Edmonton Eskimos' Dario Romero carries the ball against Saskatchewan Roughriders' Dan Goodspeed (R) after recovering a fumble during the first half of their CFL football game in Edmonton August 28, 2010. REUTERS/Dan RiedlhuberDAN RIEDLHUBER/Reuters
Edmonton scored 17 unanswered points, including two late field goals from Noel Prefontaine, as the Eskimos beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 17-14 on Saturday night for their second win of the season.
With Saskatchewan leading 14-11 with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, T.J Hill picked off Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant at midfield, leading to a huge 52-yard field goal by Prefontaine to even the score.
Edmonton got the ball back and Prefontaine nailed a 37-yarder with just 37 seconds remaining to give the Eskimos a much-needed victory in front of a crowd of 47,829 at Commonwealth Stadium.
Edmonton (2-6) snapped a two-game losing skid to move into sole possession of the third in CFL's West Division.
Saskatchewan remains comfortably in second at 5-3.
The Roughriders started the game with a workmanlike drive but were stopped short of scoring when Durant was intercepted by Eskimos linebacker Maurice Lloyd on the Edmonton 29.
But an interception going the other way six minutes into the game would provide the game's first points. Edmonton QB Ricky Ray was cleanly picked off by James Patrick and he took it back 35 yards for a 7-0 Riders lead.
The Roughriders made it 14-0 with late in the first quarter as Wes Cates scored his league-leading ninth touchdown of the season, running 10 yards untouched.
Edmonton got a big play early in the second as Corbin Sharun blocked a punt and Jason Barnes picked it up and ran it 31 yards to the Saskatchewan eight. Jared Zabransky came in at quarterback and delivered a shovel a pass to Arkee Whitlock on the next play to make it 14-7.
Zabransky stayed in the game but was intercepted in the end zone by Patrick, his second of the game.
Edmonton got the ball right back, however, as Kai Ellis rocked Durant and Dario Romero scooped it up and took it to the Saskatchewan seven. But once again, Edmonton wasted a glorious chance, blowing a third down gamble with just 39 seconds left, turning the ball over again to keep the 'Riders in the lead at the half.
The Eskimos offence got another great chance to start the third as a ball bounced off of 'Riders receiver Prechae Rodriguez and into the hands of Jason Goss at midfield. But Edmonton gave it right back as Zabransky was intercepted by Patrick - his third of the night - at the Saskatchewan 26.
Edmonton got back into scoring position late in the third after a 40-yard pass to Andre Talbot but once again couldn't convert, this time at least getting a Prefontaine field goal to cut the lead to 14-10.
Edmonton added a punt single to start the fourth.
The 'Riders return to the field Sept. 5 when they host Winnipeg. Edmonton visits Calgary for the Labour Day Classic on Sept 6.
Notes: Despite suffering a rib/sternum injury against the Stampeders on Aug. 15th, Ray got the start against the Roughriders, but was replaced in the second quarter. He would return late in the fourth. ... Omarr Morgan started at corner for the 'Riders after missing a pair of practices earlier in the week with a stomach virus. ... In their first seven games this season the Eskimos passed for seven touchdowns, threw seven interceptions, intercepted seven passes and lost seven fumbles. ... The Roughriders came into the game winners of seven of the last 10 against Edmonton but with a 6-25 record in Commonwealth Stadium since 1989. ... DB Lance Frazier was playing in his 50th CFL game, all with the 'Riders. ... Edmonton came into the contest having been outscored 51-14 in first quarters and 98-24 in the fourth. ... Thirty-year veteran referee and Edmonton native Bud Steen worked his 500th CFL game.