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Rankin ignites Elks’ offence in 31-19 victory over Stampeders

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CFL

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The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press

Shane Jones

Published Sep 06, 2025 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 2 minute read

Edmonton Elks' Justin Rankin (5) celebrates a touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders

Edmonton Elks' Justin Rankin (5) celebrates a touchdown against the Calgary Stampeders during first half CFL action in Edmonton, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Photo by JASON FRANSON /THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Justin Rankin rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns as the Edmonton Elks gained some revenge on their provincial rivals, avenging last week’s 28-7 loss in the Labour Day Classic with a stunning 31-19 victory over the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday.

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The Elks (5-7) kept their CFL playoff hopes alive, winning four of their last five.

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Calgary (second in the West at 8-4) had a three-game winning streak halted.

The Stamps looked to have started the game with a touchdown on their opening drive on a pass into the end zone from quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to Jalen Philpot, but the play was ruled incomplete upon review and Calgary was forced to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Rene Paredes.

Edmonton quickly responded with a 45-yard field goal from Vincent Blanchard.

Calgary punched right back with a confident drive, capped off by a one-yard plunge by backup QB Quincy Vaughn. The convert kick was wide.

Edmonton gained a point back on a Jake Julien punt single.

The Elks surged ahead five minutes into the second frame as Rankin found a seam up the middle and then turned on the jets, running 90 yards into the end zone for a touchdown to put his team up 11-9.

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Rankin was back at it again with another impressive run just five minutes later, rolling off one tackle and shrugging through another to scamper 31 yards for the TD.

Calgary clawed back with a 31-yard Paredes field goal to make it 18-12 Edmonton at the mid-mark.

Blanchard kicked a 47-yard three-pointer for the first points of the third quarter.

The Stampeders tightened up the game again early in the fourth as a third-down gamble turned into a three-yard TD push by Vaughn to leave them trailing by two points.

Edmonton showed particular poise, bouncing right back as QB Cody Fajardo found Kaion Julien-Grant on a corner route pass for a 19-yard TD pass midway through the fourth.

Paredes attempted a 49-yard field goal, but was wide and Javon Leake took it back 86 yards to the Calgary 34-yard line. That led to a 32-yard Blanchard field goal.

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Calgary was pressing late, but Chelen Garnes picked off second string QB Phillip Walker Jr. in the end zone to allow Edmonton to run out the clock.

FOOT NOTES

The two Alberta-based squads face each other one more time in Edmonton in the final week of the CFL regular season (Oct. 24) … Calgary came into the contest with a perfect 6-0 record against West Division opponents, while Edmonton was 0-5 versus the West … The Elks defence was definitely depleted for the game, missing the likes of lineman Jake Ceresna and linebackers Nick Anderson and Nyles Morgan … The Stampeders came into the game holding teams to a league-low 18.0 offensive points per game — nearly a touchdown less than the league average — and managed to keep Edmonton from recording a touchdown at all last Monday. … Despite their record, the Stampeders do not have a receiver in the league’s top 15 in receiving yards.

UP NEXT

Elks visit the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, Sept. 13.

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