Winless Elks turn to Tre Ford at QB vs. Roughriders

The winless Edmonton Elks will hand the keys to quarterback Tre Ford when they visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday in Regina.

If the Elks making a midseason QB change to Ford sounds all too familiar, well, you're right. Ford assumed the starting duties for a then 0-8 club last season and immediately provided a spark, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for another in a narrow loss before guiding the team to two consecutive victories.

Last week, Ford replaced an ineffective McLeod Bethel-Thompson and completed 10 of 15 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Edmonton (0-7), however, dropped a 44-28 decision to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

"Tre came in and gave us a spark that we were looking for this past week," Elks interim head coach Jarious Jackson said on 630 CHED's Inside Sports on Tuesday. "He deserves an opportunity to try and lead this team to a win."

Ford, 26, will try his luck against an aggressive Roughriders defense that ranks first in the CFL in interceptions (12) and fumbles recovered (eight). Saskatchewan (5-2) recorded one pick and two fumble recoveries in its 29-21 win in Edmonton on June 8.

"He's an electrifying player," Roughriders coach Corey Mace said of Ford, per the Regina Leader-Post. "Obviously with the limited time that he got, he was very effective.

"Throughout his playing career in this league, he's got the capability to put you on a highlight reel."

The Elks have struggled on defense, permitting CFL highs in points (30.9) and yards allowed (390.1).

Saskatchewan failed to get its offense untracked in the second half last week, as the team squandered a 13-point lead at halftime in a 20-16 road loss to the Montreal Alouettes.

The Roughriders shot themselves in the foot with eight penalties for 105 yards. That offset a sterling performance by Frankie Hickson, who rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown while making his first start of the season for the injured A.J. Ouellette.

--Field Level Media