STREAMING CFL PPV: Edmonton Elks @ Calgary Stampeders, Sept. 5, 22:00 CET (10 pm, 4 pm ET)
CALGARY — The Edmonton Elks will travel to McMahon Stadium to clash with the Calgary Stampeders in the 61st edition of their Labour Day Classic rivalry on Monday afternoon.
Of the previous 60 games, the Elks boast a 30-29-1 record over their provincial rival, including a 32-20 victory in the 2021 rendition of the Labour Day meeting. Last season’s long-weekend win over Calgary snapped an eight game Labour Day losing streak for Edmonton.
The two West Division opponents have already faced off twice already this season, with Calgary claiming wins in both matchups. However, the two teams have not seen each other since Week 5 of the season.
OK TIRE LABOUR DAY WEEKEND
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In speaking in a team media session earlier this week, Elks head coach Chris Jones said that he knows how important the Labour Day Classic games have become across the league.
“It’s at the top of the heap,” Jones told GoElks.com. “All of them are tough, that’s the Labour Day Classic. We’re going to coach 100 per cent, play 100 per cent. What makes it exciting is the history in the games and the fans. You can feel the energy in there.”
Edmonton quarterback Taylor Cornelius will make his first Labour Day Weekend start and will be looking to rebound after completing just 37.8 per cent of his passes in a Week 12 loss to Ottawa.
However, Monday’s meeting with Calgary should provide an opportunity for Cornelius to build upon a less than desirable performance from Week 12. The Stampeders defensive unit has allowed a league high 300.5 passing yards per game.
Unfortunately for Cornelius and the Elks, they will be without their leading receiver in Kenny Lawler, as he suffered an ankle injury in their Week 12 matchup that will force him to miss some time.
Already missing receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux due to injury, the absence of Lawler will leave Edmonton with a big hole to fill on the offensive side of the ball.
Veteran receiver Derel Walker and rookie offensive weapon Kai Locksley, become the team’s two leading pass-catchers without Lawler or Arceneaux in the lineup.
Walker has reeled in 34 of his 64 targets for 397 yards and a touchdown through nine games this season. While Locksley has shown to be a playmaker from a variety of offensive formations within the Edmonton offence. The first-year Elk has caught 15 passes for 238 yards, has carried the ball 29 times for 83 yards, scoring six touchdowns and has also completed five of eight passing attempts for 50 yards on the year.
Defensively, the Elks have been one of the best in the league when it comes to stifling opposing quarterbacks. Edmonton’s secondary has surrendered an average of 257.9 passing yards per game, the second lowest average across the league.
Despite their ability to limit opposing offences through the air, the Elks have recorded just seven interceptions this season, the fewest among any team.
Earlier in the week the Elks announced that they had traded defensive lineman Thomas Costigan and defensive back Nafees Lyon to the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for defensive lineman Avery Ellis and a third-round pick in the 2023 CFL Draft.
Costigan was second on the Elks with three sacks, while Lyon was responsible for a sack and an interception. Ellis brings three sacks and 17 defensive tackles to the Elks defence and will make his debut in Monday’s Battle of Alberta.
Without Costigan, the defensive line will rely heavily on Ellis, Jake Ceresna and Matthew Thomas to stop the run game and put pressure on Calgary quarterback Jake Maier.
Maier will make his second straight start for the Stampeders after an impressive season debut which saw him complete 23 of his 28 passing attempts, throwing for 294 yards and three touchdowns against a tough Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence in Week 12.
Running backs Ka’Deem Carey and Peyton Logan will pose a dual threat attack against Elks defence that has struggled mightily against the run. Against the Bombers, the pair of Calgary ball carriers combined for 113 yards on 17 carries with Carey leading the way with 62 yards on 11 rushing attempts.
The offensive backfield of Carey and Logan will once again have an opportunity to shine as the Edmonton run defence surrenders a league-high average of 116.8 yards to opposing ground games.
Calgary receiver Malik Henry broke 100-yards receiving for the third time this season with an electrifying performance against the Bombers a week ago. Henry caught seven of his 10 targets in the game, turning upfield for 122 yards, he was also on the receiving end of all three of Maier’s passing touchdowns in Week 12.
Henry was named a CFL Top Performer for his Week 12 effort. It’s the type of play Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson wants to continue to see from the second-year wideout.
“What I’m hopeful for him, is that he can keep stacking games together,” Dickenson told Stampeders.com. “Player of the Week is outstanding, I just want him to keep stacking those games together and keep being a weapon.”
With Calgary’s struggles defending the pass, putting pressure on Cornelius will be critical to their success. As a unit they’ve recorded 23 sacks, knocked down 28 passes and have a league-leading 15 interceptions.
Calgary rookie Titus Wall has had an incredible first season in the CFL and leading his team with three interceptions, while also recording two forced fumbles and returning a fumble for a touchdown to start the season.
Unfortunately for the Calgary defence Wall will be unavailable for Monday’s matchup, meaning that Jonathan Moxey, Elie Bouka and Brad Muhammad will be relied upon to make plays in the Stampeders secondary.
A win for Calgary would move them to 7-4 on the year and bring them to within two points of the BC Lions in the West Division standings.
AFI, Visaic and the CFL
American Football International is collaborating with Visaic and the Canadian Football League to present 2022 CFL games live. This is more than a livestream. This is a stream of the topflight TSN network television broadcast.
Watch the game live here PPV. Edmonton Elks @ Calgary Stampeders, Sept. 5, 22:00 CET (10 pm, 4 pm ET)
