Photo: The Canadian Press

EDMONTON — In a game that meant nothing in the CFL standings, the Toronto Argonauts and Edmonton Elks played one of the strangest games of the season.

Jake Julien’s 54-yard punt sailed through the end zone for a rare game-winning drive as the Elks beat the Argos 31-30 in overtime Friday at Commonwealth Stadium.

The Elks took advantage of big plays and a strong running game to overcome an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit in the season finale for both teams.

Quarterback Tre Ford led the Elks (7-11) on a two-play, 90-yard drive in the final minute to end a wild fourth quarter. After a 50-yard bomb to Eugene Lewis, he connected with Zach Mathis on a 40-yard touchdown. After the extra point, the Elks led 30-27.

But Lirim Hajrullahu made a game-tying field goal for the Argos late in the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime.

The Elks entered game four with a score of 20-9.

After a four-yard touchdown run by Eugene Lewis brought the Elks within five, quarterback Ford led the Elks on a 98-yard drive, highlighted by a 71-yard pass play to Jerminic Smith . It was punctuated by a 10-yard touchdown run by Justin Rankin.

Lewis finished the game with 88 receiving yards, bringing him to 1,070 on the season. Lewis may have played his last game as an Elk, as he signed a two-year contract that paid him $320,000 per season.

But the Argos regained the lead on Deonta McMahon’s second touchdown of the game, a nine-yard pass from quarterback Nick Arbuckle.

The Argos (10-8) received 122 yards from Makai Polk and Jake Herslow caught his first career touchdown pass.

For Polk, the big night allowed him to eclipse the 1,000 receiving yards mark this season. He finished the campaign with 1,024.

Herslow prepared to catch a 29-yard touchdown pass from Nick Arbuckle in the second quarter and finished with 55 yards on the night.

Arbuckle, a former Elk, entered the game in the second quarter and threw for 378 yards. Sophomore Cameron Dukes played the first quarter for the Argos, who rested No. 1 quarterback Chad Kelly ahead of their Eastern semifinal next week against the Ottawa Redblacks.

With the game having no impact on the Argos’ standings, the team also rested their top running back, Ka’Deem Carey.

They started Tre Ford at quarterback despite him not being under contract for 2025. In the first quarter, he avoided a blitz and threw a 67-yard touchdown to running back Javon Leake, who s snuck out of the backfield.

Leake, who also had an 88-yard run early in the third quarter, finished with 128 rushing yards.

Ford passed for 325 yards, added 81 yards rushing and threw three touchdown passes.

Argos coach Ryan Dinwiddie was unable to rest all of his regular players due to the size of the CFL roster and salary cap considerations. So Argos fans will be sweating over the condition of wide receiver Damonte Coxie, who limped in the second quarter after taking a hard hit to the hip from Elks linebacker Nick Anderson.

He didn’t come back.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 25, 2024.