Justin Rankin scored three rushing touchdowns to lead the Edmonton Elks to a decisive 40-17 victory over the winless Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday night at Commonwealth Stadium.
Rankin dominates on the ground
Rankin carried the ball 18 times for 112 yards and three touchdowns, including a 45-yard burst in the third quarter that put the game out of reach. The Elks' running back also added two catches for 23 yards.
Edmonton quarterback Tre Ford completed 15 of 22 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 54 yards on six carries. Ford's aerial strike went to receiver Dillon Mitchell, who hauled in a 32-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Redblacks struggle continues
Ottawa, now 0-4 on the season, managed just 287 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli completed 19 of 31 passes for 206 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The Redblacks' lone touchdown came on a 12-yard pass from Masoli to receiver Nate Behar in the fourth quarter.
"We just couldn't get anything going consistently," said Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce. "Edmonton's defense did a good job of taking away our run game and putting pressure on Jeremiah."
Elks' defense steps up
The Elks' defense forced three turnovers, including interceptions by defensive backs Aaron Grymes and Jonathon Mincy. Edmonton also sacked Masoli four times, with defensive end Kwaku Boateng recording two sacks.
"Our defense set the tone early," said Elks head coach Jarious Jackson. "We knew they were hungry for a win, and we wanted to make sure we came out with the right mentality."
Special teams contribute
Edmonton kicker Sean Whyte added four field goals (37, 42, 28, 45 yards) and four extra points. The Elks' special teams also pinned Ottawa deep in their own territory on several occasions, with punter Jake Julien averaging 44.8 yards per punt.
Ottawa kicker Lewis Ward connected on a 32-yard field goal in the first quarter, but missed a 47-yard attempt in the third.
Game summary
The Elks took control early, scoring 17 points in the first quarter on a Rankin 1-yard touchdown run, a Whyte field goal, and a safety. Edmonton led 23-3 at halftime after Rankin's second touchdown and Ford's pass to Mitchell.
Rankin's third touchdown early in the third quarter extended the lead to 30-3. Ottawa scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late as Edmonton added another Whyte field goal and a late touchdown run by backup running back Kevin Brown.
With the win, the Elks improved to 2-2 on the season, while the Redblacks remain winless at 0-4. Edmonton will host the Saskatchewan Roughriders next week, while Ottawa travels to face the Toronto Argonauts.
