute mark.
However they wouldn’t be capable to repeat the feat on one other third-and-six try on their final gasp with 1:15 remaining, as a scrambling Ford acquired hauled down by his shoestrings on a sack by Sione Teuhema.
Whyte added a 40-yard discipline purpose within the last minute to seal B.C.’s lead, earlier than the Elks added a single on a 64-yard punt as they deliberately tried a missed discipline purpose in hopes the Lions would bobble it ultimately zone.
E-mail: [email protected]
On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
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