REILLY UNDER WRAPS
Riders get best of Esks in low-scoring affair and have won seven of last eight
Roughriders pass rushers Willie Jefferson and Charleston Hughes haul down Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly during action on Monday at Mosaic Stadium. The relentless Saskatchewan defence sacked Reilly five times en route to a 19-12 victory.
Willie Jefferson couldn’t have picked a more opportune time for his second pick-six of the CFL season.
The lanky defensive end returned an interception 49 yards for the game-winning touchdown in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 19-12 win over the Edmonton Eskimos on Thanksgiving Monday at Mosaic Stadium.
Jefferson’s first pick-six took place Sept. 8 during a 32-27 win over the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“That’s just a big play, (being) in the right place at the right time, a great circumstance and the gamewinner,” Jefferson said after the Riders moved closer to securing their first home playoff game since 2013.
It appeared Monday’s game would be decided by the placekickers until Jefferson extended his 6-foot-6 frame to snag a Mike Reilly pass close to the line of scrimmage and took off for the end zone.
Brett Lauther’s convert provided the Riders with a 16-12 lead with 1:37 to play in the fourth quarter.
Lauther added a 38-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining to pad the Riders’ lead.
Jefferson took his time running into the end zone, much like he did in Winnipeg.
“We were only down three when I caught the interception,” Jefferson said.
“There was only a minute-some left. I was really trying to take a little bit of time off the clock because I saw that none of the offensive linemen or the quarterback was chasing me.
“We practise (interception returns), but it doesn’t usually happen in a game,” Jefferson added. “The last couple of weeks, I’ve had an opportunity to catch two and it just so happened that they finished off in the end zone.”
The Eskimos almost completed a last-gasp attempt for the win when Reilly tossed a long pass that was caught by Bryant Mitchell on Saskatchewan’s 14-yard line.
Defensive back Ed Gainey tackled Mitchell at Saskatchewan’s eight-yard line, keeping the Eskimos from scoring a touchdown that could have allowed the Eskimos to go for the tie by kicking an extra point or the win by going for two with no time remaining.
“I was thinking I should go get me another interception,” said Gainey, who recorded an interception earlier in the game.
“I saw the way he threw the ball and he has a strong arm and he threw a rocket.
“I stood back and I knew I wouldn’t get that one. Luckily I did (stand back), because I ended up getting the tackle.”
The result improved the Riders’ record to 10-5. They maintain sole possession of second place in the West Division.
The Calgary Stampeders (12-2) remain alone in first place after beating the Montreal Alouettes 12-6 on Monday.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-7) are in third place, followed by the B.C. Lions (7-7) and Edmonton (7-8).
The Roughriders face the Blue Bombers on Saturday, visit the Stampeders Oct. 20, and close out the regular season Oct. 27 by hosting the Lions.
The Riders’ third and final bye week is the last week of the regular season.
“We’re really just chasing Calgary right now,” Gainey said.
“We’re not making it about them because it will always be about us, but they are on top and hopefully the football gods continue to look out for us.”
The football gods have seemingly looked after the Riders since they lost 26-19 to the host Eskimos Aug. 2. The Riders are 7-1 since, whereas the Eskimos are 2-6.
“I remember pretty vividly we had five quarterback-sneak situations (on Aug. 2) and we didn’t get one of them or we would have won that football game,” said Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager. “It’s satisfying to come out of here with a win and try every week to get a little bit better.”
Lauther connected on four of six field-goal attempts, with his misses coming from 46 and 50 yards.
He had connected on 18 consecutive field goals until pushing a 46-yard attempt wide in the third quarter.
We practise (interception returns), but it doesn’t usually happen in a game. The last couple of weeks, I’ve had an opportunity to catch two.
“It was nice to hit that one at the end, but I let the guys down in such a tight game when we needed those kicks and those points,” Lauther said.
“Willie definitely saved me from a lot of trouble with the media and everything.”