Elks snap record 22-game home losing streak with win over Redblacks

For the first time in 1,415 days, Commonwealth Stadium is home to a winner.

The Edmonton Elks snapped their record 22-game home losing streak Sunday with a 30-20 win over the Ottawa Redblacks.

Elks players celebrated the historic triumph by dousing embattled head coach Chris Jones in Gatorade after the final whistle.

The Elks hadn't won game in Edmonton since Oct. 12, 2019. Their home losing streak - a North American professional sports record - spanned four years, two name changes, and one canceled season. Just five weeks ago, the Elks were shut out at home by the BC Lions, a performance that led Jones to insert Canadian Tre Ford as his starting quarterback.

Ford, making his third career start, led Edmonton to victory by throwing for 317 yards and one touchdown while adding another 74 rushing yards and one major on the ground. Star wideout Eugene Lewis hauled in 112 yards and had a magnificent 66-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Ottawa tried to make things close late, finding the end zone with just over a minute to go. But the Redblacks missed the two-point attempt and then failed to recover the onside kick, all but ensuring that Edmonton would snap the home skid.

After starting this season 0-9, the Elks are now riding a mini two-game win streak. Incredibly, that puts the team in position to leapfrog the arch-rival Stampeders in the West Division standings with a win on Labour Day next week.

The Redblacks, meanwhile, dropped to 3-8 with the loss and are now 1-5 on the road this year.