Edmonton Elks look to end skid against Ottawa, right ship for rest of season
The Elks (0-3) are looking for their first victory when they host the Ottawa Redblacks (1-3) Sunday at Commonwealth Stadium. All three of Edmonton's losses have come by double-digit margins.
"It's still early in the season so we can still set the tone," said Ford. "This one's going to be really big. I don't like to use the must-win term, but I think it's definitely one we need."
His twin brother, cornerback Tyrell, said he's not worried about the team being winless.
"I'm pretty sure last year in Winnipeg we started like 1-4, so I'm not worried," he said. "Once we all get together and play a full 60 minutes we're going to be tough to beat."
The problem has been playing those 60 minutes. The fourth quarters, in particular, have been costly for the struggling Elks. In losses to the B.C. Lions and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Elks were outscored 27-7 in the fourth quarters. Although they outscored the Montreal Alouettes 22-10 in the final quarter, it wasn't enough to get a win in Week 2.
"It's where this team needs to grow," Elks head coach Mark Kalim said of the fourth quarter. "That's where we need all three sides of the football and somebody needs to step up and make the plays we need to win games.
"We need to find ways to make plays late in the game. That's what good teams do to win."
Linebacker Josiah Schakel pointed to the final six minutes of their 36-23 loss to Winnipeg last week, when they were outscored 10-0 as a good example of the team's late-game problems.
"We can't play 55 minutes and then lose in the last five minutes. We have to make sure that the way we start is the way we finish. And don't make mental mistakes in key moments in the game."
One of the big challenges for the Elks will be trying to stop Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown, who is looking for a record-breaking fourth straight 400-plus-yard passing game. After throwing for 413 yards and two touchdowns in the Redblacks' Week 1 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Brown missed three games with a hip injury.
"He's a gunslinger, he believes in his arm and he's going to throw the ball deep," said Tyrell Ford. "I know he wants to get that record for the 400 yards, but I think we're ready for him."
Linebacker Nick Anderson backed up Ford's comments, adding that Brown has "great confidence in where he can fit the ball. A lot of times he tries to fit the ball in tight windows because he has great receivers who can make the catches."
However, Anderson added that because Brown throws often and likes to extend plays by scrambling, he also creates the opportunity for interceptions.
"We don't have any interceptions yet, so looking to get our hands on one of these for sure," he said.
The Elks, who ended a record 22-game home losing streak late last season, are eager for a win to take off the pressure that's sure to build if they don't win.
"There's definitely pressure but there's always pressure to perform well," said Tre Ford. "Obviously 0-3 is not the way you want to start but, not to make excuses, but we've had a tough schedule.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
an hour ago
- Global News
Rankin, Ford lead Elks to first win with 39-33 decision over Redblacks
The Edmonton Elks have finally found their way into the win column. Justin Rankin scored a pair of touchdowns as the Elks captured their first win of the season, coming up big to defeat the Ottawa Redblacks 39-33 on Sunday. 'It was a complete 60-minute effort,' said Elks head coach Mark Kilam. 'It was gritty. Some guys went down, we had some moving parts. Guys were throwing up at halftime. It took a lot, it took everyone in the room, and I'm proud of them.' Edmonton (1-3) snapped a three-game losing skid to start the CFL campaign. 'We had a good start, we went out and scored on our first two drives, which was really good,' said Elks quarterback Tre Ford, who passed for 212 yards and two TDs. 'We sputtered a bit in the second quarter and a little bit into the third, but we were able to put some drives together and score some more points. I think our team just came together.' Story continues below advertisement Ottawa dropped to 1-4 with its second straight loss. 'I don't think we started well,' said Ottawa coach Bob Dyce. 'We gave up explosives, both on special teams and defence, and didn't really create that many offensively. We were undisciplined at times and didn't execute the way we need to execute.' The Redblacks took nine penalties for 118 yards. 'The game is too hard to win in the first place, so we can't be moving backwards,' said Ottawa quarterback Dru Brown, who returned from injury. 'Personally, I didn't feel like I played very well early. I thought they had a good plan. They were pushing and testing our patience and there were times where I wasn't patient. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's a good learning experience, but a lot of things to improve on, for sure.' The Elks had a strong start to the contest, scoring on their opening drive. Ford lofted a pass to Rankin and he shrugged off a defender and scampered for a 45-yard touchdown. Edmonton added a single on the ensuing kickoff. Ottawa responded with a 42-yard field goal from Lewis Ward. Edmonton kept it coming on its second possession with another long drive, capped off when Ford pitched it to Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and he scrambled eight yards into the end zone. Story continues below advertisement The Elks got a rare punt return touchdown five minutes into the second quarter when Javon Leake broke free and went 94 yards to score despite almost letting up too soon and getting caught. It was Edmonton's first punt return TD since Aug. 28, 2015. Ottawa finally got it going late in the second with a solid drive finished off by a six-yard TD pass from Brown to Eugene Lewis. The Redblacks got a dramatic punt return touchdown of their own with less than two minutes to play in the first half as Kalil Pimpleton bobbed and weaved his way 97 yards into the end zone to cut Edmonton's lead to 22-17 at halftime. After having a fumble return TD overturned on a penalty, Ottawa got a 42-yard field goal from Ward to open the third quarter. The Elks responded with a 21-yard field goal by Vincent Blanchard. Rankin came up big again with 3:36 left in the third, finding a seam up the middle and blazing 74 yards into the end zone for the major. Ward booted a 43-yard field goal to close out the half and added another from 28 yards out four minutes into the fourth to cut Edmonton's lead to six points. Blanchard countered with a 35-yard three-pointer. Story continues below advertisement Ottawa gambled on a third and three with three minutes left in the game but was denied, leading to another 35-yard field goal from Blanchard, who added a single on the following kickoff. The Redblacks fought to the end, adding a 14-yard TD pass to Andre Miller. BROWN COMES UP SHORT Brown returned from missing the last three games with a hip injury looking to pass for more than 400 yards for his fourth consecutive game. Only Warren Moon, Kent Austin and Doug Flutie had also done it three times in a row in CFL history. Unfortunately, Brown only managed 316 yards passing on Sunday. UP NEXT Redblacks: Visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday, July 12. Elks: Host the B.C. Lions on Sunday, July 13.
Calgary Herald
2 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Surge fall to Stingers, dropping 2025 CEBL Battle of Alberta series
The always entertaining Battle of Alberta has come to an end for the time being. Article content With a 113-90 victory over the Calgary Surge on Sunday, the Edmonton Stingers not only took the inter-province season series 2-1, but they also extended their league-best win streak to five consecutive games. Article content Article content The host Stingers improved to 9-6 with the win, now just a half-game back of the Calgary crew, which fell to 9-5 and into second place in the West. Article content Article content Leading that charge for the Stingers, as they hit a new season-high in scoring and the largest Target Score mark of any team this season, was Scottie Lindsey with 29 points on 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. Behind him was Sean East II, who chipped in 22 points, six rebounds and 10 assists, and Nick Hornsby, who added 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as part of five different Edmonton players to reach double figures in scoring. Article content Article content 'We're in a groove,' Lindsey said after Edmonton extended its win streak. 'We took a tough loss to Montreal, and even since then, we've been locked in, in a different way.' Article content Meanwhile, Calgary native Olumide Adelodun led the way for the Surge as he finished with 25 points on 6-of-10 shooting from distance off the bench. Greg Brown III and Jamarko Pickett each scored 16 and 12 points respectively. Article content 'We allowed their runs to affect us,' Adelodun said post-game. 'We let play after play roll over, and we didn't fight back after that … just too much for us to come back.' Article content The lopsided outcome was a surprise considering both of the previous two Battle of Alberta matchups this season had been decided by a combined five points — the first half of Sunday's contest proving similar. Neither team went ahead by more than 10 points through the first 20 minutes as Calgary led 43-40 at halftime. Article content But then the third quarter happened. Article content Edmonton opened the second half on a 17-0 run en route to a league-record 42 points in the third quarter, one shy of the most points scored in any frame all-time. Calgary's first basket of the second half didn't come until he 6:08 mark of the third, a Sean Miller-Moore triple, to which Edmonton immediately replied with an 11-0 run as it carved out an 82-64 lead ahead of the fourth. Article content 'We had two close games with (Calgary) already this season, so we knew them well,' Lindsey explained. 'We just wanted to come out and protect home court, and we did that in the second half.'
Globe and Mail
4 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
The beautiful game, at walking speed
Aidan Butterworth's voice booms across the soccer pitch at Toronto's Cherry Beach as his players warm up. 'Just shake it up,' he tells them. 'Go! Go! Go! 'Keep moving on your feet, don't stop.' The moving feet aren't moving all that fast. Nor is the pace of play. That's all by design. Mr. Butterworth is an assistant coach for the Toronto Walking Soccer Club, also referred to as the Loons. They're one of 20 teams from across Canada. Across multiple age groups, the club has more than 100 members from all around the Greater Toronto Area. The coach knows his way around a soccer pitch. He spent four years playing for Leeds United in England and was the club's top scorer in 1983. The game he has loved his entire life didn't fully love him back, though. 'I've had two replacement hip surgeries and another on my knees,' he said. 'My playing days are behind me, but I get a lot from walking football.' The appeal of the game is similar to that of pickleball – a more contained, less physically demanding alternative to tennis. Pickleball Canada claims 1.54 million people are playing the sport in this country. Walking soccer – invented in 2011 in England, where there are now more than 700 clubs and 200,000 players – has experienced an international boom over the past decade. In Canada, six provinces have launched multiple active programs that continue to grow in participation. 'People aren't ready to give up soccer when they get a little bit older,' said Patrick Yao, founder of the Canadian Walking Soccer Association, or CWSA. 'Their passion for the sport is still there.' The rules of walking soccer are designed to minimize the health risks to participants and increase accessibility. The pitch and goal size are smaller than in conventional soccer, the ball cannot be kicked higher than two metres, throw-ins are replaced with kick-ins, and goalkeepers are not permitted to leave their zones. There is no running or jogging allowed, regardless of whether the player is handling the ball or not. What counts as running or jogging is dependent solely on the interpretation of the referee. 'The rule is that you're supposed to plant your feet,' Mr. Butterworth said. 'The player must always have at least one foot in contact with the ground.' Club founder Kerrin Hands said the golden rule is 'If you can salsa, you can do walking soccer.' The Loons' over-50 team gathers every Thursday evening for two hours of intense training drills, finishing off with a 30-minute game. Before starting, the players are reminded to enjoy themselves, but to go hard. No swearing, though. A 2024 survey by the CWSA revealed that more than 60 per cent of respondents discovered the sport through family or friend referrals, followed by a close split between news and social media. Mr. Hands founded the Toronto Loons three years ago, after stumbling across the sport in Spain during a family visit. The native Englishman played soccer at various competitive levels in South London, but moved into coaching when he relocated to Canada. His efforts to grow the club have included reaching out to non-walking soccer organizations with programs for those aged 40 and up, inviting them to join sessions and hosting pop-up events. Still, his most effective strategy for securing sign-ups is ensuring that everyone who steps onto the field leaves with a positive experience. 'The way most people find out about the sport is through word of mouth,' Mr. Hands said. 'People have enjoyed it so much, they go around and tell their friends.' Andrew Hilton also played competitive soccer for most of his life, and once joined an over-50s competitive team in Denmark for a brief period. He returned home to Stratford, Ont., during the pandemic, but the team he used to be a part of was no longer there. He began searching online for ways to play in the area. That's how he found walking soccer. 'It's more fun than I thought. It's better exercise than I thought, and I was reconnecting with people I played with when I was in high school. I just really enjoyed it,' Mr. Hilton said. 'I get to play the sport I love and see people I know.' Mr. Hilton's commitment runs so deep that he makes the almost three-hour trip from Stratford to Toronto's Cherry Beach field at least once a week. His teammate, Faisal Ahmed, knows the route to the field with his eyes closed after three years of weekly drives there. A 2020 review of research on the sport determined that there are health benefits connected with walking soccer, and that it can help build social connections. Another 2022 study highlighted the importance of socializing and developing new friendships that came out of the sport. Among the Loons, there is living proof of that. Mr. Ahmed wears his Apple Watch for every session to track his heart rate, calories and all other important health information. He underwent heart surgery five years ago and followed a strict training program as part of his rehabilitation. 'What I've found through walking soccer is that I can still maintain a heart rate above 145 beats per minute for 45 minutes,' Mr. Ahmed said. 'If I can do that three to four times a week, that is beneficial for keeping my heart healthy.' Mr. Butterworth said he has seen the sport do incredible things for the quality of life of some of the players who have trained under him. He credits walking soccer for improving his own mental and physical well-being. 'Seeing the joy on people's faces and telling me about the health benefits really inspires me to keep building and trying to get this sport out to even more people,' he added. This October, Canadians are headed to Spain to participate in the second edition of the Federation of International Walking Football Associations' World Nations Cup with four age groups, including a women's over-50 team. The Canadian men's over-60 team finished fourth in the inaugural 2023 cup, and it was a 'no brainer' to ensure qualification for this fall, Mr. Yao said. A total of 63 teams from 25 countries will gather to compete for medals, three times the number of teams that participated two years earlier. Canada will face powerhouse soccer countries Spain, England and Italy. Canada's team will be made up of players from eight clubs from Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. 'Our claim during the bidding process is that there would be a legacy left after this World Cup,' Mark Coleman, founder of Walking Soccer Team Spain and director of Spain Walking Football, told The Globe and Mail. 'Hosting this global event is going to boost participation around the world to millions of people.' The Loons are gearing up for the fall competition, but enjoyment remains the main goal. 'Our objectives are to create a very positive and happy environment where people can thrive,' Mr. Butterworth said. 'When the players come down for two hours, the goal is that they enjoy it and feel a benefit, and maybe they go home a bit tired.'
