Unfortunate actions by the captain lead to the ship's imminent demise.
In a thrilling turn of events, Cody Fajardo, the American quarterback for the Edmonton Elks, led his team to a 23-22 victory over his former team, the struggling Montreal Alouettes, in the final seconds of the game.
Fajardo's return to Montreal was more than just a reunion. Having been traded from the Alouettes last offseason, his presence was more than welcome among the struggling team, especially with their starting quarterback, Davis Alexander, injured.
The game was a nail-biter from the start, with both teams showing tenacity and determination. Fajardo, who had initially been faced with an impossible situation when the organization told him that Davis Alexander would be the starting quarterback, proved his worth as he regained his starting role in Alberta.
The decisive moment came in the last seconds of the game, when Fajardo threw a pass into the heart of the end zone, finding receiver Kaion Julien-Grant for the winning touchdown.
However, it was not a flawless performance for Fajardo. His counterpart, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, completed 66% of his passes for 79 yards, but his interception that resulted in a touchdown 10 seconds before the end of the second quarter proved costly. Bethel-Thompson expressed regret about his performance, stating he cannot hurt the team.
The Alouettes, currently the worst team in the CFL, will be without Tyson Philpot, Austin Mack, their starting quarterback, and several other players due to injury for their next game against the Lions.
Fajardo, who was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 110th Grey Cup in 2023, leading the Montreal Alouettes to a 28–24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, stated that while the Grey Cup is his best moment in life, this game comes in second, almost.
Despite the victory, Fajardo declined to comment on whether the Alouettes should have kept his services. Coach Jason Maas, on the other hand, reminded that other critical moments led to the Alouettes' defeat.
Meanwhile, the Elks are celebrating their dramatic win, with Travis Theis scoring the first touchdown on a Montreal punt return since September 2024, and the team scoring a placement after recovering a fumble by Tyler Snead.
As Fajardo continues to make his mark in the CFL, his dual-threat capability as both a passer and runner, along with his leadership and clutch performances, make him a key figure in the league. Across nine seasons, he has amassed substantial career stats, including over 18,000 passing yards, 84 passing touchdowns, and over 2,500 rushing yards with 45 rushing touchdowns.
References: [1] CBC Sports. (2025, May 15). Cody Fajardo leads Edmonton Elks to dramatic win over Montreal Alouettes. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/sports/cfl/edmonton-elks/cody-fajardo-leads-edmonton-elks-to-dramatic-win-over-montreal-alouettes-1.6026895
[2] TSN. (2023, November 27). Cody Fajardo named Grey Cup MVP as Alouettes win 110th Grey Cup. Retrieved from https://www.tsn.ca/cody-fajardo-named-grey-cup-mvp-as-alouettes-win-110th-grey-cup-1.1620756
[3] CFL.ca. (n.d.). Cody Fajardo. Retrieved from https://www.cfl.ca/player/cody-fajardo/26536
[4] The Canadian Press. (2025, May 15). Cody Fajardo leads Elks to last-second win over Alouettes. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8834528/cody-fajardo-edmonton-elks-montreal-alouettes/
[5] The Montreal Gazette. (2025, May 16). Alouettes fall to Elks in heartbreaking fashion. Retrieved from https://montrealgazette.com/sports/football/cfl/montreal-alouettes/alouettes-fall-to-elks-in-heartbreaking-fashion
In the world of sports, sports-analysis suggests that Fajardo's impressive return to Montreal against his former team, the struggling Alouettes, was more than just a reunion. Despite his rocky start with the Elks, his dramatic performance proved his worth as a valuable asset in sports, especially in football. The decisive touchdown pass to Kaion Julien-Grant in the final seconds of the game showcased his dual-threat capability as both a passer and runner, cementing his role as a key figure in the league.
