No matter who the Edmonton Elks face in next week’s West Division final, expect a hard-fought, closely contested game. While the Elks finished three wins ahead of the B.C. Lions to claim top spot in the West, the division’s second- and third-place teams are legitimate contenders as well, says one Canadian Football League insider. TSN reporter Matthew Scianitti said it will be difficult for the third-seeded Saskatchewan Roughriders to beat the second-seeded Lions at B.C. Place in Vancouver, given the season quarterback Nathan Rourke has had and the offensive “weapons” around him, including Zander Horvath and Keon Hatcher. Horvath led the CFL with 18 rushing touchdowns, while Hatcher recorded 1,147 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The Lions won nine of their final 11 meaningful games before closing the regular season with two largely inconsequential losses to finish 10-8. But the Roughriders are the defending Grey Cup champions and are led by veteran quarterback Trevor Harris, who topped the CFL with 5,370 passing yards and threw 32 touchdowns despite injuries to key receivers Kian Shaffer-Baker and Samuel Emilus, as well as several members of the defensive secondary. “It’s going to be tough for Saskatchewan, but (head coach) Corey Mace has built – much like Mark Killam has tried to build in Edmonton – a room that has a strong culture and a sense of togetherness,” Scianitti told CTV News Edmonton on Friday. “They’re going to need it, because inside B.C. Place, the B.C. Lions are going to be tough to beat.” The CFL announced Kilam as a finalist for coach of the year honours Friday, along with B.C.’s Buck Pierce and Montreal’s Jason Maas. And it’s not as though the Elks finished first with a record of 13-5 by accident. Quarterback Cody Fajardo ranked fourth in the CFL with 4,788 passing yards, just ahead of Rourke’s 4,614. Receiver Austin Mack finished with 1,254 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, while running back Justin Rankin placed second in the league with 1,170 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. All three West Division contenders boast standout defenders, including several Elks players who rank among the league leaders in interceptions and sacks. The CFL semifinals begin Saturday at 11 a.m. MT, when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers face the Toronto Argonauts in the East Division semifinal. The Lions host the Roughriders at 2:30 p.m. MT. The winner advances to face Edmonton in the West Division final at 5:30 p.m. MT on Nov. 7 at Commonwealth Stadium. The Grey Cup, being hosted this year in Calgary, goes eight days later. “Edmonton, get ready for that West final,” Scianitti said. “It’s going to be a hell of a show at Commonwealth Stadium in a couple of weeks.” Elks GM extended The Elks announced Friday they have extended the contract of executive vice-president of football operations and general manager Ed Hervey, who returned to the organization last season. The 53-year-old previously served as the club’s general manager from 2013 to 2017, a span that included Edmonton’s most recent Grey Cup championship in 2015. The team did not disclose the length or financial terms of the extension. Hervey, who told reporters Friday he is “excited about the opportunity to continue to work here and lead this department and build a team that our fans can be proud of,” has a long history with the franchise. He spent eight seasons as a receiver from 1999 to 2006, helping the then-Eskimos win two Grey Cups, before moving into scouting and eventually being promoted to general manager in 2013. “When I was a young player trying to find my way in professional sports and professional football, Edmonton was the opportunity, and with that opportunity, I was able to do some things for my family that I probably wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise or taken a longer time to do,” Hervey said. “The community has embraced me and allowed me to go through my growing pains as an exec, as a player, the highs and lows of it. But my care for this place can’t be measured. I want to see this place do well. Edmonton is a city that’s taking care of me, and as far as this football team is concerned, the people who know me know that I’m going to put all my effort into ensuring that this football team is in the best hands.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Kent Morrison and Sean McClune
