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EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks will host the CFL West final for the first time in more than a decade.
Cody Fajardo ran for two touchdowns and passed for two more as Edmonton cruised to a 35-27 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday. Edmonton hasn’t hosted the Western Conference finals or even a home playoff game at all since 2015.
“It feels great,” Elks head coach Mark Kilam said. “We had a great opportunity to win at home in front of our fans, so I’m very proud of the players who found their way tonight.”
Fajardo completed 12 of 17 pass attempts for 120 yards for the Elks (13-4).
“That’s so sweet,” he said. “I told the players this is the third of five phases and we crossed it off our list. Getting the Western Conference final in front of our fans, they were the difference tonight.
“It was huge three-phase football tonight, I’m very proud of this team.”
The Blue Bombers (8-9) fell short in their bid to secure a playoff spot, but could still earn a post-season berth this weekend if Calgary loses to BC on Saturday.
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“It wasn’t good enough,” Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea said. “We were in the wrong position for five or six games. It’s like every game.
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“The winners usually get five or six points and those who don’t go home wishing they had.”
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros completed 28 of 33 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
“You can’t make mistakes, you can’t lose the turnover battle,” he said. “You can’t throw an interception when you’re driving to potentially take the lead in a game. That’s on me.
“When you make a mistake that big, it will cost you.”
After failing to score on their first drive, the Blue Bombers mounted another strong drive with five minutes left in the opening quarter and capped it off with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Collaros to Nic Demski.
The Elks responded with an 18-yard field goal from Vincent Blanchard to close the quarter.
Collaros was picked off at the Winnipeg nine by Kenny Logan Jr., which led directly to a pass from Fajardo to Shunderrick Powell, who struggled to reach the end zone. Fajardo has gone three straight games without a TD pass.
The Bombers’ QB made up for it on the next series when he hit Ontaria Wilson deep in the end zone for a 32-yard TD strike.
Winnipeg kept it going with a one-yard TD run by backup QB Bryce Perkins.
However, after a 65-yard kickoff return by Montrell Washington, the Elks converted a third down gamble with two seconds left in the first half on a four-yard TD pass from Fajardo to Austin Mack to cut Winnipeg’s lead to 21-17 midway through.
Edmonton continued that momentum to start the third quarter as Fajardo finished a long drive with a one-yard TD plunge. They added one on the next kick.
The Bombers pulled one back on a 23-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo, but he hit a 55-yard upright on the next attempt.
Blanchard kicked 52 yards for the Elks.
Edmonton took a 35-24 lead with 1:39 remaining when Fajardo scored again from two yards out.
Castillo kicked a field goal from 53 yards.
Notes
The Elks picked up their third straight win over Winnipeg, having previously beaten the Bombers 23-18 and 22-18 this season. The last time Edmonton swept a three-game series against Winnipeg was in 1979… Demski caught his 47th career TD pass, tying him for first among active players with Kenny Lawler.
Furthermore
Winnipeg: Travels to BC to face the Lions to close out regular season play next Friday.
Edmonton: Finishes the regular season at Saskatchewan against the Roughriders next Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
© 2026 Canadian Press
