Sep
Eskimos 31 Riders 27
Courtesy Regina Leader Post:
Saskatchewan Roughriders veteran cornerback Omarr Morgan experienced the highest of highs and suffered the lowest of lows in Sunday’s CFL game against the Edmonton Eskimos.
Morgan was on top after returning a fumble for a CFL-record 108 yards for a third-quarter touchdown before 30,945 spectators at a sold-out Mosaic Stadium. Morgan was also burned for a 68-yard pass-and-run from Eskimos quarterback Ricky Ray to receiver Maurice Mann with 69 seconds remaining the fourth quarter that helped Edmonton pull out a thrilling 31-27 victory.
“I didn’t know that I set a CFL record but that was a highlight,” Morgan said after Sunday’s game. “It didn’t really matter because they made a play on me at the end. That was as high as you can get and as low you could possibly get.”
Those emotions were similar to the ones experienced by Riders head coach Ken Miller. He watched Morgan return an Arkee Whitlock fumble from Saskatchewan’s two-yard line that fuelled a comeback from a 21-10 first-half deficit. Morgan’s fumble return broke the CFL record of 104 yards set by Al Washington of the Ottawa Rough Riders on July 7, 1984.
Then Miller had to watch as Morgan, a veteran of 10 CFL campaigns with the Riders and Eskimos, bit on a pump fake by Ray and a double-fake by Mann.
“They were pretty well at opposite ends of the spectrum,” said Miller. “It didn’t look like we were going to be able to stop Edmonton in the first half. Then we had a fumble recovery that went 108 yards for a touchdown. That gave us some momentum on defence and got some things rolling on defence. To have that long touchdown was really deflating.”
That wasn’t the case in Edmonton’s locker room. Head coach Richie Hall, Ray and Mann were all celebrating a win that snapped a two-game losing streak for the Eskimos.
“This is monstrous for us as a team who is trying to find themselves amidst the playoff chase,” said Mann, who had seven receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown. “We’re doing big things right now and we just have to continue to keep working and keep the motor going.”
The playoff picture remains unclear in the West Division. The Eskimos, Riders and Calgary Stampeders are tied for first place in the West Division at 6-5. The B.C. Lions are fourth at 5-6.
The Riders and Eskimos are to complete the second half of their home-and-home series in Edmonton on Saturday.
Sunday’s victory was the second time this season that the Eskimos have pulled out an unlikely win at Mosaic Stadium. On July 25, Edmonton rallied from a 22-0 second-quarter deficit to beat the Riders 38-33.
“You never want to lose at home and to a Western opponent,” said Morgan. “We’re still up there in first place and we still have a chance to do special things. It definitely hurts because you don’t want to lose and you don’t want to lose to Edmonton.”
Ray had a great deal to do with the Eskimos recording their third win in their last 12 visits to Mosaic Stadium. Ray connected on 20 consecutive passes and did not throw his first incompletion until the third quarter.
“We were in good position the whole first half,” said Ray, who was 25 of 34 for 315 yards and two touchdowns. “We ran the ball great and we didn’t have to pick up lots of yardage. I was just trying to get the ball out quick.”
Ray also threw a touchdown pass to Fred Stamps. Whitlock rushed for two first-half touchdowns for Edmonton before having the ball stripped by Riders linebacker Jerrell Freeman. Morgan picked up the loose ball and raced untouched for the touchdown at 3:09 of the third quarter.
A missed 38-yard field goal by Edmonton placekicker Noel Prefontaine meant the Eskimos had to settle for 24-17 lead with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Riders quarterback Darian Durant connected with slotback Chris Getzlaf on a 20-yard touchdown pass. Luca Congi’s convert tied the contest 24-24. Congi later provided the Riders with a 27-24 lead on 21-yard field goal. The 27-24 advantage stood until Ray found Mann wide open behind the Riders’ secondary.
“I tried to be a smart player and play the sticks,” said Morgan. “They took a big chance at the crucial part of the game. Usually teams don’t do that but it paid off for them. You have to take your hat off to Ricky Ray, Mann and the co-ordinator (Kevin Strasser) who called the play.”
Riders running back Wes Cates scored on a four-yard run early in the first quarter.
