Running wild: Elks’ ground game runs over Riders

The Edmonton Elks galloped all over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday as Edmonton turned out the lights on the Green and White at Mosaic Stadium.

Edmonton had 265 yards on the ground to leave Regina with a 36-27 CFL win in front of an announced crowd of 25,304.

“It’s real tough. We knew how big this game was and we knew we needed to win and what we needed to do to win,” said Riders defensive tackle Micah Johnson, who had a sack in the game. “It’s pretty bad.”

It was the second week in a row the Riders’ rushing defence was gashed in a game. The Riders gave up 263 yards on the ground to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a 51-6 loss in the Banjo Bowl last Saturday.

On Friday, Elks tailback Kevin Brown rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown.

“We have to figure it out — it’s getting embarrassing at this point,” Johnson said. “If you can’t stop the run, it’s going to be a long night. I don’t even know what to say.”

Johnson said the Riders’ defence knew the Elks’ game plan was going to be to run the ball, but the defenders still weren’t able to stop it.

“We’ve been off the past few games in the run game just schematically. Teams have been attacking us a certain way and we have to figure out how to defend it and we haven’t figured out how to defend it yet,” Johnson said.

“It’s a copycat league and every team is doing the same thing to us so it’s no surprise — we know what they are going to do. All week we knew what it was and we just didn’t execute.”

Elks pivot Tre Ford showed off his dual-threat capabilities, throwing for 173 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 70 yards and a score.

“It’s just the little things we need to get better at. Myself, I didn’t turn (Ford) back one time. You don’t realize how fast the kid is until you’re out there playing him but once it doesn’t get set once that first time, we have to work on that and know we have to turn it back,” said linebacker Micah Teitz. “Just him getting outside and no one setting it back in, that was our issue.

“It was just very frustrating all in all.”

Ford threw a 30-yard TD pass to Eugene Lewis and short-yardage quarterback Taylor Cornelius connected with defensive end A.C. Leonard — a former Rider and CFL tight end — for a 10-yard touchdown. Dean Faithfull added two field goals and four converts and the Elks recorded a safety.

Riders head coach Craig Dickenson said it was a tough loss for the team.

“(The players) are down. The coaches are down. But the sun will come up tomorrow and we still are in a position where we can control our fate for the most part and we still feel good about the men in that room,” Dickenson said.

“They are beat up mentally and physically after that game for sure … That was a tough loss. Full marks to Edmonton for plugging along and doing what they needed to do to win.

“Now the challenge is on us to get a little bit better and figure out ways to get some answers and try to get better down the stretch.”

Dickenson said defensive end Anthony Lanier II, defensive tackle Miles Brown, defensive end Nick Dheilly and linebacker Justin Herdman-Reed were injured in the first half and their status for upcoming games are unknown.

Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Shawn Bane Jr. hauls in a touchdown pass against the Edmonton Elks on Sept. 15, 2023. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

Riders pivot Jake Dolegala threw three touchdown passes as the offence bounced back from a poor outing a week ago. The 26-year-old quarterback finished with 20 completions for 213 yards, and also threw an interception.

“It’s not good. It feels worse than last week with how close it was and we know we can beat that team,” Dolegala said. “We have to flush it and move on. We know we’re still in this thing.”

Slotback Shawn Bane Jr. caught a pair of touchdown passes to go along with 43 receiving yards. Tevin Jones had the other major for the Riders. Kicker Brett Lauther made two of his three field-goal attempts — his one miss was from 56 yards out — and added three converts.

Edmonton improved to 4-10-0, while the Roughriders fell to 6-7-0. Saskatchewan is to visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Sept. 22.