EDMONTON — Cody Fajardo threw for 274 yards and a touchdown and ran for 84 yards and another score as the Edmonton Elks beat the BC Lions 28-16 in the Western Final on Saturday at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium.
Edmonton advances to the 113th Grey Cup against the Montreal Alouettes, set for Nov. 15 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.
The first touchdown did not come until the third quarter. Vincent Blanchard kicked field goals of 21 and 48 yards in the first quarter to put Edmonton up 6-0, and Sean Whyte answered with three field goals in the second quarter — from 13, 29 and 42 yards, the last with no time left in the half — to send BC into the break ahead 9-6. Whyte also missed a 50-yard attempt in the first quarter.
Blanchard tied it 9-9 from 35 yards in the third quarter, and Fajardo ran five yards for the game's first touchdown with 1:13 left in the third to put Edmonton up 16-9.
Nathan Rourke ran eight yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, and Whyte's convert tied it 16-16.
Blanchard put Edmonton ahead for good from 46 yards with 11:45 to play. Fajardo threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Mack with 6:59 remaining, the convert attempt failed, and Blanchard closed the scoring from 27 yards with 3:27 left.
Fajardo finished 25 of 30 for 274 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, and carried 10 times for 84 yards. Mack caught six passes for 85 yards and the touchdown, and Robustelli caught six for 79.
Rourke went 23 of 39 for 328 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions for BC, and ran for 32 yards and the Lions' only touchdown on five carries. Hatcher and McInnis each caught passes for 68 yards.
Blanchard went 5-for-5 on field goals and scored 16 points. Whyte was 3-for-4 and scored 10 points.
Neither quarterback threw an interception, and Edmonton did not turn the ball over. Sankey recorded two of BC's three sacks and a game-high 11 tackles. Edmonton held the ball for 34:47 and outrushed BC 122 yards to 72.
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