News
September 9, 2012
© 2026 Edmonton Elks. All rights reserved.
Evan Daum
Edmonton Journal
Chris Thompson did everything he could to take a win away from the Calgary Stampeders on Friday night.
But despite a pair of interceptions by the Edmonton Eskimo defensive back in his team’s own end zone, Thompson’s performance wasn’t enough in a 20-18 setback for an Eskimo team that simply couldn’t muster points.
“We don’t think about that,” Thompson said of the team’s scoring struggles Friday at Commonwealth Stadium. “We just go out and do our jobs and let the chips fall where they may. We had a chance to win in the end and we came up a little short.”
The loss marked the second of the week for the Green and Gold against their southern rivals. The Eskimos suffered a 31-30 setback Monday in the annual Labour Day game.
While a disappointing offensive performance from the Eskimos was the difference, Thompson’s performance kept Edmonton’s anemic offence within striking distance.
Edmonton scored its lone major of the first half when third-string quarterback and field goal holder Matt Nichols made the most of a botched field goal attempt by hooking up with Corbin Sharun on a 35-yard touchdown to end the first half.
With Calgary up 10-4 in the second quarter and marching, Thompson made sure the Eskimos’ deficit stayed at six points, picking off Stampeder QB Kevin Glenn’s pass into the corner of the end zone, as Thompson wrestled the ball away from receiver Johnny Forzani.
“I was playing high right there and coach made a good play call and put me in the right position,” Thompson said. “I was able to go up and make the play thanks to my D-line. They put pressure on Kevin Glenn and forced a read where he couldn’t really see me back there and I came up with the catch.
“I made a break on it and fortunately I came down with it.”
Thompson would strike again in the third, this time with his team up 11-10, when Glenn yet again looked for Forzani, only to have Thompson steal more points off the board.
While Thompson is no stranger to picking off opposing quarterbacks after leading the Eskimos in that category in 2010 with seven, the night was unfortunately one to remember for Thompson for all the wrong reasons.
“I’d trade those (interceptions) away for a win any day of the week,” Thompson said. “I’ve had interceptions before. It’s not about that. It’s a team effort and hats off to Calgary.
“It’s going to take a day, or two to swallow this. It hurts, but we’ve got a lot of football left this season and we’ve got to get ready for Hamilton.”
edaum@edmontonjournal.com
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