Elks down Tiger-Cats 29-25 for first win of CFL season
Jalen Collins recovered a fumble and scored on a 14-yard return in the fourth quarter to give the Edmonton Elks their first win of the season with a 29-25 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday.
Elks defensive back Jeawon Taylor stripped Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans of the ball on a rush to the outside. Collins recovered for his game-winning score with one minute 38 seconds remaining in the game.
Hamilton's offence then progressed to the Elks' 30-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs.
Elks rookie quarterback Tre Ford of Niagara Falls, Ont., completed 15 of 26 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown in his first CFL career start. Ford was intercepted once.
Evans was 20-for-31 in passing for 197 yards and a touchdown throw. He was intercepted twice.
Edmonton improved to 1-3, while Hamilton has lost four in a row to start a season for the first time since going 0-8 in 2017.
Elks head coach Chris Jones has never begun a season with four consecutive losses.
Down 10 points to start the third quarter, the Elks yielded a 33-yard field goal to Hamilton before booting field goals of their own from 38 and 32 yards.
The Elks trailed 22-15 entering the final quarter.
Edmonton's Matthew Thomas picked off Evans, his sixth interception of the season, to start the fourth quarter.
That set up Ford's first career touchdown pass of 10 yards to Kenny Lawler to tie the game 22-22.
Hamilton pulled ahead on Michael Donagala's 33-field goal with 3:11 remaining before Collins gave the visitors the lead.
The Ticats debuted an alternate steel grey uniform with yellow name plates and black numbers.
During a timeout midway through the first quarter, the CFL club honoured the OHL champion and Memorial Cup finalist Hamilton Bulldogs.
Hamilton led 16-6 after the first quarter. Hemmed near their goal line, the Elks conceded a safety after their opening drive.
The home side marched for an opening touchdown on its next possession.
Evans threw for his fifth touchdown of the season, hitting receiver Steven Dunbar with a 21-yard strike and a 9-0 lead.
Ford appeared more relaxed on his second drive. He led the Elks down the field for a score in 13 plays, resulting in a one-yard scoring run by Kai Locksley on third-and-one.
Edmonton missed the extra point, but Lawrence Woods grabbed the ensuing kickoff for a 72-yard touchdown return.In an unproductive second quarter, the Elks scored a single off a 59-yard field goal attempt from Sergio Castillo.
A late 25-yard field goal from Domagala extended Hamilton's lead, but the Ticats were forced to settle for a safety in the final minute.
Kameron Kelly intercepted a late first-half pass from Ford at Hamilton's 15-yard line to preserve the 10-point advantage at halftime.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 1, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.