Niagara Falls QB Tre Ford to make his 1st start of CFL season for Edmonton Elks

Different season, same situation for Tre Ford.

The Canadian quarterback will make his first start of 2024 on Saturday night when Edmonton (0-7) visits the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-2). Ford, of Niagara Falls, Ont., started his first game last season after the Elks had dropped eight straight and ended up leading the franchise to all four of its victories over his 10 starts.

The six-foot-one, 195-pound Ford again showed his athleticism and dynamic ability in last week's 44-28 home loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He replaced starter McLeod Bethel-Thompson in the fourth quarter and quickly gave Edmonton fans something to cheer about, completing 10-of-15 passes for 121 yards and three TDs while running three times for 19 yards.

And it wasn't just that Ford was effective, he provided excitement with his ability to escape a collapsing pocket and thread the needle on a completion downfield.

Then again, that knack for turning potential disaster into something good was on full display last season when Ford not only breathed much-needed life into Edmonton's campaign but also provided long-suffering Elks fans with some optimism and hope.

Ford has been a backup since Elks signed Bethel-Thompson in the off season

But Edmonton's '22 first-round draft pick from Waterloo was relegated to backup status after Edmonton signed veteran Bethel-Thompson to a one-year deal in the off-season.

Unfortunately for Edmonton, Ford — Canadian university football's top player in 2021 — won't resolve its biggest issue this season.

Edmonton's defence is ranked last in the CFL in offensive points allowed (30.9 per game), offensive TDs (23), offensive yards allowed (390.1 per game) and eighth against the pass (310.3 yards). The unit is sixth against the run (96.9 yards per game) but tied with Hamilton for most TD passes allowed (15 each).

Edmonton enters this week's action fourth in offensive scoring (24.7 points per game) and Bethel-Thompson is fourth among CFL passers (69 per cent completion average, 1,788 yards). But the two-time Grey Cup champion has nearly as many interceptions (seven) as touchdowns (nine) and, most importantly, he's 0-7 as the Elks starter.

By comparison, Shea Patterson will chase a third win in his fifth start for Saskatchewan. Patterson hasn't been flashy since taking over for injured veteran Trevor Harris — Patterson has just two TD passes on the season— but the Riders remain tied atop the West Division standings with the B.C. Lions (5-2).

Ford will also face a Riders defence that's tops in the CFL in turnovers forced (21), interceptions (12) and fumbles recovered (eight). And Saskatchewan does a solid job of protecting the football, leading the league in fewest turnovers (10), interceptions (four) and turnover ratio (plus-11).