Esks Win Defensive Duel

A valiant defensive effort helped the Edmonton Eskimos secure a win Thursday Night against the Montreal Alouettes.

Montreal was held to four field goals as the defence intercepted Alouettes quarterback Kevin Glenn twice in the dying minutes, helping the Eskimos land a 23-12 victory.

J.C. Sherritt continued to walk the talk, snuffing out a late Montreal drive with an interception he returned 59 yards with 1:24 to play before Montreal stripped the ball at their own five.

“I’m very proud of the way we played,” said Sherritt, who nearly nabbed a pick-six in back-to-back games. “That’s how we’ve been practising the last two weeks. You can see the correlation with how we’re preparing.

“Absolutely, I thought I had it. That’s a lesson right there. With how long my legs are, I knew somebody would catch me eventually. Thank God we got a win. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep for the rest of my life if they come back and win that game. Team effort all the way all around. Just proud of the team effort.”

Two plays later, Deon Lacey finished the game with his first career pick six from 18-yards out with 50 seconds left.

“This one was the big one,” said Lacey.  “The defence played tough all game. As long as we don’t let them in, we were going to win it. That was the motto in the second half.”

Edmonton’s offence dominated the early statistical game.

Edmonton had taken an 11-0 lead on the first of two conceded safeties, a one-yard Mike Reilly plunge and a 24-yard Sean Whyte field goal.

“We moved the ball up and down the field well,” said Reilly. “We get it down to the one-yard line and get it up. We had three drives which made a difference of 18 points. It’s just a little execution breakdown right at the end which had kind of been our issue this season.

“Our defence played a great game, held strong and did what was needed to be done. Offensively, we have all the potential in the world. We’ve got to clean a few things up. If we can get out of own way, that’s a 40-point ball game.

“In the Canadian game, with two downs and a long field, you have no room for mistakes.”

The Eskimos were denied an apparent Adarius Bowman touchdown due to a offensive pass interference call that led to Whyte’s three pointer. Then, Eskimos running back John White lost fumble on Montreal’s one-yard line.

“Two fumbles inside the one-yard line and it isn’t even close at that point,” said Eskimos head coach Jason Maas. “We fought and we battled all night. That’s the team we have. We realize it’s going to be tough to win every single week, but we’re usually our own worst enemy on the field. Tonight, it reared it’s ugly head. We were fortunate we did that and came out on the winning end.

“To win on a short week in this league is a big deal any time. I think we’re going to enjoy this one because it’s been a while.”

Montreal kept chipping away as Anthony Fera hit field goals from 43, 33, 19 and 42 yards before Whyte’s 22-yarder with just over two minutes stopped the bleeding.