Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Second Effort: Big half lifts Reilly, Esks to win over Riders

CFL.ca Staff
#EDMvsSSK | #CFLPink

REGINA – A second half spârked by Kendial Lawrence and capped by Mike Reilly lifted the Edmonton Eskimos to a 24-19 win over the Sasktchewan Roughriders Sunday afternoon.

Down by two scores entering the second half, a 95-yard return touchdown on the half's opening kickoff by Lawrence helped spark a second half that was all Edmonton.

Reilly finished with 260 yards on 20 of 30 passing and added a 5-yard touchdown on the ground in the win.  Receiver Adarius Bowman finished with 6 catches for 111 yards as he set a new single-season franchise record for recpetions.  The previous record holders were Terry Vaughn (2003) and Craig Ellis (1990) who each had 106.

In what has been a season of twists and turns for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Week 17 brought yet another audible under centre as veteran Kerry Joseph made his return to Riderville.
Related: Eskimos at Roughriders


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» Video: Lawrence Rolls 95 For Return TD
» Video: Joseph is Back With TD Strike
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With Darian Durant on the shelf and both Seth Doege and Tino Sunseri deemed ineffective, the Riders leaned on the 41-year-old quarterback to make his first start in Rider Green since leading them to a Grey Cup Championship in 2007.

After winding his career down in as a backup the last few seasons in Edmonton, Joseph requested his release and was expected to officially retire at some point in 2014 before getting the call from Saskatchewan GM Brendan Taman two weeks ago.

Known for his arm-strength and mobility during his prime, Joseph tested out his right throwing arm on the game’s first play from scrimmage, looking deep down the sidelines for a receiver but the pass was incomplete.

The two teams traded turnovers – a blocked punt by Edmonton and an interception on a lateral by the Riders – but all that was produced was a 43-yard field goal from the foot of Chris Milo at 8:03 to give the Riders a 3-0 first-quarter lead.

The Eskimos got on the board early in the second quarter after completions from Reilly to Lawrence (20), Nate Coehoorn (7) and Isiah Williams (15) set up a 38 yard field goal by Hugh O’Neill to strike even.

O’Neill, who missed a field goal earlier in the game from 43 yards out, pulled another one wide left from 35 yards on the Eskimos next drive and earned just a single.

Down 4-3 and scrimmaging at their own 35 yard line on the next series, Joseph found Weston Dressler for 19 yards before earning a Pass Interference call one play later as they tried to connect.  The Riders earned an extra 20 yards on the penalty but couldn’t escape the reigning Defensive Player of the Week.  On the very next play, DE Willie Jefferson tipped a Joseph pass at the line; as the ball sailed in the air, it fell into the hands of Dexter McCoil who recorded his sixth interception of the season and a timely turnover.

Reilly and the offence couldn’t capitalize however, and the wily veteran, Joseph, silenced any critics that he could still lead an offence.

After a 30-yard punt return by Dressler gave Joseph decent field position to work with, he quickly connected with Chris Getzlaf for 21 yards and Rob Bagg for 13 more.  Joseph then gunned a pass to the goal line where Brett Swain hauled in the 17-yard major.
Video
Lawrence Silences Mosaic
The next play from scrimmage saw the Saskatchewan’s Tyron Brackenridge step in front of a Reilly pass for an interception to set up a Milo field goal from 17 yards out to give the Riders a 13-4 lead heading into halftime.

Joseph finished the half with 121 yards on 11 of 20 passing and the major.

In their last meeting, the Eskimos stunned what seemed to be an overwhelmed Riders squad to the tune of a 24-0 shutout win.  In the first half, Reilly and the Eskimos looked far from the team that earned lopsided win but as the second started, they got back in it.

On the opening kickoff, Lawrence fielded the ball at his own 15 yard line, turned up field and out-ran the Riders coverage for a 95-yard return touchdown to immediately cut the lead to 13-11.

With momentum on their side and a new half of football in front of them, the Reilly found John White for a first down and then Bowman for 14 yards to set up a 46-yard O’Neill field goal to re-take the lead 14-13 with 5:04 remaining in the quarter.

The rest of the third was all the Eskimos defence who were clogging any potential running lanes for Riders tailback Will Ford, while forcing Joseph to air it out into double coverage.  As the half came to a close, DB Cauchy Muamba sat back and read a long Joseph throw, intercepting it and returning it back into Edmonton territory.

Reilly then got the ball into the hands of White for 7 yards and Bowman for 14 to set up a 29-yard O’Neill field goal.  The kicker made up for his tough start by knocking another one through to increase the lead to 17-13 early in the fourth.

With the game still in the balance on the scoreboard, Reilly took matters into his own hands on the Eskimos’ next series.  The Edmonton gunslinger spotted Bowmn for 18 and Lawrence twice (for 22 and 17 yards) before taking a QB option to the boundary and rolling untouched to the end zone.  Reilly’s 5-yard score gave Edmonton a 24-13 lead and securing the win.

The Riders added a late major with 42 seconds left when Joseph hit Korey Williams on a slant but it wasn't enough.  Joseph finished 17 of 36 for 213 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Saskatchewan will head to Calgary next week to take on the West Division leading Stampeders while the Eskimos take their win into a bye week.

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