Full Breakdown
Edmonton Elks Overcome Deficit to Beat Calgary Stampeders 38-28 on Labour Day
9/8/2026, 6:39:03 AM
Game Summary and Outcome
The Edmonton Elks rallied in the final ten minutes to defeat the Calgary Stampeders 38-28, extending their winning streak to three games and keeping them atop the CFL West Division (9-3). After trailing 25-7 early in the second half, Edmonton erased an 18-point gap and scored 24 unanswered points, including a 50-yard touchdown run by rookie running back Justin Rankin with four minutes left. The victory followed a previous comeback win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Turning Points and Scoring Summary
Calgary built a 25-7 lead through touchdowns by Jalen Philpot, Clark Barnes and Quincy Vaughn, plus field goals from Rene Paredes. Edmonton’s offense sparked late, with Kaion Julien-Grant and Austin Mack catching touchdown passes, ShunDerrick Powell scoring on a short run, and Cole Snyder adding a rushing touchdown with 19 seconds remaining. Kordell Jackson’s forced fumble on a Stampeder reception helped seal the comeback. Special-teams kicker Vincent Blanchard contributed a 52-yard field goal and five convert points.
Statistical Highlights
- Final score: Edmonton 38, Calgary 28.
- Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo: 17/31, 181 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
- Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr.: 15/29, 214 yards, 2 TDs.
- Blanchard’s 52-yard field goal marked his fourth success from 50 + yards in five attempts.
- Attendance: 16,346 spectators in rainy, windy conditions (winds up to 41 km/h, 12 °C).
Team and Coach Comments
Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo praised the comeback mentality, noting the squad now believes “no score is too big.” Running back Justin Rankin highlighted the team’s comfort playing in adverse weather. Stampeders head coach and GM Dave Dickenson acknowledged costly mistakes, urging his players to “look in the mirror” and improve execution.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Guys believe when you have games like this and games like Winnipeg, they start to believe that no score is too big for us,” — Cody Fajardo
