The Edmonton Elks have discovered a number of methods to let video games slip by their fingers throughout their CFL-record 16-game home losing streak.
But Saturday’s 28-23 loss to the Toronto Argonauts may be most the heartbreaking of all.
The Argos didn’t take the lead till 27 seconds had been left on the sport clock at Commonwealth Stadium. A.J. Ouellette’s 25-yard scamper into the tip zone on a second-down-and-nine gave the Argos (10-6) the win and stored them two video games forward of the Montreal Alouettes within the East.
Ouellette’s run wasn’t even designed to go to the tip zone. Trailing 23-21, he was simply making an attempt to verify to not flip the ball over and put the ball in a great place for kicker Boris Bede to attempt a game-winning kick.
“I put two fingers on the ball, to arrange Bede for the game-winning discipline purpose,” Ouellette advised TSN. “They simply parted just like the Red Sea.”
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Toronto beats Edmonton 28-23 with A.J. Oullette’s landing throughout the closing minute of the sport and so they can clinch the East Division title with a win in Montreal subsequent Saturday. The Elks’ CFL-record home losing streak is now at 16 video games.
The Elks received 121 yards speeding and a landing from Kevin Brown. Their particular groups recovered two kickoff fumbles from Argo returner Jeremiah Haydel. These issues ought to make a recipe for victory.
But not for the Elks, who fall to 4-13 on the season.
Elks backup quarterback Tre Ford solely went into the sport for one play, whereas starter Taylor Cornelius was being examined for a possible head harm. That play modified the sport.
The Elks had been up 23-15 within the fourth, and had simply recovered their second kickoff fumble. Ford then tossed an interception to Royce Metchie.
Cue the comeback.
DaVarus Daniels caught a 43-yard landing strike from McLeod Bethel-Thompson three performs later, however the Argos missed the two-point convert. It did not matter. The Argos received the ball again and Oullette sealed the deal. He completed with 91 yards speeding on the night time.
We received ourselves a recreation!<a href=”https://twitter.com/SincerelyToot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@SincerelyToot</a> is in for the rating 🙌<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFLGameday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#CFLGameday</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/TorontoArgos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@TorontoArgos</a> <a href=”https://t.co/nsw9P24W97″>pic.twitter.com/nsw9P24W97</a>
—@CFL
The Elks took a 16-6 lead into halftime, on the energy of three discipline objectives from Sergio Castillo and a seven-yard landing toss within the slot from Cornelius to Danny Vandervoort.
But, the Elks actually ought to have been up by much more. The Elks held Argos quarterback Bethel-Thompson to only 34 yards passing within the half. The Elks held the ball for greater than two-thirds of the half. But, they could not convert all that possession into something a couple of main.
“It’s all on us,” stated Cornelius. “We’ve received to be higher. Offensively, we have to place drives collectively that get into the tip zone somewhat than kicking discipline objectives. We’ve received to place extra factors up.”
The Argos introduced the Elks with a present instantly after the Vandervoort landing. Haydel determined to make an try and lateral the ball proper after receiving the kick from Castillo The ball solely discovered the Commonwealth turf, and the Elks pounced on the miscue.
But, as with two different promising drives within the half, the Elks needed to settle for three.
The roles had been reversed after the halftime break.
Brown’s four-yard landing run to make it 23-15 was arrange by a 30-yard scamper from Cornelius. But he took a vicious hit and needed to sit out to be examined. And Ford got here in.
Cornelius blamed himself for taking the shot on the finish of the run.
“I’ve received to remain within the soccer recreation,” he stated. “I’ve received to get out of bounds and save that for one other day. I could not do something about it, I’m getting by concussion protocols on the sideline, it is simply an unlucky collection of occasions.”
And the Elks continued to make historical past.
“This recreation was big for us,” stated Ouellette. “Coming in, we thought we might be capable to bodily dominate. But, that is an important soccer crew. I imply, it is skilled soccer, you need to exit and provides your A recreation. For us, we had a battle all the way in which to the tip.”
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