Eskinews

                 While the Edmonton Eskimos have come a long way in the past year, they did not want their season to end the way it did Sunday afternoon in B.C.  After finishing last in the Western Conference last year, they were one win away from getting to the Grey Cup…the only thing that stood in their was the B.C. Lions!  History had been kind to the Eskimos when it came to playing the Lions in WDF’s, but it was not to be this year.

                 For the Eskimos to be successful, they would have to play a good first quarter while the Lions were trying to find there rhythm after resting for two weeks in anticipation of this game.  Edmonton was not able to do that and ended up trailing 6-0 at the end of the first.  The Eskimos did kick a field goal to make the score 6-3, but that would be as close as they would get as the Lions scored the next 20 points to take a 26-3 lead into half time.  That pretty much sealed their fate…  The Eskimos teased their fans in the second half closing the gap to 33-17 with just over 9 ½ minutes left in the game.  The Lions next drive was a 2-and-out followed by the Eskimos driving the ball to mid field before Ray threw yet another costly interception to turn the ball over.  On the very next play, Travis Lulay ran the ball 61 yards for a touchdown to make the score 40-17, thus ending any chance they really had.  The play reminded me of the long rush by Buck Pierce against the Eskimos back in August that settled the game as well.

                Statistically, this game was closer than the score would suggest but the Lions made the most out of their opportunities, while the Eskimos did not.  For fans who were waiting for Ricky Ray to work some of that ‘playoff magic’, he had a rather ordinary effort and turned the ball over three times (2 interceptions and a fumble) in the loss.  In hindsight, I am not overly upset that the Eskimos lost this game…had they won, the changes that need to be made would not likely have happened.  Instead, the coaches will look at the game film and realize that this team has issues with tackling, protecting their quarterback and being able to move the ball successfully on the ground.

                Now that the players season is over, the Eskimo coaches and GM will take center stage as they break down game film over the coming weeks to decide what the teams needs are and how they will be addressed.