FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
Eskimos running back Shakir Bell runs through coverage against the Roughriders Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium. The five-foot-eight, 185-pound Bell scored a touchdown in the Esks’ 33-25 win over the struggling Riders.
There was a big cheer for Shakir.
And then another. And then another.
The Edmonton Eskimos asked and Shakir Bell answered. By the time it was over, they defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-25 at Commonwealth Stadium Friday, improving to 5-4 at the midway mark of the season after stumbling out of the gates 2-4, only to climb back above .500 with what is now a three-game win streak.
While the last-place Roughriders fell to 1-8 with their fifth straight loss, the 37,168 in the stands watched Bell play his first game of the season, getting the start in place of John White, who suffered a gruesome hand injury a week earlier in Toronto.
But that didn’t prevent him from clapping for his replacement on the home sideline Friday as the Eskimos’ ground game continued making forward progress.
On just his fourth carry of the game, Bell broke for Edmonton’s longest rush of the season, picking up 42 yards to set up on Saskatchewan’s 31-yard line.
The following snap saw Mike Reilly roll out under pressure before finding wide receiver Derel Walker at the back of the end zone for a 10-0 lead, which was assisted by an unintentional pick by the official.
Bell followed up with a 15-yard touchdown reception to make it 17-0 heading into the second quarter, moving Reilly past Jackie Parker for seventh on the club’s alltime TD passing list with 71.
More importantly, it was Bell’s second CFL touchdown after racking up 897 yards from scrimmage as a rookie last season, playing 11 games while White sat out with a ruptured Achilles.
But when it came to the big game at the end of November, Bell also found himself sitting out due to an injury of his own, missing out on the chance to get his name engraved on the Grey Cup because of three dislocated toes and a chipped bone in his foot.
Since then, Friday marked his first opportunity to contribute on the field.
“I’m just happy to have an opportunity to go out there and help the guys get a win,” said the five-footeight, 185-pound Indiana State product, who was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award in 2011. “Protect the football, protect Mike and then do everything that I do to help us win football games. Everything else will fall in place.
“I’ve just been waiting my time, I’ve been behind a great running back, definitely one of the best running backs in the league. My job is to make sure I go in there and make sure nothing is missed by John being out.”
After putting together a performance of 138 rushing yards and 32 more receiving yards, there’s no real reason to rush White back into action, either. And the Eskimos needed every bit of it.
The rest of their first-half points came off a safety sack by linebacker Deon Lacey, while Sean Whyte went 2-for-2 between the uprights. Saskatchewan finally got on the board with a 29-yard field goal by Tyler Crapigna to shrink what was a 22-0 Edmonton lead to 19 points at halftime, sparking their offence to make a game out of it in the third quarter.
Backup Brandon Bridge completed a 43-yard pass to Naaman Roosevelt, leading to a one-yard sneak by Durant to trail 22-10, ending Saskatchewan’s touchdown drought after 129 minutes and 29 seconds.
They followed up with two safety points of their own, compliments of former Eskimos linebacker Otha Foster, before Durant snuck in another to trail by three heading into the final frame.
Reilly stopped the bleeding after scrambling for a seven-yard touchdown followed by a 27-yarder by Whyte to lead 32-19.
Fellow ex-Eskimos running back Kendial Lawrence ran in a fiveyard touchdown before Crapigna missed the convert kick.
REVIEW
GAME GRADES Overall: B Offence: B Started out strong, but began easing off after taking a 22-0 lead. Defence: C Allowed the team that can’t score touchdowns into the end zone. Three times. Special teams: A Did not disappoint. Coaching: B If the players keep taking their foot off the gas, the coaches have to start stepping on some throats.
GAME BALL
Shakir Bell, RB On a night when everything looked like it could go belly up for the Eskimos, their backup running back had his feet firmly planted on the ground, combining for 170 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches.
BIG HIT
After releasing a deep ball that went for a 31-yard touchdown reception by Derel Walker, Eskimos QB Mike Reilly was drilled by DE Tony Criswell, who was flagged for an obvious late hit. Unfortunately, Eskimos K Grant Shaw wasted the penalty, which was tacked onto the ensuing kickoff, by drilling it harmlessly out the back of the end zone.
BIG SNEAK
It took a 43-yard bomb by the backup quarterback and a pass-interference call that led to a one-yard sneak by Darian Durant for the Roughriders to end their end zone drought that lasted 129 minutes and 29 seconds.
BIG DROP
After coming up with some onsidekick trickery, the Roughriders were deflated when a long bomb slid through the hands of Caleb Holley, who had two steps on CB Patrick Watkins down the sideline in the third quarter.
BIG BRONZES
Canadian rugby player Jen Kish and national soccer goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe were flashing their bronze medals from Rio while signing autographs prior to the opening kickoff and being acknowledged on the jumbotron to a standing ovation.
NEXT UP:
Following a bit of a break, Eskimos will take to the QE2 for the first time this season, opening the annual Labour Day series against the Calgary Stampeders on Monday, Sept. 5. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.