Edmonton Eskimos 32 Saskatchewan Roughriders 39 (August 18, 2007)
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0 commentsThe Saskatchewan Roughriders weathered a thunder-storm, pouring rain and a power outage to come out on top 39-32 over the Edmonton Eskimos Saturday night at Mosaic Stadium.
After a 45-minute delay caused by rain and lightning early in the fourth quarter, the 'Riders returned to the field in full force.
"Our guys were ready to play," said Roughrider head coach Kent Austin. "They wanted to play and they wanted to finish the game."
The first drive back resulted in a Luca Congi field goal, and later a Kerry Joseph touchdown, which pulled the 'Riders ahead of the Eskimos, who were up 32-27 before the delay.
"Guys were upbeat because we had the momentum coming in," said Joseph of the team during the break. "The break just helped us to refocus, re-energize, and go out and play well."
The sold-out crowd of 28,800 dwindled down to the several thousand die-hards, who remained in the pouring rain to watch the 'Riders pull out the win. The victory puts their record at 6-2 - the first time since 1976.
"Normally when you come in and you score 32 points, that's good enough to win," said Eskimo head coach Danny Maciocia. "Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. We weren't able to generate the type of offense that we generated in the first half."
The 'Riders started the game with the momentum they would finish with, with Joseph throwing to D.J. Flick in the end zone on the first drive after a couple of Eskimo mistakes.
The Eskimos quickly responded with a touchdown drive of their own, ending in a one-yard run by Steven Jyles.
Later on in the quarter Ricky Ray threw a 39-yard pass to T.J. Acree for another major.
The Roughriders were close to a touchdown early on in the second, but the ball bounced out of Flick's hands and into William Loftus' for an interception. The turnover would result in an Eskimo touchdown, run in once again by Jyles.
The 'Riders added some points with two touchdowns, one scored by Chris Szarka and another by Flick, to put the 'Riders on top 24-22 going into the half.
The Eskimo defense came out strong in the third. A Shannon Garrett sack on Joseph was followed up with an interception return for a touchdown by Jason Goss.
After the fourth quarter return, Congi kicked for two field goals, making one and missing another.
The Joseph touchdown secured the win.
courtesy of cfl.ca
Date
August 18, 2007
