Ottawa Redblacks fans were hoping for a statement win on Thursday, but instead watched Justin Rankin and the Edmonton Elks run away with a 40-17 victory.
Rankin Takes Over
Rankin was the story of the night, punching in three touchdowns as Edmonton returned to its "newfound winning ways," according to CBC's report on the matchup. The Elks' ground attack proved too much for the Redblacks defence to contain, with Rankin finding paydirt again and again as Edmonton built a commanding lead.
A Rough Night for Ottawa
For the Redblacks, a 40-17 final is the kind of scoreline that stings — a 23-point margin that left little room for a late comeback. Ottawa fans who packed in to cheer on the home side (or tuned in from around the capital) saw their team unable to slow down Rankin or match Edmonton's offensive output through the night.
The loss adds to what's been a challenging stretch for the club, and it's another reminder of how quickly a CFL season can swing on a single dominant performance from an opposing player. Rankin's three-touchdown outing was simply too much for the Redblacks to overcome, no matter how the rest of the game played out.
What It Means for Ottawa
For a city that rallies hard behind its CFL team every summer and fall, results like this one are tough to swallow. The Redblacks have built a loyal following at TD Place, and nights where the offence and defence both struggle to find rhythm — as appeared to be the case in this 40-17 defeat — are the kind that test that fanbase's patience.
Ottawa will now look to regroup and refocus heading into its next matchup, hoping to find the kind of form that can slow down high-powered backs like Rankin in future meetings. The Redblacks' coaching staff will no doubt be reviewing tape on Edmonton's rushing attack to figure out where the gaps were exploited so thoroughly.
For now, though, the result stands: a 40-17 loss that saw Edmonton's Justin Rankin steal the spotlight at Ottawa's expense.
Source: CBC Ottawa
