Eskimos wrap up Roughriders, secure second place

Mike Reilly staged an 84-yard touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter to lift the Edmonton Eskimos to a 24-19 victory over the host Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.

Reilly called his own number on the touchdown, a five-yard run that saw him dive across the goal-line.

The Eskimos' defence shut out Kerry Joseph and the Riders' offence until the final minute of the second half, while Reilly and Edmonton's special teams scored 20 unanswered points after halftime en route to their second straight win to improve to 11-5.

With the victory, the Eskimos take the season series over the Riders with one game remaining and thus lock up second place in the West Division. Both teams are assured playoff spots.

Edmonton trailed 13-4 at the break.

Reilly completed 20 of 30 pass attempts for 260 yards and an interception.

Joseph, playing in his first game in more than a year, started at quarterback for the Riders (9-7) and was 17 of 36 passing for 213 yards and a touchdown, and was intercepted twice.

After first half lead, Ridersdrop fourth in a row

Joseph provided Saskatchewan with a spark in the first half as the 41-year-old found slotback Brett Swain for a 17-yard touchdown. Swain made a pretty diving catch in the end zone for the only major score in the first half.

Chris Milo kicked a 17-yard field goal and the Riders, who have lost four straight games, enjoyed a rare lead at the half. Milo had two field goals, with the other coming from 43 yards.

Edmonton opened the second half with Kendial Lawrence returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to cut into the Riders' lead.

Hugh O'Neill's 46-yard field goal with five minutes to go in the third quarter put the Eskimos in front at 14-13.

Joseph hooked up with Korey Williams on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds remaining. The two-point convert failed.

O'Neill kicked three field goals on the day and picked up a single on a missed field goal attempt.

Adarius Bowman, who leads the CFL with 117 recpetions, had six catches to break Craig Ellis' team record for receptions in a season. Ellis had 116 catches in 1990.

Meanwhile, the Riders' offence struggled to incorporate slotback Weston Dressler in their attack. Dressler managed just two catches in the game and has only 10 receptions in his last four games.

The Riders will travel to Calgary next week to face the first-place Stampeders, while Edmonton has the bye.