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Vincent Blanchard set a CFL record with nine field goals as the Edmonton Elks rallied to beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 37-35 in overtime, eliminating Hamilton from playoff contention.
Joshua Cephus caught a three-yard pass in the end zone during the two-point shootout as the Edmonton Elks returned to their winning ways with a dramatic 37-35 overtime victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday.
Cody Fajardo went 32-of-47 passing for 298 yards with one rushing touchdown and one interception as the West Division-leading Elks made it five wins in their last six. Justin Rankin had 74 rushing yards on 11 carries, while Zach Mathis had five catches for 75 yards. Kicker Vincent Blanchard broke a CFL record with nine field goals in the game.
Harrison Frost completed 17 of 34 pass attempts for 214 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions as the Tiger-Cats lost their fifth in a row. Hamilton was officially eliminated from the playoffs. Larry Rountree III had 91 yards on the ground on 13 carries with a TD. Kurleigh Gittens Jr. led all Hamilton receivers with four catches, 62 yards and a TD.
The Ticats cashed in on their opening drive with a 30-yard field goal from Marc Liegghio. Edmonton quickly responded with a 40-yard field goal from Blanchard. Hamilton took a 10-3 lead with three minutes to play in the opening quarter as Rountree blazed up the middle and shrugged off a few tackles on his way to a 39-yard touchdown. The Elks once again answered with a 37-yard Blanchard field goal.
Edmonton squandered a glorious opportunity after a punt return was fumbled away by Hamilton’s Myron Mitchell and recovered by Elk Royce Metchie at the Ticats’ 12-yard line, but all they got out of it was a 22-yard field goal from Blanchard. Blanchard put Edmonton up 12-10 with three minutes left in the second quarter with a 54-yard field goal. Edmonton closed out the half with yet another 25-yard Blanchard field goal.
Blanchard kicked his sixth field goal from 40 yards midway through the third. The Ticats surged back with a 34-yard TD pass from Frost to Gittens. The two-point convert attempt failed. The Elks finally found the end zone with three minutes left in the third as a 34-yard run by Rankin set up a one-yard quarterback keeper by Fajardo.
Hamilton once again bounced back on the first play of the fourth with a 31-yard TD pass from Frost to Tyler Ternowksi. Edmonton then kicked a punt single. The Ticats tied the game 26-26 with 6:26 remaining on a 46-yard Liegghio field goal. Liegghio missed a 51-yard attempt with two minutes remaining.
Fajardo was then intercepted on the Edmonton 33-yard-line by Reggie Stubblefield, leading to a 21-yard field goal by Liegghio to give Hamilton the lead. Blanchard tied the game with three seconds left with his seventh field goal, from 27 yards. Hamilton had first crack in OT, getting a 41-yard field goal from Liegghio. Blanchard tied the record with his eighth from 37 yards.
The Elks kicker then broke the record with his ninth, hitting from 35 yards out in the second OT. Hamiton had first down from the three on their turn but were forced to accept a 12-yard field goal to set up a two-point convert shootout. The Ticats failed to score on their first attempt, giving the Elks the chance to win it.
CFL Edmonton Elks Hamilton Tiger-Cats Vincent Blanchard Overtime
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