Elks bring booming run game to face Calgary Stampeders on Labour Day

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The Edmonton Elks went on a successful run in August …

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Thanks mostly to a successful run game in the Canadian Football League.

So suddenly there’s a particular focus afoot for the Calgary Stampeders with the Labour Day Classic on tap Monday.

“We gotta stop the run,” said Stampeders defensive captain Mike Rose. “With a lot of bodies and a lot of big people, we’ve got to get in there and penetrate to make plays.”

Indeed, the rival Elks (3-8) have found their feet to truly turn around their season heading into the LDC against the host Stampeders (4-6) at McMahon Stadium (4 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).

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After an 0-7 start to the CFL season, they reeled off three straight wins in Weeks 9, 10 and 11, respectively defeating the host Saskatchewan Roughriders 42-31, the visiting BC Lions 33-16 and the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats 47-22.

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Those games saw instant offence from a blossoming ground attack — 276 yards rushing for a whopping 9.9-average per carry versus the Roughriders, 200 for a 5.7 average against the Lions and 122 for a 5.3 average in the win two weeks ago over the Tiger-Cats.

Even last week in a 21-17 road loss, the Elks found a ground-and-pound game against the vaunted Montreal Alouettes, managing 143 rushing yards and a 5.3-yard-per-haul average.

It has been an impressive assault by the Stamps’ rivals, who have jumped up to third best in the league in rushing average, with 110 per game.

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“Tackling is a big thing,” Stamps linebacker Adam Konar told Stamps TV. “I mean … not that we’ve been bad as a defence at tackling but just finishing tackles. Keeping the running backs inside the box and not letting them escape outside is a big thing, too. But just playing team defence and communicating …

“In football, it’s always not just one little fix. It’s a combination of a lot of things.”

Trouble is who do you key on if you’re Konar, Rose & Co.?

The Elks have spread the ball around in making the most from an improved ground game.

Javon Leake has 398 yards on 60 carries for a 6.6-yard average.

Fellow third-year back Kevin Brown has 326 yards on 70 hauls for a 4.7-yard average

And rookie Justin Rankin has 264 yards on 40 runs for a 6.6-yard average.

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Leake had 169 yards against the Riders.

A week later, it was Rankin with 108 yards against the Tiger-Cats.

And last week, it was Brown with 105 versus the Alouettes.

Leake has been cleared to return from a hip injury for Monday’s match-up.

“That’s a lot of bodies that can run the ball,” Rose said. “But at the end of the day, we’ve got to get in there and stop them. That’s all.”

Meanwhile, there could be more running from the quarterback position to further trouble the Stamps.

Everybody knows veteran QB Tre Ford can run. He has 79 yards on 11 hauls for a 7.2-yard average in limited action.

And Ford, who is 2-0 as a starter, is ready to return Monday from a rib injury.

But he won’t start, says Elks interim head coach Jarious Jackson.

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However, the duel-threat QB could come off the bench to spell starter McLeod Bethel-Thompson and be a situational pain-in-the-butt for the Red and White defence, which has struggled against the rush as the CFL’s worst team — a 108.8-yard per-game average.

“One’s a stand-up passer and one’s a runner,” added Rose. “So we’ve just got to make sure we play our roles and make sure we don’t let the runner run and the passer pass.”

SHORT YARDAGE

Stamps OL Bryce Bell (calf) is questionable for Monday after being limited in practice Saturday … Red and White QB Matt Shiltz (ankle) is doubtful for the tilt … And teammates OL D’Antne Demery (hand) and DL Kwadwo Boahen (back) have both been ruled out for the home side in the Labour Day Classic … Fans are encouraged to wear their black Stampeders gear when they come to McMahon on Monday as part of the Stampeders’ Labour Day Blackout event … More than 200 members of the Canadian Armed Forces will be special guests of the Stampeders on Monday as part of the CFL club’s salute to the military. The game will be preceded by a CF-18 Hornet flyover, a ceremonial flag party and a performance of the national anthem by the Royal Canadian Air Force Band. Individual members of the Canadian Armed Forces will also take the field alongside the Stampeders’ starting defence as the players are introduced. Following the game, members of the military will be on the field to meet with Stamps players and pose for a group photo. As part of the tribute to the military, part of the proceeds from 50/50 sales will go to Support our Troops and the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre … Of course, the teams then rematch five days later in the Labour Day Replay in Edmonton (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary).

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

http://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM

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