Courtesy Edmonton Journal:

Kamau Peterson smiled Thursday night as he watched the human storm system named Jason Maas roar off the bench for the Edmonton Eskimos.

Maas appeared to shoot out of a time machine, completing 16-of-19 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown en route to a 37-7 exhibition victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The call from head coach Danny Maciocia came in the second quarter after starter Ricky Ray left the game with a burner — or a pinched nerve — in his neck.

“Ricky and Jason? They’re really fire and ice out there,” Peterson said. “Ricky is so calm and cool out there. He’s almost like James Dean in the huddle.

“Jason comes in and curses everyone in the huddle at the same time, and then he curses the referee on his way off the field.

“He is just so intense.”

Maas hopes his raw intensity will help him succeed in the role of reliever for the Green and Gold.

Coming off the bench appears to be a comfort zone for the 32-year-old. In 2005, Maas became a folk hero of sorts by relieving Ray in two playoff games to help the Eskimos qualify for the Grey Cup.

The exhibition game on Thursday marked his first appearance for the home team at Commonwealth Stadium since the fall of 2004.

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