Eskimos foil late Redblack comeback to remain perfect
Ottawa stays winless as Edmonton takes sole possession of 1st in West
Brandyn Thompson's fumble return touchdown turned the tide as the Edmonton Eskimos remained undefeated on the season with a narrow 23-21 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday.
The Eskimos, who were coming off a bye week, improved to 3-0 and moved into sole possession of first place in the West Division. The defending Grey Cup champion Redblacks dropped to 0-3-1.
Ottawa got on the board first with a 42-yard field goal by Brett Maher, the only points recorded in the first quarter.
The Redblacks took a 9-0 lead seven minutes into the second quarter, as a 34-yard passing play from Trevor Harris to Greg Ellingson set up a one-yard TD plunge by back-up quarterback Ryan Lindley. The convert missed.
The Eskimos came storming back with scoring plays just 27 seconds apart near the end of the second quarter to take the lead, getting a 21-yard field goal from Sean Whyte and then a touchdown on defence, as a lateral pass from Harris got away from the receiver and was scooped up and taken 31 yards into the end zone by Eskimos defensive back Thompson.
Edmonton then surged into a 17-9 lead on a four-yard TD pass from Mike Reilly to Adarius Bowman with just three seconds to play in the first half.
Eskimo Alex Hoffman-Ellis blocked an Ottawa punt midway through the third, leading to a nine-yard field goal by Whyte.
The Redblacks narrowed the gap at the end of the third quarter on a two-yard TD run by William Powell, but the two-point convert attempt failed.
Edmonton responded with a 36-yard Whyte field goal to go up 23-15.
Ottawa had a chance to tie the game with 27 seconds left after a 13-yard TD pass to Josh Stangby, but the two-point convert attempt was once again unsuccessful.
The Redblacks are right back at it on Wednesday, when they play host to the Montreal Alouettes. The Eskimos are in Hamilton on Thursday.
