Fajardo leads Elks to 29-21 win over Redblacks – Edmonton

OTTAWA – The new coach. Young quarterback. The same old Ottawa Redblacks.

After enduring a 4-14 season last year, the Redblacks had high hopes coming into 2026, but mistakes and penalties cost them Saturday in a 29-21 loss to the Edmonton Elks. It was the season opener for both CFL clubs.

Coaching his first game with the Redblacks, Ryan Dinwiddie said penalties frustrated him the most in his Ottawa debut. His club was flagged nine times for 100 yards.

“We took a lot of penalties. It was a tough game. I thought we battled hard, I think we have a good group, we just didn’t put it together tonight. Self-inflicted wounds, there was a lot to overcome,” Dinwiddie said.

Cody Fajardo threw a touchdown pass, while Vincent Blanchard went five-for-five in the field for the Elks.

Fajardo completed 23 of 34 passes for 266 yards, while Justin Rankin had 13 carries for 102 yards to lead the Elks to their first June win in six seasons.

“We haven’t won the opening game since 2019 and that was my message to the boys. Be the difference, and we were the difference tonight. We played great in all three phases. We have a lot to clean up, but I’m proud of the boys,” Fajardo said. “In the rain, strong wind. It was a good team win.”

Quarterback Jake Maier made his first start with the Redblacks and threw for 203 yards on 22 completions with one touchdown. Brett Lauther connected on two field goals.

“I thought we were really competitive and I felt that way about this team all camp. I really believe we’re going to be as competitive as anybody. We’ve got the players and I feel like we’ve got the coach. We just didn’t play a clean enough game to deserve the win,” Maier said.

“Credit to them. They (Elks) deserved to win, they did their thing, but the key here now is the next game we play are we going to be better than we were tonight? If we are, then we have to like where we are because I think we have the team to do it.”

The Elks took control of the game early in the fourth quarter as Rankin scored on a 61-yard run with 4:17 left to give the visitors a comfortable 26-10 lead.

The teams traded field goals in the game’s final nine minutes before Maier threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Justin Hardy with less than three minutes to play. A two-point conversion cut the lead to 29-21.

Miraculously, the Reds were only trailed by one first-half field goal despite turning the ball over four times, including two on downs and two fumbles.

Penalties also hurt the Reds and Blacks defensively as two masking calls aided a first-quarter Elks drive that led to a 12-yard field goal by Blanchard to open the scoring at 11:31.

“I hated going down the field from the five-yard line, but with the conditions and all the rain I realized that scoring was the most important thing at that point,” Elks coach Mark Kilam said. “It was a good win, but there is a lot to correct. We will reflect on this game and prepare for the next game.”

That remained the only points of the game until 6:03 of the second quarter, when Fajardo connected with Austin Mack for a 10-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone. After the Blanchard extra point the Elks had a 10-0 lead.

Ninety seconds later, an 18-yard field goal by Blanchard extended the lead to 13-0.

The Reds finally got on the board with less than three minutes to play in the half with a one-yard run by Daniel Adeboboye that was converted by Lauther. A rough passer call and a pass interference call in the end zone by the Elks were the two key plays on that drive.

A 35-yard field goal late in the half by Lauther pulled the Reds to within 13-10 at the break.

On the second play of the third quarter, Fajardo hit Rankin on a 63-yard catch and run. The drive ended with an 11-yard field goal by Blanchard at 4:47.

A 36-yard punt return on their next drive led to a 27-yard Blanchard field goal and a 19-10 Elks lead.

UP NEXT

Elks: Host the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday, June 20.

Redblacks: Host the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, June 20.

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 6, 2026.

&copies 2026 The Canadian Press