Riders defeat Eskimos 19-12

REGINA — Willie Jefferson’s interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter gave the Saskatchewan Roughriders a thrilling 19-12 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Monday.

The win improved the Riders’ record to 10-5 and pushed the team closer to a home playoff game. Saskatchewan sits alone in second place in the CFL’s West Division, four points ahead of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who they will face on Saturday in a key divisional matchup.

The Riders have won seven of their past eight games.

Edmonton (7-8) lost its fifth consecutive road game and dropped into fifth place in the West.

Jefferson’s 49-yard pick-six was the game’s only major score. Brett Lauther kicked four field goals for Saskatchewan. Sean Whyte kicked four field goals for the Eskimos. The Riders’ offence had scored at least 30 points in each of the past two games in wins over Toronto and Montreal. Quarterback Zach Collaros threw for more than 250 yards against Edmonton, but did not reach the end zone and was intercepted once.

Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly was picked off three times, including twice in the red zone.

With a win over Montreal on Monday, the Calgary Stampeders sit atop the West Division at 12-2.

Winnipeg is alone in third place at 8-7, and riding a three-game winning streak.

The B.C. Lions are 7-7, followed by Edmonton.