WINNIPEG – Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo led the Elks on the final touchdown in a 23-18 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before a sellout crowd of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium on Thursday night.
With less than three minutes to play, Fajardo found TJ Luther with an eight-yard touchdown pass to complete a nine-play, 57-yard drive. The two-point conversion attempt failed.
The Blue Bombers tried to drive in the final minute but managed to get to Edmonton’s 17-yard line before time expired.
The Elks went 3-0 for the first time since 2017. The Bombers fell to 1-2.
Fajardo completed 23 of 35 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown while running back Justin Rankin rushed for 106 yards on 18 carries.
Related Videos
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros got his team back in the game after trailing 17-0 at halftime. He completed 24 of 33 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
Get the latest national news
Get the latest Canadian news delivered to your inbox so you never miss a trending story.
Collaros capped a six-play, 69-yard gain with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Brady Oliveira early in the fourth quarter. Sergio Castillo’s conversion gave Winnipeg an 18-17 lead.
The Elks scored on their first possession of the game. Rankin scored on a five-yard TD run to cap a seven-play, 100-yard drive and Blanchard converted.
Oliveira fumbled at Edmonton’s 13-yard line later in the quarter and the Elks returned it deep in Winnipeg territory. However, the defense held and Blanchard kicked a 15-yard field goal to make it 10-0.
Midway through the second quarter, Edmonton was gifted a Dante Daniels fumble at the Winnipeg 30-yard line. Five plays later, backup quarterback Cole Snyder scored on a one-yard run and Blanchard converted.
The Bombers scored for the first time in the final minutes of the first half.
Collaros capped the eight-play, 80-yard drive with a 26-yard touchdown strike to Tim White. Castillo’s conversion made it 17-7 with four seconds remaining.
It was Winnipeg’s 16th consecutive capacity crowd record. The CFL record is 23 (Saskatchewan Roughriders).
COME
The Elks will play the Lions in BC on July 4.
The Bombers will face the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton on July 5.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2026.
© 2026 Canadian Press
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.