Eskimos end season on a winning note

TEAM MISSED PLAYOFFS AFTER STARTING 6-3

C.J. Gable scored a pair of touchdowns as the Edmonton Eskimos closed out a disappointing season with a 33-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Saturday.

The Eskimos (9-9) began the season with a 6-3 record, but went 2-6 in their next eight games to miss out on the playoffs in a season where Edmonton is hosting the Grey Cup.

Since the CFL went to an 18-game schedule, just two of 57 teams that started off 6-3 have missed the playoffs. Edmonton was knocked out of playoff contention prior to the season finale.

With their season now in the books, the attention will turn to finding out the fates of Eskimos GM Brock Sunderland and head coach Jason Maas. There is also uncertainty about the return of Mike Reilly at QB, as he is now a free agent.

Winnipeg (10-8) gave several starters the game off or limited their playing time as the game meant nothing in the standings for the Bombers.

The Blue Bombers finished third in the West, but still did not know at the conclusion of their game whether they were headed to Regina or Calgary next week for the Western Division semifinal.

The Blue Bombers took a 3-0 lead on a 28-yard field goal by receiver Ryan Lankford, who was filling in as kicker for a resting Justin Medlock.

Edmonton responded with a 17-yard TD pass from Reilly to a diving Duke Williams.

Less than a minute later, however, Winnipeg backup quarterback Chris Streveler, who got the start with Matt Nichols getting a breather, connected with Corey Washington, who took off for an 80-yard touchdown.

The Eskimos moved back in front on a two-yard TD run by Gable, putting him over the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the first time in his career.

Sean Whyte nailed a 47-yard field goal to give Edmonton a 17-10 lead at the half and then a 25yarder and a 38-yarder to start the third.

Gable scored his second TD from 27 yards out early in the fourth.

Johnny Augustine had a two-yard rushing major in response for Winnipeg, which then got a 29-yard TD run from Streveler to shrink the Esks’ lead.

Whyte closed out the game with a 35-yard field goal.