Eskimos win round one in a classic Alberta shootout

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The recap from TSN.ca

The turning point: There were about six different turning points in what could easily end up being the CFL’s game of the year – it so far is just that – but the biggest turning point came on the kickoff after the Stampeders touchdown. Sandro DeAngelis pooched a short kickoff that went all of 43 yards.  Eskimos kick returner Tristan Jackson actually muffed the original fielding of the kick, but with the first wave of Stampeders tacklers changing their focus from tackling Jackson to recovering the loose ball.  The shift in focus actually became a huge break for Jackson as he quickly picked up the ball and and scampered quickly for a 35 yard return to the Calgary 43 yard line.  Three plays later Ray lobbed a 23 yard touchdown pass to Fred Stamps for the Eskimos win.

The game ball goes to: There were so many great offensive performances in this game and we’ll go over those in a moment, but we’ll give the game ball to Ricky Ray who walked away tonight as the winning QB.  28 out of 37 passing for 342 yards and three touchdowns!  He also five times for 52 yards, including a great 27 yard touchdown run where he looked like a carbon copy of Henry Burris.  Speaking of Burris, hard to believe his 30 of 45 passing for an eye popping 479 yards and three touchdowns wasn’t enough for a win.  Stamps wideouts Jeremaine Copeland and Nik Lewis had 182 and 132 yards receiving respectively.   Esks running back Arkee Whitlock had 106 yards on nine rushes.  All great performances, but it was Ray’s that stood out.

Random game thoughts: Henry Burris became the Stampeders all-time passing leader in the second quarter, passing Doug Flutie’s mark of 20,551 yards  …  The Eskimos had 2 turnovers in the game while only getting one fumble return putting their turnover ratio at -12 for the season.  They still don’t have a defensive interception this season  …  The Stampeders lead the league in points off of turnovers with 98.  They had 6 points in tonight’s game  …  Stamps had won four of their last seven visits to Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium before tonight’s game  …  Eskimos running back Jessie Lumsden underwent successful shoulder surgery this past Tuesday and will be out for the rest of the season  …  Both teams will play each other two more times this season three weeks from now for the Labour Day classic and rematch the following Friday.

Final grades
Stamps Offense: A
Stamps Defense: C-
Stamps Special Teams: C+

Eskimos Offense: A
Eskimos Defense: C
Eskimos Special Teams: A

Riders strike late and hang on for last minute win

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The recap from TSN.ca

The turning point: The Stampeders had a six point lead and the ball at about midfield with a little over two minutes to go and could have easily locked up the game with a first down to either kill more time or get kicker Sandro DeAngelis closer for a field goal that would have given the Stamps a nine point lead.  Coach John Hufnagel though called two very conservative running plays that gained all of four yards.  Sandro – who was a perfect nine for nine on the season in FG attempts up to that point – then lined up on the right hash mark for a 49 yard field goal attempt that was somewhat wind aided, but pushed it wide left.  The Riders Weston Dressler ran it out of the endzone and to the Stamps 45 yard line giving them excellent field position.  Two plays later Sask QB Darrian Durant hit Chris Getzlaf with a 65 yard TD pass and run to put the Riders up by one with a little over a minute left in the game.  Calgary couldn’t muster a first down in the next two drives they were given and it was game over.

The game ball goes to: Before the game Roughriders coach Ken Miller said that unless it was obvious that QB Durant had a hot hand, he was going to put in backup QB Steven Jyles in after four or five series and despite an early TD pass from Durant he did just that, but Jyles was mostly ineffective in the second quarter and Durant was put back in at the start of the second half. Good call by Miller as Durant went 17 of 28 passing for three touchdowns and one INT.

Random game thoughts: Stamps linebacker Odell Willis picked up another sack for his league leading 7th of the season. Amazing when you consider he wasn’t even in the lineup for week one  …  Riders WR Andy Fantuz was a late scratch forcing Chris Getzlaf into the starting lineup, obviously Chris stepped up big time with five catches for a total of 101 yards and 2 TDs  …  Joffrey Reynolds ran for 112 yards off of 14 rushing attempts.

Final grades
Riders Offense: B-
Riders Defense: B
Riders Special Teams: C

Stamps Offense: B-
Stamps Defense: B-
Stamps Special Teams: C+