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The Edmonton Elks picked up the 2023 season proper the place they left off the final one.

And the one earlier than that.

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And the one earlier than that one. With yet one more loss at dwelling. This one, 17-13, to the Saskatchewan Roughriders to stretch their Canadian Soccer League report stretch of consecutive losses at Commonwealth Stadium to 18 video games.

And counting …

“That’s a really poor query. Who can’t level to that?” Elks head coach and basic supervisor Chris Jones stated, chastising reporters in his post-game scrum for mentioning the streak. “If we have been taking part in on the highway, it could be simply as huge.

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“Are we upset? Hell, yeah. We’re upset. However on the similar time, we’ve received to return out no matter the place we play as a result of in six days, thank God, we’re taking part in a sport over in B.C.”

Trailing 17-13 with 4:20 left within the fourth quarter, the Elks had a contemporary set of downs to punch it in from the one yard-line.

And three straight occasions, the Roughriders defence stopped them quick, arising with a goal-line stand to begin their season 1-0. And it occurred in entrance of 32,233 introduced within the stands, which works down as the biggest Commonwealth crowd for a season-opener since 2013.

“We’re not simply going to harp on that. I imply, that’s in regards to the worst query I might face,” Jones stated, as soon as once more critiquing the subject of dialog earlier than operating by means of a laundry listing of others he might have been requested. “What in regards to the 5 penalties within the first 12 performs? What in regards to the truth I ought to have took a security there after we punt the ball and quit an explosion?

“There’s loads of issues to level at, so if you wish to be an off-the-cuff fan … there’s loads of issues that we’ve received to right.”

Making his twenty first begin with the Elks, and first on opening day, Taylor Cornelius was 13 of 25 for 202 yards, a landing and two interceptions. Eugene Lewis had 5 catches for a game-high 148 yards in his debut in inexperienced and gold.

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Trevor Harris accomplished 20 of 34 for 179 yards, a landing and two interceptions in his inaugural Roughriders look, whereas Jamal Morrow carried 14 occasions for 80 dashing yards, with Saskatchewan taking a 305-244 benefit in internet yards.

“Offensively, we’ve simply received to complete within the purple zone,” stated Cornelius, who’s now 4-17 as a starter. “We have been down there a number of occasions and the final time, clearly, didn’t come away with factors.

“However we’ve received to attain touchdowns over area targets and we are able to’t shoot ourselves within the foot and take penalties that backed us up behind the sticks and issues like that. And I’ve received to play higher too.”

The Roughriders took a 7-0 lead 6:09 in on a four-yard connection from former Elks quarterback Harris to former Elks receiver Derel Walker, on a drive that had already started in field-goal vary after Edmonton elected to punt from the very again of their finish zone.

Whereas the ball travelled to midfield, an Elks penalty on the play (and the one earlier than that, and the one earlier than that one) arrange Saskatchewan on the 30 yard-line.

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Elks protection linebacker Enock Makonzo compelled the ball unfastened on the 25 that was scooped up by security Louchiez Purifoy and returned to the tip zone, solely to be negated by the ruling of an incomplete go as an alternative of a fumble.

Lewis’s first reception in inexperienced and gold went for 12 yards to succeed in Saskatchewan territory for the primary time, with slightly below 4 minutes left within the opening quarter.

They reached the purple zone on a hitch go to Kevin Brown, who trundled his technique to a primary down, earlier than incomplete passes to Lewis and Steven Dunbar Jr. introduced out the field-goal unit for a 17-yard chip shot by rookie kicker Dean Faithfull to path 7-3 with 1:24 to play.

Saskatchewan’s subsequent drive was stymied by a sack enhances of Jake Ceresna, who adopted up with a celebratory somersault, solely to collide with an unwary official, which resulted in one other in a protracted rash of penalties Edmonton dedicated early.

However the first play of the second quarter confirmed precisely why the Elks pulled out all of the stops within the low season to herald the highest free-agent receiver available on the market, as Lewis climbed the ladder over Clark alongside the sideline earlier than trotting in a 102-yard landing for a 10-7 lead.

Saskatchewan marched right down to the doorstep of the tip zone, the place operating again Frankie Hickson was stood up on the line earlier than bouncing exterior and being chased down by Elks defensive finish A.C. Leonard, leading to a 12-yard area objective by Brett Lauther to tie the sport, 10-10, with 3:25 to go within the half.

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The Roughriders took a 14-13 lead into the ultimate body after a field-goal fest of a 3rd quarter. It started with Lauther lacking from 33 yards to take an 11-10 lead. The lead flip flopped with a 43-yard area objective from Faithfull, adopted by an 11-yarder by Lauther.

An interception on Cornelius by Roughriders defensive halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. arrange a 45-yard area objective to go forward by the 4 factors that ended up making the distinction within the sport with 11:37 left on the clock.

Elks center linebacker Nyles Morgan laid out to intercept a go from Harris to present his offence the ball again inside Saskatchewan’s 30 yard-line.

Defensive pass-interference referred to as towards Milligan, whereas masking Lewis, moved scrimmage as much as the one yard-line. That introduced in short-yardage quarterback Kai Locksley.

However three failed quarterback keepers later, the Roughriders received the ball again on a turnover-on-downs to expire the final 4:20 remaining.

E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge

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