B.C. Lions vs. Edmonton Elks gameday: Cease Ford, cease the run and clinch a playoff spot

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B.C. Lions (9-4, 2nd West) at Edmonton Elks (4-10, fifth West)

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Friday, 6:30 p.m. PT, Commonwealth Stadium

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TV: TSN. Radio: AM730

Friday’s recreation towards the Edmonton Elks would as soon as have been one whopping inexperienced and gold banana peel for the B.C. Lions. A motivated opponent, albeit one with the league’s second-worst report and a staff that hasn’t scored a degree towards them in two conferences this season.

However these aren’t the Elks who began the season 0-9, or hadn’t received at dwelling since that bombastic man with the comb-over was president of the U.S.

Nope, these Elks have received 4 of their final 5 video games, scoring a median of 29 factors over that span, and the playoff hopes that have been as soon as useless and buried have popped upright within the coffin.

“They’re a superb staff, they acquired quite a lot of good gamers,” mentioned Lions coach Rick Campbell. “That is the damaged report speech from me; it’s one other large recreation they usually’re all going to be large these final 5. It’s a troublesome job going to Edmonton, however we’ve had a superb week and our guys are trying ahead to it.”

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Listed below are 5 issues to observe for …

Ford powerful

The Lions could have inadvertently unleashed the beast throughout the Elks. Their 27-0 Week 8 demolishment of Edmonton at Commonwealth proved to be the top of the street for offensive coordinator Stephen McAdoo and beginning quarterback Taylor Cornelius.

With nothing left to lose, head coach Chris Jones turned to Tre Ford, and the Canadian quarterback has fully modified the staff’s fortunes.

He has only one recreation the place he’s cracked 300 yards passing — a 317-yard night time in a 30-20 win over Ottawa that mercifully ended their 22-game dwelling dropping streak — and averaged 169 yards within the different 5 video games. However the electrical Waterloo grad has been tearing up defences along with his legs, averaging 78.5 yards speeding, together with a CFL single-game quarterback report of 135 towards the Stampeders.

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“Tre, he’s doing an awesome job for them and he’s given them hope, he’s given them the very best probability to win,” mentioned Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.

“He’s an thrilling participant, man. I really like watching him. I don’t wish to watch him run round this weekend … however some other week, go forward and do your factor, Tre.”

The runaround

The Lions confronted a run-oriented staff in Ottawa final week, and the Redblacks gave them bother earlier than B.C. made changes within the second half and stopped them of their tracks.

However the Elks have advanced right into a nonconformist bulldozer of a staff, principally speeding for extra yards than passing, together with three-straight video games with 200+ yards — a feat not completed within the pass-happy CFL since Saskatchewan in 2002. Below new offensive coordinator Jarious Jackson, the Elks have averaged 170 speeding yards of their final six video games.

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Ford hasn’t been the one one doing injury; operating again Kevin Brown has 318 yards and two touchdowns, and a 9.4 yards-per-carry common in his previous two video games. However the mission is straightforward for B.C.: Cease Ford, cease the Elks.

Defensive coordinator Ryan Phillips mentioned the Elks QB doesn’t get sufficient credit score for throwing on the run, and his focus will likely be on holding Ford contained.

“You method it with attempting to eradicate the explosive performs that he creates. You wish to preserve him within the pocket — and that’s all the time simpler than then getting it executed,” he mentioned. “He’s the man that clearly can lengthen performs and man that has DB-type pace, so he positively presents a unique dynamic than some other quarterback within the league.

“ … oftentimes he’s throwing the ball 25 yards downfield, and he’s giving guys like Geno (Lewis) an opportunity to make performs. So you bought to remain in protection. You bought to do all these issues which might be crucial, and that’s gonna be the toughest factor for us so far as containing him.”

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Rumbling, bumblings out of the gate

In three of their final 4 video games, the Lions have discovered themselves down by double-digits, with flat begins placing them in deep, darkish holes. They discovered a means again towards Ottawa with a comeback for the ages, however the issue has persevered.

“I do know our gamers’ hearts are in the precise place,” mentioned coach Rick Campbell. “It’s actually not lackadaisical … it’s extra about having the boldness to go on the market and make performs. I can’t get too mad at these guys. We flew all the way in which throughout the nation to Montreal and acquired a win and you bought a win at dwelling.

“The extra coaches I speak to, (I hear) each week is a grind as a result of all people can beat all people. Clearly all people doesn’t have the identical data however man, you started working laborious to win on this league.”

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Smoke ’em for those who acquired ’em

A promising begin to the Lions floor recreation — they averaged 111 yards per recreation via Week 3 — floor to a close to halt. B.C. is final within the CFL in each yards per recreation (78.2) and makes an attempt (223).

There have been situational causes, like the very fact the Lions have been enjoying from behind in a number of video games, resulting in a drop in makes an attempt for Taquan Mizzell. He’s averaging 11.5 rushes per recreation this season, however has seen video games of seven, 9 and 5 runs in three of his final 4 video games.

However he’s solely gone over 50 yards as soon as in his final six video games, a 14-carry, 68-yard efficiency in a win over Montreal, the place he did choose up some essential yards late within the recreation.

Because the leaves change colors in CFL cities throughout the nation, it’s that point of 12 months when with the ability to rush the ball grows in significance. One-trick ponies hardly ever cross the end line first on this league.

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Clutch time

The Lions can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Edmonton this week, whereas a loss for the Elks would all however mathematically eradicate them from rivalry.

The Elks haven’t crushed a staff with a profitable report but this season and B.C. poses the stiffest of checks. They haven’t even made it into the purple zone towards B.C. of their two shutout losses towards the Lions.

Edmonton has the toughest street remaining within the common season, dealing with Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg of their remaining 4 video games after this week.

If B.C. doesn’t come out on prime at Commonwealth this week, they’ll nonetheless safe their spot within the post-season with a win over Montreal the next weekend. The Lions nonetheless management their future for the highest spot within the West, with an Oct. 6 dwelling date with the 10-4 Bombers the essential swing recreation.

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