EDMONTON 鈥� In two previous meetings this season, the B.C. Lions have outscored the Edmonton Elks by a combined score of 49-0.
Two blowouts. Two shutouts.聽
But that was then, when the Elks were in the midst of a nine-game losing streak to begin the season. Now, with Tre Ford at quarterback, the Elks have won four of their last five, and in that span they are averaging more than 200 yards rushing per game.聽
The 9-4 Lions can clinch a playoff spot if they can beat the Elks again when the teams meet Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium. But they know it will be a much different Elks team than they saw earlier this season.
Lions鈥� coach Rick Campbell said Ford鈥檚 ability to zig and zag out of the pocket, and to beat teams with either his throwing arm or his legs, will be something the Lions will need to focus on.
鈥淭he game doesn鈥檛 seem too big for him,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淵ou can tell he鈥檚 got a calmness to him. He鈥檚 not flustered. And obviously, he鈥檚 fast. He鈥檚 not kind of fast. You鈥檝e got to do a really good job against him and they鈥檝e got other good athletes on offence, too. It鈥檒l be a tall task.鈥澛�
One of those 鈥渙ther good athletes on offence鈥� is Elks running back Kevin Brown, who has been almost unstoppable of late as part of the Elks' re-energized rushing attack. Brown has dashed for 318 yards over the last two games, wins over Calgary and Saskatchewan. And he said it all begins with an offensive line that鈥檚 found itself over the last month.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been more aggressive up front,鈥� said Brown. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e getting push, they鈥檙e standing them up at the line, and they鈥檙e giving me big massive holes that you could drive a semi-truck through. They鈥檙e more physical out there."
Ford鈥檚 mobility 鈥� the quarterback dashed for 70 yards last week, and has shown an uncanny ability to shake the pass rush 鈥� forces defences to worry about more than one set of legs out there. If Brown doesn鈥檛 get the ball, Ford can pull it down and scamper for big plays.
鈥淗is explosiveness is giving them a chance right now,鈥� said Lions defensive lineman Mathieu Betts of Ford. 鈥淚n my opinion, they play way better than the two times we鈥檝e played them previously. 鈥�
Elks general manager and coach Chris Jones says there are key facets of the game his team needs to control.
鈥淲e just want to be assertive in our run game,鈥� he said. 鈥淥n the flipside of the coin, we鈥檝e got to get where we can stop the run. Those are the two things, you start right there. Then there鈥檚 protecting your quarterback and getting to their quarterback. Those are the things you have to do.鈥�
And, like Brown, he鈥檚 been impressed by the improvement of the offensive line.
鈥淓ach one of those guys, they鈥檝e done a good job. They鈥檝e taken it upon themselves to show up every day and work. They put a lot of time in the weight room, and I鈥檓 proud of the progression they鈥檝e made.鈥�
At 4-10, the Elks are barely hanging on in the race for the CFL playoffs. Winning four of their last five might be a case of too little, too late. But this is an Elks team that, for the first time since the 2010s, is fun to watch.聽
Cynics will note that the four wins came against Hamilton, Ottawa, Calgary and Saskatchewan, none of whom rank as top-tier teams in the league. The truest test of how far this team has come since Ford took over as quarterback will come when a legitimate Grey Cup contender visits the Alberta capital.聽
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 21, 2023.
Steven Sandor, The Canadian Press
