3 keys to victory for BC, Edmonton in the Western Final presented by Wegovy®
Will Thompson/CFL.ca
EDMONTON — The West Division’s top two teams meet on Saturday night with a berth in the 113th Grey Cup on the line.
The BC Lions took down the Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-28 in the Western Semi-Final presented by Wegovy® while the Edmonton Elks were on a bye, awaiting the winner after claiming the division’s regular season crown.
BC won the first matchup between the two teams this season in Week 5 before Edmonton rebounded with a victory in Week 7.
Here’s three keys to victory for both teams ahead of Saturday's 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff, which can be watched on TSN and RDS in Canada, as well as on CFL+ in the U.S. and internationally.
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BC LIONS
1. KEON HATCHER SR.
Against an elite pass defence like the Elks, BC needs more out of receiver Keon Hatcher Sr. than the two passes he caught against Saskatchewan. He led the team with 1,147 receiving yards in the regular season and has the ability to anchor a strong corps alongside Jevon Cottoy, Justin McInnis and Stanley Berryhill III.
2. THREATS IN THE BACKFIELD
With eyes on quarterback Nathan Rourke, running backs Zander Horvath and James Butler have the chance to shift some of the defence’s focus. The more the pair can generate, the more space it will create for the rest of the offence. Horvath should be motivated to prove he can solve the Elks front after they held him to 36 yards on 10 carries in two games. Butler will be channelling his Week 5 performance that saw him rush for 135 yards on 15 carries.
3. RUN DEFENCE
The Lions have already shut down Elks’ running back Justin Rankin twice this season, holding him to 19 and nine yards in two games. He’s still a critical piece of the offence, though, so linebackers Adam Konar and Darnell Sankey will be busy.
EDMONTON ELKS
1. MAKING HIS OWN SPACE
BC owns the best run defence in the league, allowing just 71.3 yards per game, so Justin Rankin will have to work for every yard. If he can prove to be a threat in the pass game, it will help open up space on the ground and give him an opportunity to do damage with his legs. Rankin finished the regular season with 1,170 rushing yards and 640 through the air.
2. PASS GAME PRESSURE
The Elks defence has been its strength, allowing a league-low 338.6 yards of net offence per game. This week, the focus will be on the secondary as Rourke and his talented receivers roll into town. They’ve seen him once when he threw for 320 yards back in Week 5, but they also recorded a pair of interceptions. Defensive back Tyrell Ford and his league-leading seven picks will have to guide the way.
3. SHAKING OFF THE RUST
Quarterback Cody Fajardo hasn’t played since he completed 13 passes for 120 yards against Winnipeg in Week 20. He’s having a career season with 4,788 passing yards, and how quickly he can find his game will dictate the flow of the offence.
NEED TO KNOW:
BC finished 4-5 on the road and 5-5 against West Division opponents.
Rourke has thrown for over 300 yards in 12 of 17 games this season.
Edmonton defensive lineman Malik Carney closed out the regular season with a league-best four forced fumbles to go along with 11 sacks, the second most.
Elks’ kicker Vincent Blanchard has made 55 of 59 field goals this season, with his longest being 57 yards.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET and can be watched on TSN and RDS in Canada, as well as on CFL+ in the U.S. and internationally.