The Edmonton Elks beat the host Ottawa RedBlacks by a score of 29-21 at TD Place on Saturday (June 6), as Week 1 in the CFL’s 2026 regular season wrapped up.
“I’m proud of the guys for accepting the mission,” Elks head coach Mark Kilam said on 880 CHED, radio home of the Elks. “We talked to them Day 1 at training camp that we were going to push through camp, push into this Week 1, come out and get a ‘W’, and that’s what we did.”
Wide receiver Austin Mack and running back Justin Rankin each scored a touchdown for the Green and Gold, while Elks kicker Vincent Blanchard made all five of his field-goal attempts as Edmonton won its season-opening game for the first time since 2019.
On a rainy night in the nation’s capital, veteran Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 23 of 34 passes for 266 yards, with 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions. Rankin had a monster game, racking up 102 rushing yards on 13 carries and hauling in five passes from Fajardo for 94 receiving yards.
Linebacker Nick Anderson led the Elks defensively, with seven defensive tackles and another tackle on special teams.
Edmonton outgained the RedBlacks 342-297 in total offence, and dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for 35:20. The Elks also held a 4-0 edge in turnovers, but were penalized 14 times for 142 yards, while Ottawa committed 10 penalties totalling 110 yards.
Dan Adeboboye and Justin Hardy each scored a touchdown for the RedBlacks. Ottawa quarterback Jake Maier completed 22 of 37 passes for 203 yards.
“Great win,” said Kilam. “Lots to correct, but it’s always easier to do that after a win. It took all three phases, and that’s what kind of team we want to be.”
Edmonton never trailed in the game, after taking a 3-0 lead in the opening quarter thanks to a 12-yard field goal from Vincent Blanchard.
In the second quarter, the Elks went ahead 10-0 after Fajardo passed to Mack for a 10-yard touchdown. It was the first regular season game together with the Elks for the reunited teammates, who previously formed a dynamic pass-and-catch duo with the Montreal Alouettes in 2023 and 2024.
Austin Mack is like that#GoElks pic.twitter.com/n9bHTJVgFm
— Edmonton Elks (@GoElks) June 7, 2026
Blanchard then knocked through an 18-yard field goal, extending the Green and Gold’s lead to 13-0 with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
Ottawa answered with a one-yard touchdown from Adeboboye followed by a Brett Lauther 35-yard field goal, making the score 13-10 going into the break.
Blanchard hit two field goals, from distances of 11 and 27 yards, in the third quarter, giving Edmonton a 19-10 lead.
Early in the fourth quarter, Rankin accelerated on a 61-yard rush into the endzone, as the Elks surged ahead 26-10.
Lauther drilled a 37-yard field, trimming Edmonton’s lead to 26-13 with just over 8 minutes remaining, before Edmonton responded on the ensuing possession with a 44-yard field goal by Blanchard.
Ottawa cut Edmonton’s lead to a single possession, as Maier passed to Hardy for a touchdown and connected with Keelan White for a two-point conversion. The RedBlacks would then get the ball back twice with an opportunity to drive for the tying score, but Edmonton’s defence held firm.
The Elks will now have a bye in Week 2 of the CFL season, before their home-opener against the Montreal Alouettes at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium on June 20 (2 p.m. MT). Tickets are available now.