Canadian quarterback Tre Ford starts for the Edmonton Elks on Canada Day in Hamilton – Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

Seeking their first win of the 2022 CFL season, the Edmonoton Elks are turning to a Canadian to start at quarterback. Tre Ford will get the call on Canada Day against the Tiger-Cats from Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton in a 0-3 tag team battle.

The Elks selected Ford eighth overall in this year’s CFL Draft. The Waterloo Warriors product won the Hec Creighton Award in 2021 given to the best soccer player in USports.

In six games last season at Waterloo, Ford led the OAU in passing with 1,465 yards, throwing 10 touchdown passes and four interceptions. Ford added 629 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns.

Ford said he has been doing everything he can to prepare for his first CFL appearance in a short week.

“I found out earlier in the week, coach told me so I could mentally prepare for the game, and that’s what I’ve been doing,” Ford said. “It was a shorter week, so we didn’t get our full practice time, but I have to stay on my toes mentally. Read the defense, watch the blitzes and see if it all works out for our offense.”

Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford talks about his first CFL start in Hamilton on Canada Day

In the first three games, Nick Arbuckle recorded 795 passing yards, throwing two touchdown passes. Arbuckle has also thrown six interceptions, which is tied for the CFL lead with Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans.

Head coach Chris Jones says Arbuckle won the starting job out of training camp based on his experience and that his numbers during camp were slightly above Ford’s. Jones says now is the time to make a change.

“We are 0-3 now. We’ve played good football but also inconsistent football,” Jones said.

“Tre will bring a different package to the game and different skills compared to Nick, so we will try to win the football game.

“Every decision we make is to win the football game and we feel like Tre is hopeful to bring some things that we need to our team.”

Edmonton Elks Head Coach Chris Jones on his decision to start Tre Ford at QB against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Canada Day

The Elks’ offense took a hit Thursday morning when running back James Wilder Junior was placed on the team’s six-game disabled list with a shoulder injury.

Wilder Junior missed some practice time in recent weeks. Jones says the shoulder has been a problem for Wilder Junior in his last two games.

Sherman Badie will make his first CFL start as a running back. He dressed in last week’s 30-23 loss to the Calgary Stampeder.

In two preseason games, Badie rushed three times for 28 yards and caught three passes for 11 yards.

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Linebacker Deon Lacey has been placed on the one-game disabled list.

Last week in Calgary, Lacey led the Elks in defensive tackles with 10.

Sheldon Brady will start at middle linebacker after missing last week’s game with a knee injury.

Jeawon Taylor re-signed with the team this week and will start at linebacker for SAM, recording five defensive tackles and a special teams tackle in two preseason games.

The following are the projected offensive and defensive starters for the Elks:

Offense

Quarterback: Tre Ford

Running back: Sherman Badie (wingback: Tanner Green)

Offensive Line: Tony Washington, David Foucault, David Beard, Mark Korte, Martez Ivey

Receivers: Derel Walker, Kenny Lawler, Emmaneul Arceneaux, Kai Locksley, Mike Jones

Defending

Defensive Line: Thomas Cositgan, Makana Henry, Christian Rector, Matthew Thomas

Linebackers: Adam Konar, Brady Sheldon, Jeawon Taylor

Defensive backs: Jalen Collins, Ed Gainey, Scott Hutter, Treston Decoud, Nafees Lyon

You can listen to live coverage of the Canada Day game between the Elks and Tiger-Cats at 630 CHED, starting with Countdown to Kickoff with Brenden Escott at 4 p.m. Kickoff from Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton will be at 5:30 pm with Morley Scott and Dave Campbell featuring analysis of former Edmonton football team offensive lineman and two-time Gray Cup champion Blake Dermott.

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