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Published Jun 20, 2026 • Last updated 6 minutes ago • 3 minute read
Fajardo
Edmonton Elks Cody Fajardo (7) scores the game winning touchdown against the Montreal Alouettes during CFL action on Saturday, June 20, 2026 in Edmonton. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia
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Mother Nature rained on Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, and the Edmonton Elks rained on Davis Alexander’s parade.
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The Montreal Alouettes quarterback came in looking to tie the Canadian Football League record for the best start to a career by a quarterback, which was set at 14-straight regular-season wins by Bo Levi Mitchell in 2016.
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But the Elks had different ideas, winning their home-opener 32-29 in overtime on fresh new turf to improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2019 (under then-head coach Jason Maas, now with the Alouettes).
Montreal, meanwhile, fell to 2-1 as Alexander suffered his first regular-season loss as a starter.
THE STATS
Edmonton won the turnover battle 3-2, while Montreal earned 481 net yards of offence to Edmonton’s 425.
Cody Fajardo completed 19 of 29 passes for 231 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while adding four carries for 20 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Justin Rankin led the way with 179 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries to go with five receptions for a team-high 51 yards.
Alexander threw 29 of 44 for 356 yards and a touchdown, Travis Theis had 19 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown. Tyson Philpot led all receivers with 120 yards on eight catches.
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Read More
[Edmonton Elks Austin Mack celebrates his touch down against the Calgary Stampeders during CFL preseason action on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Edmonton.
Will getting back with Austin Mack be the key for Edmonton Elks' Cody Fajardo?](https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks-austin-mack-cody-fajardo)
2. [Edmonton Elks running back Justin Rankin.
5 FACTORS: Rankin rumbles as Edmonton Elks win rare season opener](https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/football/cfl/justin-rankin-rumbles-as-edmonton-elks-cfl-season-opener)
THE SCORING
Montreal got on the board first with a 50-yard field goal from Jose Maltos Diaz.
They pushed their lead to 10-0 with 5:17 left in the half on a five-yard touchdown trot by Travis Theis to cap a seven-play, 78-yard drive.
Montreal added a 38-yard field goal to go ahead 13-0 with 2:13 remaining in the half, before former Alouettes receiver Austin Mack caught a nine-yard pass at the back of the end zone. The scoring drive was nine plays and covered 70 yards to trail 13-7 at halftime.
Edmonton took a 14-13 lead in the third quarter when Rankin rushed 36 yards into the end zone, which accounted for half the 72 yards of the four-play scoring drive.
Rankin followed up with a 47-yard touchdown run spurred by a block in the backfield by Fajardo, capping a five-play, 70-yard drive to go ahead 20-13 (following a crucial missed convert kick), before taking a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter on a 36-yard field goal by Vincent Blanchard.
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The two sides then exchanged field goals to keep it a two-score game inside the final five minutes.
Tyler Snead caught a 34-yard pass in the end zone to finalize a five-play, 70-yard drive that closed the gap to 26-23 inside the three-minute mark, before adding a 31-yard field goal to force overtime.
In the first mini-game, Fajardo trundled six yards to the end zone on a fake handoff in response to a 33-yard field goal by the Alouettes.
In and out: Luc Burton-Krahn had to be helped off the field with four minutes remaining in the first quarter … Alouettes defensive back Lorenzo Burns collided with teammate Micah Awe in the final minute of the third quarter and was helped off the field.
E-mail: gmoddejonge@postmedia.com
On X: @StarkRavinMod
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