02-07-2025
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.'
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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.
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'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.
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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.'
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Kilam said Tuesday's workout was helpful as the team prepares for its next game against Ottawa.
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'(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.'
