EDMONTON — Steven Dunbar Jr.’s early fourth-quarter touchdown catch proved to be the difference as the Edmonton Elks emerged with a 28-20 victory over the Toronto Argonauts in a game between two teams clinging on to playoff hopes on Friday.
The Elks (3-6) have now won two games in a row.
The Argos (2-8) have lost three straight.
The teams traded field goals on their first possessions, with Toronto kicker Lirim Hajrullahu converting a 14-yard attempt after the Argos were set up by a 56-yard catch by Dave Ungerer, and Edmonton’s Vincent Blanchard making a 30-yard boot through the uprights.
Blanchard added a 20-yard field goal late in the opening quarter.
Hajrullahu responded with a 45-yard field goal to start the second.
Toronto’s defence stepped up with a big play five minutes into the second as Wynton McManis intercepted Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo at the Edmonton 37. However, the Argos were held to a 20-yard field goal.
Edmonton finally got the game’s first major with just over a minute to play in the first half as running back Justin Rankin scampered in from two yards out.
Toronto added a punt single before halftime.
The Argos surged ahead midway through the third quarter as quarterback Nick Arbuckle floated a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jake Herslow.
The Elks clawed back to within a point behind a 52-yard Blanchard field goal to make it 17-16 with four minutes remaining in the third.
The Elks’ defence came up big late in the third, forcing an Arbuckle fumble at the Edmonton 17, that was recovered by Robbie Smith.
Edmonton marched all the way down the field, culminating in a four-yard TD pass deep into the end zone from Fajardo to Dunbar. They added a single off the ensuing kickoff to lead 24-17.
Toronto came back with a 29-yard field goal from Hajrullahu.
Blanchard attempted a 43-yard field goal but was wide for a single.
The Argos attempted a fake punt with two minutes left in the fourth but were stopped short and turned the ball over on downs at their own 35, leading to a 22-yard field goal by Blanchard.
Edmonton was able to stop a late Toronto drive to put the game away.
NOTES
Toronto had won four of the previous five meetings between the two squads. It was their first meeting of the season, with another coming in Week 15. They split the season series in 2024, with the games being decided by a total of four points. … The defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts entered the game having scored 31-plus points in their last three games and in five of their nine contests this season. However, their record when scoring that much was just 1-4. … Rankin was held to zero yards rushing on the ground in Edmonton’s previous game for the second time this season. … Blanchard also handled punting duties with Cody Grace out with a knee injury suffered in the Elks’ last game against Montreal.
UP NEXT
Argos: Host the B.C. Lions on Saturday.
Elks: Visit the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
Shane Jones, The Canadian Press
