Eskimos secure Canadian Football League playoff spot
The Edmonton Eskimos are going to the CFL playoffs for the 34th consecutive season.
Ricky Ray's touchdown on a quarterback sneak with less than a minute to play helped the Eskimos squeak out a 19-18 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday afternoon before a season-high 53,216 at Commonwealth Stadium.
Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray scrambles during the second quarter on Saturday.
The crucial West Division matchup guarantees the Eskimos (10-6) a berth in the CFL's post-season, while the Roughriders (8-8) will have a chance to secure a spot next week.
Ray completed 20-of-32 passes for 231 yards to become only the third quarterback in team history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season. Warren Moon (1982 and 1983) and Jason Maas (2004) were the others.
Kicker Sean Fleming accounted for the rest of Edmonton's scoring, hitting field goals from nine, 25, 38 and 28 yards.
"I've got my swagger back," said Fleming, who suffered a rough patch earlier in the season. "I want to get out there and be the guy."
Saskatchewan had one final shot at victory after Edmonton was flagged for pass interference with three seconds left on the clock. But Roughrider kicker Paul McCallum's 51-yard field goal attempt was short and wide, giving the Eskimos the win.
The Roughriders held an 18-12 lead with three minutes remaining in the game, only to find the slim lead disappear thanks to a superb ground game by newly-acquired running back Troy Davis.
Davis, the CFL's rushing leader a year ago, was recently picked up in a blockbuster trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and has made an immediate impact.
On the nine-play, 83-yard drive that won the contest, Ray relied on his new teammate to find holes and slash his way through a tired Roughriders defensive front.
Davis finished Saturday's contest with 96 yards rushing (17 carries) and 65 yards receiving (six receptions).
The Riders took a 14-9 lead into the dressing room on the merits of a one-yard plunge by quarterback Marcus Crandell and a 86-yard punt return by CFL on CBC Warrior of the Game Corey Holmes.
McCallum added a 22-yard field goal in the fourth and a single to account for Saskatchewan's scoring.
Ricky Ray's touchdown on a quarterback sneak with less than a minute to play helped the Eskimos squeak out a 19-18 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders Saturday afternoon before a season-high 53,216 at Commonwealth Stadium.
Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray scrambles during the second quarter on Saturday.
The crucial West Division matchup guarantees the Eskimos (10-6) a berth in the CFL's post-season, while the Roughriders (8-8) will have a chance to secure a spot next week.
Ray completed 20-of-32 passes for 231 yards to become only the third quarterback in team history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season. Warren Moon (1982 and 1983) and Jason Maas (2004) were the others.
Kicker Sean Fleming accounted for the rest of Edmonton's scoring, hitting field goals from nine, 25, 38 and 28 yards.
"I've got my swagger back," said Fleming, who suffered a rough patch earlier in the season. "I want to get out there and be the guy."
Saskatchewan had one final shot at victory after Edmonton was flagged for pass interference with three seconds left on the clock. But Roughrider kicker Paul McCallum's 51-yard field goal attempt was short and wide, giving the Eskimos the win.
The Roughriders held an 18-12 lead with three minutes remaining in the game, only to find the slim lead disappear thanks to a superb ground game by newly-acquired running back Troy Davis.
Davis, the CFL's rushing leader a year ago, was recently picked up in a blockbuster trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and has made an immediate impact.
On the nine-play, 83-yard drive that won the contest, Ray relied on his new teammate to find holes and slash his way through a tired Roughriders defensive front.
Davis finished Saturday's contest with 96 yards rushing (17 carries) and 65 yards receiving (six receptions).
The Riders took a 14-9 lead into the dressing room on the merits of a one-yard plunge by quarterback Marcus Crandell and a 86-yard punt return by CFL on CBC Warrior of the Game Corey Holmes.
McCallum added a 22-yard field goal in the fourth and a single to account for Saskatchewan's scoring.
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