Eskinews

            It was the first home playoff game for the Edmonton Eskimos in seven years and the team did not disappoint the 30,000+ fans that showed up to take it in.  From the time I arrived at Commonwealth Stadium, I could feel the difference in the atmosphere and could tell it was going to be an intense game.  That intensity showed itself during the player introductions when Stampeder players milled about center field while the Eskimos were being introduced.  There were a number of ‘heated conversations’ that required the officials to get involved, ultimately telling the Stampeders to get back to their bench.

            Drew Tate got his first playoff start and while the Stampeders did have an 8-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, his play was rather ‘pedestrian’.  He completed only 5 of 10 passes for 99 yards with one interception and a fumble before injuring his knee near the end of the first half.  Unfortunately for him, the play that he is going to be remembered for is the fumble!  With the Stampeders in the red zone and looking to increase their five point lead, Tate took a shotgun snap that he just plain dropped.  It was recovered by Damaso Munoz, who returned it 77 yards for a touchdown that completely turned the tide of the game!  It was the beginning of a 22 point second quarter that staked the home team to a 25-9 first half lead. 

            When the Stamps came out for the second half Henry Burris was playing quarterback which fuelled speculation as to the status of Tate.  The official line was that his injured knee was not going to allow him to play the second half, but I am not convinced that was the real reason.  While the Eskimos were able to take advantage of Stampeder mistakes in the first half, the same could not be said of Calgary.  The Eskimo offense did very little in the second half, but all Calgary was able to muster was a couple of field goals and a punt single making the score 26-19 midway through the fourth quarter.

            In the end, it was the Eskimo defense that shut the door and secured the win.  I guess no one should be surprised as Edmonton gave up the second lowest ‘points against’ in the CFL this season.  The win proved costly though as Jerome Messam injured his knee late in the third quarter.  He was ‘submarined’ in what I thought was a ‘cheap’ tackle by Stampeder safety Demetrice Morley.  Messam had turned back towards the line of scrimmage to catch the ball and just as he turned back, Morley took him out below the knee which ended up tearing a meniscus causing him to miss next weekends Western Final.

            I believed that for the Eskimos to be successful against the Stampeders, they would have to protect Ricky Ray and give him time to throw the ball.  Calgary had the least amount of sacks in the CFL this year, but they were able to sack Ray three four times and that is a major concern in my mind.  The Lions have a much better pass rush and should they be able to pressure Ray with only four or five rushers, the Eskimos are going to find themselves a lot of trouble.  With Messam out for the remainder of the season, the Eskimos will likely call on Calvin McCarty to carry the load on the ground but will also have to use Hugh Charles as well to be effective.  It should be an interesting Western Final…