Eskimos hang on to hopes for West berth

HAMILTON Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly threw two touchdown passes to Derel Walker and ran in another as the Eskimos held off the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-26 in front of 24,031 at Tim Hortons Field on Friday.

Reilly hit Walker with TD strikes from 21 and seven yards TD and ran one in himself from one yard out. CJ Gable, Terrence Toliver and Jeremiah Masoli scored for Hamilton.

Edmonton (98) has a guaranteed a crossover playoff spot in the East Division, but still needs to win its final game against Toronto and have Winnipeg (10-6) lose both its games against Ottawa to stay in the West playoff picture.

Hamilton (7-10) remains second in the CFL East with a guaranteed playoff spot. With the loss, however, Ottawa (7-8-1) now needs to beat Winnipeg just once in its final two games to secure top spot in the division and a bye into the East Final.

Edmonton kicker Sean Whyte hit all three field goal attempts, from 17, 18 and 43 yards, but missed a convert.

Hamilton kicker Brett Maher was one-for-two in field-goal attempts, making a 40-yarder but missing from 28.

Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros, back after missing two games with a concussion, threw one TD pass.

After falling behind 10-0 early, Edmonton slowly began to take control by the second quarter and was up 12-11 at halftime.

Edmonton’s drive stalled to open the second half, but Whyte hit a 43-yarder to extend Edmonton’s lead to 15-11. When Hamilton next went two-and-out, Troy Stoudermire returned Maher’s 38-yard punt 33 yards and a 15-yard roughness penalty was tacked to give the Eskimos a short field to work with.

Edmonton marched the remaining 32 yards on four plays, ending with Reilly’s one-yard TD plunge and the 22-11 lead.

Hamilton Defensive back Derrius Brooks was taken off by stretcher with a suspected head-and-neck injury and transported to hospital for observation after colliding with teammate Dominique Ellis one play before Reilly’s touchdown.