Latest news with #MarkKilam
National Post
08-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Edmonton Elks dodge self-inflicted bullet to earn first win of season
And it came in a crucial week where both the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders looked to start pulling away in the standings, breathing — dare we say — a little life into the upstart Elks? It marked the first win of many more to come in the head-coaching career of the freshly minted Mark Kilam, who came aboard following an unheard-of 17-year entrenchment as an assistant coach with the same club (don't hold it against him that it was the rival Stampeders). So, he must be doing something right. And now he is being tasked with steering the turnaround in Edmonton alongside newly repatriated general manager Ed Hervey, all the while reminding themselves of the prime directive: Win. Or at least don't embarrass their already gun-shy fanbase in the pursuit of victory. But the gun with which past EE iterations shot themselves in the foot on far too many occasions ended up coming dangerously close to coming out of its holster again against Ottawa. To set the scene, the Elks exploded to an impressive 22-3 lead midway through the second quarter with their fastest, best and most efficient start in a good long while, looking like they were well on their way to running up the score against an outmatched opponent. And, truth be told, that would have been exactly what the doctor ordered to help begin curing the malaise that's ran rampant in the seats at Commonwealth Stadium. The empty ones, at least. Things were going so well, it was almost too good to be true. At that moment, the Elks opted for a quarterback change in order to get Cody Fajardo some much needed game action. Remember him? He's only two years removed from being named Grey Cup MVP with the Montreal Alouettes and was brought in to help along the development of young Tre Ford — who completed a career-best 15-of-17 passes with two touchdowns. Now, obviously Fajardo both deserves and needs some snaps. And the sooner they come in the season, the better for the team down the road. But instead of tightening their grip on an already suffocating opponent in the closest thing there could be to a must-win game in the first week of July, the Elks let go. Just a little, mind you. But it was all the wiggle room the Redblacks needed, answering back with a touchdown before forcing a 2-and-out that they returned to the end zone to make it a one-score game heading into halftime. In the blink of an eye. Fortunately for these Elks, they showed they are no longer 'those' Elks and didn't blow a commanding lead by taking their foot off the gas, even if it was just a little. Instead, they regained control of the would-be runaway train and held onto that one-score lead, much to the relief of those in attendance who got to celebrate a hard-fought home victory. Even if it was far from the blowout it had been shaping up to be. At this point in the proceedings, no win is a bad win in Edmonton. There is such a thing as a bad loss, however. And these Elks just gained some ground in the ongoing race to outrun their former selves by avoiding one. On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
Edmonton Journal
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Edmonton Elks dodge self-inflicted bullet to earn first win of season
But the methodically improving herd came up with its first win of the season and earliest victory in recent memory, defeating the Ottawa Redblacks 39-33 on Sunday to end what has to feel like a much more manageable 0-3 start, by comparison. And it came in a crucial week where both the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders looked to start pulling away in the standings, breathing — dare we say — a little life into the upstart Elks? It marked the first win of many more to come in the head-coaching career of the freshly minted Mark Kilam, who came aboard following an unheard-of 17-year entrenchment as an assistant coach with the same club (don't hold it against him that it was the rival Stampeders). So, he must be doing something right. And now he is being tasked with steering the turnaround in Edmonton alongside newly repatriated general manager Ed Hervey, all the while reminding themselves of the prime directive: Win. Or at least don't embarrass their already gun-shy fanbase in the pursuit of victory. But the gun with which past EE iterations shot themselves in the foot on far too many occasions ended up coming dangerously close to coming out of its holster again against Ottawa. To set the scene, the Elks exploded to an impressive 22-3 lead midway through the second quarter with their fastest, best and most efficient start in a good long while, looking like they were well on their way to running up the score against an outmatched opponent. And, truth be told, that would have been exactly what the doctor ordered to help begin curing the malaise that's ran rampant in the seats at Commonwealth Stadium. The empty ones, at least. Things were going so well, it was almost too good to be true. At that moment, the Elks opted for a quarterback change in order to get Cody Fajardo some much needed game action. Remember him? He's only two years removed from being named Grey Cup MVP with the Montreal Alouettes and was brought in to help along the development of young Tre Ford — who completed a career-best 15-of-17 passes with two touchdowns. Now, obviously Fajardo both deserves and needs some snaps. And the sooner they come in the season, the better for the team down the road. But instead of tightening their grip on an already suffocating opponent in the closest thing there could be to a must-win game in the first week of July, the Elks let go. Just a little, mind you. But it was all the wiggle room the Redblacks needed, answering back with a touchdown before forcing a 2-and-out that they returned to the end zone to make it a one-score game heading into halftime. In the blink of an eye. Fortunately for these Elks, they showed they are no longer 'those' Elks and didn't blow a commanding lead by taking their foot off the gas, even if it was just a little. Instead, they regained control of the would-be runaway train and held onto that one-score lead, much to the relief of those in attendance who got to celebrate a hard-fought home victory. Even if it was far from the blowout it had been shaping up to be. At this point in the proceedings, no win is a bad win in Edmonton. There is such a thing as a bad loss, however. And these Elks just gained some ground in the ongoing race to outrun their former selves by avoiding one. On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
Global News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Elks head coach says team ‘needs to grow' as it continues to search for 1st win of CFL season
After mounting a second-half comeback to tie a game against the Blue Bombers (3-0) in Winnipeg last week, the Edmonton Elks (0-3) ended up losing their third-straight game of the young CFL season on Thursday by a score of 36-23. After a team practice on Tuesday, Elks head coach Mark Kilam was asked about his team's ability to play a full 60 minutes each game. 'It's really where this football team needs to grow,' he said. 'Someone's got to step up to make the plays. 'We kind of stalled out. I thought offensively, early, we were moving the ball well.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We kind of stalled out. I thought offensively, early, we were moving the ball well." In the game before their matchup against the Bombers, the Elks lost 38-28 to the Montreal Alouettes but managed to score 22 points in the fourth quarter, a display that Kilam had hoped would serve as a catalyst for more success going forward. Story continues below advertisement 'We've got to find ways to keep our offence on the field, especially when our defence is holding us in the game,' he said Tuesday. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The Elks are the only CFL team that has yet to earn a win this season and are preparing to host the Ottawa Redblacks at Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday. In the last three seasons, the team has started 0-2, 0-9 and 0-7. Edmonton finished fourth in the West Division last season and last made the CFL playoffs in 2019. On Tuesday, the CFL named Elks defensive lineman D.K. Bonhomme to its Week 4 Honour Roll for his play on special teams. He had two special teams tackles and a fumble recovery against the Bombers. Bonhomme said he is grateful to Kilam for putting him in a 'position to be able to make plays' this season, and that while the team lost, he feels players gained some confidence after the game in Winnipeg. 'It was a good step forward,' he said. '(We've) just got to lock in — all together — and just not let the moment be too big. 'Just execute our game plan and then everything will end up working out.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Just execute our game plan and then everything will end up working out." Kilam said Tuesday's workout was helpful as the team prepares for its next game against Ottawa. Story continues below advertisement '(It) was exactly what we needed,' he said, adding his team is focused on staying positive and trying to improve. 'It was high-tempo — it wasn't very long. 'Win or lose, you're trying to get better every week.'
CTV News
29-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Elks mull late-game stalls as they remain winless after 3 games of young CFL season
Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford (2) looks for a receiver during first half CFL action against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Winnipeg Thursday, June 26, 2025. It was a mirror image of their previous game. But the result was the same: Thursday's early season Canadian Football League date in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers was a loss for the winless Edmonton Elks. The week before at home to the Montreal Alouettes, the Elks came out flat in the first half before coming alive in the latter stages of the eventual 38-28 defeat. In Winnipeg, the Elks found traction over the first three quarters only to fire blanks in the fourth quarter of the 36-23 decision for the Bombers. The game was tied after 45 minutes and Winnipeg was holding onto a three-point lead until the final six minutes, when the hosts put up a touchdown and a field-goal. That's two games in a row when the Elks have stalled out completely in the dying stages, something head coach Mark Kilam says needs to change. Blue Bombers vs. Elks Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Matthew Peterson (22) runs for the first down against the Edmonton Elks during second half CFL action in Winnipeg Thursday, June 26, 2025. (John Woods/THE CANADIAN PRESS) 'We've got to figure out how to win games in the final five minutes,' Kilam, Edmonton's rookie bench boss, told media after the game. 'That's the difference between our football team and theirs, their group that's been there before.' Understatements all around. The Elks are 0-3 on the 2025 CFL schedule. The now 3-0 Blue Bombers, however, are definitely more seasoned and proven than just what happened in the late stages. "We've got to figure out how to win games in the final five minutes." — Elks head coach Mark Kilam They've been the West Division's representative in the last five Grey Cups, winning two of them with several principal figures still in place and dominating not just a new-look, rebuilding Elks squad but a recent divisional rival in the B.C. Lions, who Winnipeg had soundly beat in back-to-back games before the Edmonton game. The same Lions who dealt the Elks a convincing loss in Week 1. So while it's well known the Blue Bombers have offensive weapons at their disposal, they sure know how to use them – 'They ran it down our throats when everybody knows that's what Winnipeg does at the end of the game, so that's where we've got to get over the hump,' Kilam admitted post-game – and it's a lesson moving forward for the Elks as they look ahead to next Sunday's game against the visiting Ottawa Redblacks. Blue Bombers vs. Elks Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Tony Jones (33) sacks Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford (2) during first half CFL action in Winnipeg Thursday, June 26, 2025. (John Woods/THE CANADIAN PRESS) 'We've gotten better three weeks in a row, but it's about winning and it's about doing the things that we need to get better to be on the other side of this result,' he said. Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros, in his second game of action this season after sitting out the opener while under suspension, threw three touchdown passes and finished the game 25 of 30 passing for 334 yards. Elks quarterback Tre Ford, who was 18 of 29 passing for 252 yards, said even though the team is winless, they're 'feeling pretty good in our locker room.' 'I think we know that we left some stuff out there, and it was still a close game.'
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Elks coach looks for CFL team's 3 units to maximize offensive time on field
Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford prepares to throw the ball against the B.C. Lions during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025. It's a song as old as time, Dem Bones. And while the simple, enduring tune is generally seen as a kids or spiritual one, it applies to football, too. All three phases of the gridiron game, Canadian or otherwise, are connected just like the heel bone is connected to the ankle bone, the thigh bone is to the hip bone and the shoulder bone is to the neck bone. General truths that apply to the Edmonton Elks right now, according to head coach Mark Kilam, as his Canadian Football League team prepares to travel to Winnipeg for Thursday's game against the Blue Bombers. He said special teams and offence need to help balance the attack and set the defence up for more success, something that has ultimately eluded the Elks early in the season. 'I definitely think they're linked. I think all three phases are linked,' Kilam said Monday of the offensive, defensive and special-teams play of the 0-2 Elks thus far in 2025. 'We want to be a team that sets each other up for success via the other phase. Special teams can do their part by giving the defence long fields. The offence can help them out by extending some drives.' Mark Kilam Edmonton Elks head coach Mark Kilam reacts to a call while taking on the B.C. Lions during first half CFL pre-season action in Edmonton, on Friday May 30, 2025. (JASON FRANSON/THE CANADIAN PRESS) There has been some promise, though, seen in both their games so far: in the first half of their season-opening game in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions – the Elks held the hosts to three points in the first half and led 7-3 before collapsing in the final 30 minutes of the 31-14 loss on June 7 – and in the fourth quarter Thursday versus the visiting Montreal Alouettes, when Edmonton's offence racked up 22 points before dropping the game 38-28. 'We want to be a team that sets each other up for success via the other phase.' — Elks head coach Mark Kilam 'We played (well in) a couple of halves spread out over two games, (but) that's not a recipe for success,' Kilam told media after practice at Commonwealth Stadium. 'But I see the guys out here (on the field) working; I see them in the meeting room working. 'I know that it matters to them, and I think it's only a matter of time, but we're definitely trying to play a complete game on defence.' Elks defensive back Tyrell Ford said one key for his unit is containing the quarterback in the pocket – an area of the backfield protected by the offensive line in which the quarterback dwells while looking for an open receiver to pass to – something that's more of a challenge against mobile ones such as the Alouettes' Davis Alexander and, even though he's older, Ford's former Blue Bombers teammate Zach Collaros. Lions vs. Elks B.C. Lions' James Butler (20) is stopped by Edmonton Elks' Tyrell Ford (30) and Kobe Williams (0) during the first half of a CFL football game in Vancouver, on Saturday, June 7, 2025. (ETHAN CAIRNS/THE CANADIAN PRESS) 'I found a lot of (the Alouettes') big plays came out when he was scrambling and running around,' said Ford, who joined his brother, quarterback Tre, and the Elks this season as a free agent after three seasons with the Blue Bombers. 'Collapsing the pocket is definitely going to help us, because I didn't find they were just dropping back and throwing it deep on us a lot unless we had blown the coverage. 'Outside of that, I thought we covered decently well. (We've just) got to plaster and keep the quarterback in the pocket.'
