Stampeders aim to take down provincial-rival Elks

Both teams will look to make a move in the tightly bunched CFL West as the Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders meet twice in six days, starting Monday night in Calgary.

The Elks (3-8) will host the Stampeders (4-6) in a rematch next Saturday night, and the division rivals will close their season series in Calgary on Oct. 12.

After an 0-7 start, the Elks had their three-game winning streak snapped with a 21-17 loss at Montreal on Aug. 25.

The well-rested Stampeders have dropped their past two games, idle since a 31-29 setback to Ottawa on Aug. 15.

Calgary has Monday momentum on its side in this Labor Day Classic, having won 10 of 11 holiday-Monday games against its Alberta rival since 2012. The Stampeders are 32-8 overall against the Elks since 2009.

Running back Dedrick Mills (team-high 406 rushing yards in six games) returned to Calgary's practice roster this week following a team suspension in early August.

"I was happy to get him back," Stampeders head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson told reporters Monday. "He's just going to work hard and get into his groove. We'll see what happens there."

Edmonton is in a similar holding pattern with quarterback Tre Ford.

Ford replaced McLeod Bethel-Thompson after the Elks' 0-7 start and led them to their first two wins of the season before missing the past two games with a chest injury. Ford was limited in practice Thursday and Friday and won't start Monday.

"He'll be our No. 2," interim coach Jarious Jackson said of Ford, per 630 CHED. "We'll have Mac starting and we'll go from there. (Ford's) looked good all week. I don't see anything, any giddy-up, any hitch in his throws or what have you. He's looking good and ... progressing the right way."

Bethel-Thompson guided a 47-22 win at Hamilton on Aug. 17 before falling to the Alouettes last week, outscored 15-0 in the second half.

--Field Level Media