Justin Rankin, Tre Ford Light Up Field in Elks’ First Victory of the Season
What a night it was in Edmonton! The Elks finally broke their winless streak in electrifying fashion, claiming their first victory of the season with a 39-33 triumph over the Ottawa Redblacks. It was a rollercoaster of a game with explosive plays, key turnovers, and incredible special teams action. And at the heart of it all? Justin Rankin and Tre Ford, who put on a show for the home fans at Commonwealth Stadium.
Right from the opening drive, the Elks were locked in. Tre Ford, calm and composed in the pocket, dropped a perfectly timed pass to Rankin, who then shrugged off a defender and took it 45 yards to the house. That quick strike set the tone. Ford didn’t stop there—he completed 15 of 17 passes on the night, finished with 212 yards, and hit two touchdowns, ending with a flawless quarterback rating of 158.3. That’s about as clean a performance as you’ll see under center.
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But the real fireworks came from Rankin, who delivered two massive touchdowns, including a jaw-dropping 74-yard run up the middle in the third quarter. He finished the game with over 170 combined yards rushing and receiving. It was clear every time he touched the ball that something special might happen.
Special teams added to the madness. Javon Leake ignited the stadium with a 94-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter—the first of its kind for Edmonton since 2015. But Ottawa wasn't about to be outdone. Kalil Pimpleton answered back with a 97-yard return touchdown of his own before halftime, making it one of the wildest special teams quarters the CFL has seen in years.
Even with Ottawa’s quarterback Dru Brown back from injury and trying to push for another 400-yard passing game, Edmonton's defense held him in check just enough. Brown still managed 316 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to claw back the deficit. Despite a late touchdown to Andre Miller in the dying seconds, the Redblacks just couldn’t close the gap.
For a team that had only five wins at home since the pandemic and carried a notorious 22-game home losing streak during that time, this victory meant more than just one in the win column. It was a spark, a sign that this team under new head coach Mark Kilam might finally be turning the corner.
Up next, Ottawa will try to regroup against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while the Elks prepare to host the B.C. Lions. But for now, Elks fans can finally exhale and celebrate. It’s not just that they won—it’s how they did it. With grit, big plays, and two standout performances from Rankin and Ford that reminded everyone just how exciting CFL football can be.
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