Dominant Eskimos down Blue Bombers

Victory ensures playoff spot, winning season

EDMONTON — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers boarded a charter flight on Sunday to Edmonton. On Monday, they were hunted, plucked, stuffed and served up for a Thanksgiving feast.

The Eskimos gave 28,065 fans at Commonwealth Stadium much to be thankful for with a blowout 41- 9 victory.

It marked the team’s biggest win of the season, an absurdly dominant showing that improved the Esks’ record to 10- 5. The win guaranteed Edmonton’s first winning season in three years and, most importantly, clinched a berth in the Canadian Football League playoffs.

“That’s a big step. It was one of our goals for sure,” said Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly, who completed 19 of 30 passes for 197 yards.

Reilly also ran seven times for 26 yards and punched in two early short- yardage touchdowns to open up the game.

“There are a lot of goals left on that board and, now, next week, it becomes an even bigger game,” Reilly said, looking ahead to Sunday’s date in Regina with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who also clinched a playoff spot with the Bombers’ loss.

“We’re happy we clinched, but that’s not where our goals end. We’ve got a lot of work left to do, but it’s a lot better feeling than it was a year ago around here.”

The defining play came with the Eskimos up 14- 0 in the second quarter. Kendial Lawrence fumbled a punt return at the Edmonton 22- yard line. Winnipeg took the field behind quarterback Drew Willy with a golden chance to get back into the game.

Instead, Eskimos defensive end Odell Willis forced his second fumble of the game, knocking the ball away from Willy. It was eventually picked up by rookie linebacker Dexter McCoil, who ran a jagged 77 yards for a TD.

From a chance to cut their deficit in half, the Bombers were quickly down 21- 0 after Hugh O’Neill’s convert went through at 9: 12 of the second quarter.