The Edmonton Elks beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 37-35 in a second-overtime two-point shootout Saturday, with Joshua Cephus catching a three-yard pass in the end zone to secure the win. Edmonton kicker Vincent Blanchard set a Canadian Football League record with nine field goals, helping the West Division leaders return to winning ways and improve to 11-4. Hamilton fell to 4-11, lost its fifth consecutive game and was officially eliminated from the playoffs.
The Elks have won five of their last six games. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed 32 of 47 passes for 298 yards, threw one interception and added a rushing touchdown. Justin Rankin gained 74 yards on 11 carries, while Zach Mathis made five catches for 75 yards.
Hamilton quarterback Harrison Frost completed 17 of 34 passes for 214 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back Larry Rountree III ran for 91 yards on 13 carries and scored a touchdown. Kurleigh Gittens Jr. led the Tiger-Cats with four receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Hamilton opened the scoring with Marc Liegghio’s 30-yard field goal. Blanchard answered with a 40-yarder, but Rountree gave the visitors a 10-3 lead with a 39-yard touchdown run, powering through the middle and breaking several tackles with three minutes left in the first quarter. Edmonton replied with a 37-yard field goal.
The Elks then recovered a fumble by Hamilton’s Myron Mitchell after a punt return, with Royce Metchie recovering at the Tiger-Cats’ 12-yard line. Edmonton managed only a 22-yard field goal from the possession. Blanchard later put the Elks ahead 12-10 with a 54-yard kick with three minutes remaining in the second quarter, then added a 25-yarder before halftime.
Blanchard made his sixth field goal, from 40 yards, midway through the third quarter. Hamilton responded with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Frost to Gittens, though the two-point convert failed. Rankin broke off a 34-yard run to set up Fajardo’s one-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone with three minutes left in the quarter.
On the first play of the fourth, Frost connected with Tyler Ternowski for a 31-yard touchdown. Edmonton added a punt single, and Liegghio tied the game 26-26 with a 46-yard field goal with 6:26 remaining. He missed from 51 yards with two minutes left. Fajardo was then intercepted at Edmonton’s 33-yard line by Reggie Stubblefield, setting up Liegghio’s 21-yard field goal and a Hamilton lead.
Blanchard tied the game with three seconds remaining, making his seventh field goal from 27 yards. Hamilton had the first possession in overtime and took a 29-26 lead on Liegghio’s 41-yard kick. Blanchard tied the CFL record with a 37-yard field goal, his eighth of the game. In the second overtime, he broke the record with a 35-yarder.
Hamilton had first down at the three-yard line on its turn but was forced to settle for a 12-yard field goal, sending the game to a two-point convert shootout. The Tiger-Cats failed to score on their first attempt, giving Edmonton the opportunity to win. Cephus caught Fajardo’s three-yard pass in the end zone for the decisive points.
The Elks’ previous single-game record was seven field goals, set by Sean Fleming. The CFL mark had been eight, achieved five times before Blanchard surpassed it Saturday. The Canadian Press report was first published Sept. 26, 2026.
Hamilton travels to Ottawa to play the Redblacks next Friday. Edmonton has a bye before travelling to Hamilton for a rematch on Oct. 9.
Based on reporting by Global News Edmonton.