Elks clinch home field for CFL West playoffs after 35-27 win over Blue Bombers

The Edmonton Elks will officially host this year’s CFL West final.

Cody Fajardo ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more as Edmonton rallied to a 35-27 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday.

Fajardo completed 12 of 17 pass attempts for 120 yards for the Elks (13-4), who have not hosted a West final or even a home playoff game at all since 2015.

Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed 28 of 33 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns.

The Blue Bombers (8-9) failed in their attempt to secure a playoff spot, but could still earn a post-season berth this weekend if Calgary loses to B.C. on Saturday.

After missing a field goal on their first drive, the Blue Bombers put together another strong drive with five minutes left in the opening quarter and capped it off with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Collaros to Nic Demski.

The Elks responded with an 18-yard field goal from Vincent Blanchard to close out the quarter.

Collaros was picked off at the Winnipeg nine by Kenny Logan Jr., leading immediately to a pass from Fajardo to Shunderrick Powell, who fought his way into the end zone. Fajardo had gone three straight games without a TD pass.

The Bombers’ QB made up for it on the next series as he hit Ontaria Wilson deep in the end zone for a 32-yard TD strike.

Winnipeg kept it coming with a one-yard TD run by backup QB Bryce Perkins.

However, after a 65-yard kickoff return by Montrell Washington, the Elks converted a third-down gamble with two seconds remaining in the first half on a four-yard TD pass from Fajardo to Austin Mack to cut Winnipeg’s lead to 21-17 at the mid-mark.

Edmonton carried that momentum forward to start the third as Fajardo finished off a long drive with a one-yard TD plunge. They added a single on the subsequent kick.

The Bombers pulled back within one on a 23-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo, but he would hit the uprights from 55 yards out on his next attempt.

Blanchard kicked a 52-yarder for the Elks.

Edmonton went up 35-24 with 1:39 remaining as Fajardo took another one in from two yards out.

Castillo kicked a late 53-yard field goal.

Notes

The Elks captured their third straight win over Winnipeg, having previously defeated the Bombers 23-18 and 22-18 this season. The last time Edmonton swept a three-game series against Winnipeg was in 1979 … Demski caught his 47th career TD pass, tying him for first among active players with Kenny Lawler.

Up next

Winnipeg: Travels to B.C. to face the Lions to close out regular season play next Friday.

Edmonton: Finishes the regular season in Saskatchewan against the Roughriders next Saturday.