Elks’ Rankin and Jackson shine in dominant victory
Justin Rankin of the Edmonton Elks delivered a notable performance in Week 6, contributing significantly to his team’s 40-17 win. Rankin rushed 14 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching three passes for 43 yards and a score. This effort positions him closer to potentially becoming the first CFL player to achieve 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season, having already accumulated 513 rushing yards and 297 receiving yards through five games. His impactful play included a 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a 33-yard touchdown from a swing pass, showcasing his ability to evade defenders.
Defensively, Elks defensive back Kordell Jackson was a key player, recording three defensive tackles, two interceptions, and two pass knockdowns against Ottawa. Both interceptions occurred on contested catches, marking his first career game with two picks in his three-year CFL career. The Elks‘ defence as a whole forced four turnovers and recorded two sacks, allowing only 337 net yards. This strong defensive showing helped the Elks reclaim the top spot in the CFL for yards allowed per play. Defensive Coordinator J.C. Sherritt was recognized as Coach of the Week for the team’s dominant performance.
Blue Bombers’ Vaval sets franchise record, Alouettes’ Philpot impresses
Trey Vaval of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the reigning Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, had an exceptional outing. Despite an early fumble, Vaval responded by returning a missed field goal 129 yards for a touchdown, establishing a new franchise record. He concluded the game with 332 return yards on 11 attempts. His crucial play followed a defensive effort by Willie Jefferson, who disrupted a Toronto Argonauts drive, leading to a missed field goal that Vaval then returned for a score. Jefferson, at 35 years old, made an impact with a delayed blitz that forced an errant throw, contributing to the drive’s stall.
In Montreal, Tyson Philpot of the Montreal Alouettes continued his strong start to the season. He currently leads the league in several statistical categories, averaging 143.8 yards per game. His lowest receiving yardage in a game this season was 76 yards, accompanied by a touchdown. During Week 6, the Alouettes executed a trick play where Tyler Snead caught a bubble screen and then threw a pass to a diving Philpot in the end zone for a touchdown. Philpot‘s performance has him on pace to challenge the all-time single-season receiving yards record of 2,036, set by Allen Pitts in 1994. He started the game with a 19-yard reception and later made a 30-yard diving catch in the first quarter.
Roughriders’ offensive line recognized, Brown’s return to Winnipeg
The Saskatchewan Roughriders‘ offensive line, composed of Payton Collins, Zack Fry, Logan Ferland, Jacob Brammer, and Jermarcus Hardrick, earned recognition for their performance against the Tiger-Cats. The unit allowed only one sack and contributed to generating 137 rushing yards. While A.J. Ouellette rushed for 83 yards on 18 carries, Tommy Stevens closed out the game with 40 rushing yards on just two plays, scoring his second touchdown of the evening.
The return of quarterback Dru Brown to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has been highlighted as a significant move. Brown, who previously played for the Bombers, led his team to a 30-21 win over Toronto in his first start. Despite some drives ending in field goals, his calm presence in the pocket was noted. A crucial play involved Brown finding Tommy Nield downfield for a 19-yard gain on second and long late in the game, with his team leading 29-21 with under three minutes remaining. He also connected with Tim White for a 35-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
Notable plays and games of the week
The best play of the week was attributed to Tyson Philpot‘s diving touchdown catch for the Alouettes. Conversely, the worst play was Alex Hale‘s missed 35-yard field goal for the Roughriders against Hamilton, which occurred in a tie game. Despite the miss, Saskatchewan ultimately won 38-7. The best game of the week was the matchup between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, described as living up to its hype on Friday Night Football. The worst game was deemed to be the contest between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, which Saskatchewan won 38-7.
Another notable offensive performance came from Javon Leake of the Elks, who returned to action and recorded 85 rushing yards against Ottawa. This total could have been higher, as a 67-yard touchdown run was nullified by a penalty unrelated to his play. The majority of Leake‘s carries were up the middle, indicating a versatile rushing attack for Edmonton.
The Elks‘ victory over the Redblacks improved their record to 4-1.
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Source: 3downnation.com
As CasinoNews's Sports News Writer, Mason Leclair reports on the CFL, golf and combat sports for readers across the country. He moved from regional papers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Carleton University. Mason lives in Ottawa, where he follows the PGA Tour and mixed martial arts. “Get the facts down first, then add the context.”
