Grey Cup rematch is of crossover variety
Division final week
East Division Edmonton at Ottawa Sunday, 10 a.m. TD Place
Storylines
n THE ARM OF REILLY: Ticats linebacker Simoni Lawrence drilled Esks quarterback Mike Reilly’s left (non-throwing) arm and knocked him out of Sunday’s East semifinal. Reilly is vowing to play, and his shoulder will be something to watch if he is under centre.
n THE REMATCH: It’s a unique non-Grey Cup rematch, because the Eskimos are invading the East Division playoff bracket via the crossover. Last November at Winnipeg’s Investors Group Field, the Esks defence frustrated Henry Burris and the Redblacks offence. Edmonton’s defence isn’t as good this year.
n HISTORY LESSONS: The Eskimos and Redblacks organizations don’t like one another. The Esks wouldn’t let the Redblacks’ log cutters perform at the Grey Cup, and the Redblacks responded by asking for compensation when Edmonton hired Jason Maas away from the nation’s capital.
Injured starters
Edmonton: WR Nate Coehoorn, LT Tony Washington, CB John Ojo
Ottawa: LT Sir Vincent Rogers, WR Chris Williams, RB William Powell
Man games lost to injury
(regular season) Edmonton: 202 Ottawa: 265
Season series
June 25 at Edmonton: 45-37 Ottawa (OT)
Aug. 6 at Ottawa: 23-20 Ottawa
Season series stars
Edmonton: Wide receiver Derel Walker had seven catches for 149 yards in the OT game, while linebacker J.C. Sherritt returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown in the second match.
Ottawa: Trevor Harris replaced the injured Henry Burris in the first game and completed 17 of 19 attempts for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Greg Ellingson had 11 catches for 217 yards.
The week ahead
Edmonton (-2) at Ottawa The Redblacks won the season series 2-0 with both Trevor Harris and Henry Burris at the controls. However, if you compare the teams today to how they were when these games were played, the Eskimos are better. The same can’t be said about the Redblacks, who have scuffled along all season and became the first team to finish first in a division with a losing record. As long as Mike Reilly plays, the crossover team is going to the Grey Cup for the first time. Eskimos by 5.
B.C. at Calgary (-7.5) The Stampeders are the cream of this year’s crop, while the Lions are the next best thing. The Stamps would have swept the season series were it not for a Chris Rainey punt return touchdown and Rene Paredes momentarily forgetting how to kick field goals. Lions quarterback Jon Jennings is a budding star in this league, but he’s still no match for the Red and White. Calgary might start slowly, but it should finish with a flourish. Stampeders by 13.
Last week: 2-0
Overall: 47-36