Eskimos safety Jordan Hoover initially tried to be nonchalant about his first CFL career interception.
“The way I see it, all I did was jump and catch a ball,” said the 26-year-old third-year veteran.
Hoover, a 2017 fourth-round draft pick who led U Sports with five interceptions in 2015, was just happy to see the Eskimos turn in a strong performance in a 26-0 victory over the Toronto Argonauts last Thursday despite having had only one practice leading up to the game.
“On a personal level, the first thing I said was, ‘Can I please take this ball home? I’ll frame it and keep it forever,’ ” Hoover finally admitted. “The first one only happens once and, then, they just add up after that.
“But the first one will always be special,” he continued. “I’ll always remember that moment, how my team reacted and that feeling I love and just being able to make a play for my team. That’s really what was important to me. Just make the play and do it for my defence.”
Hoover, whose interception occurred in the third quarter, actually had his first CFL interception in the previous game at Montreal, but an Eskimos penalty nullified it.
“I held on to it,” he said about the ball after that play. “I saw the flag down. I was kind of hoping maybe, if I held on to it long enough, maybe I should keep it.
“But it doesn’t work that way in football, so I had to go out and get me another one, and I’m happy I did.”
Hoover wasn’t the only Eskimos defensive back who got a second chance Thursday. Veteran defensive back Josh Johnson also lost an interception because of an Edmonton penalty in the Montreal game and then picked off another pass against Toronto.
Johnson got the fourth career interception of his four-year CFL career in the fourth quarter, returning the ball 17 yards before stepping out of bounds.
“I had a pick (against the Alouettes), and they called it back,” said Johnson, 28. “I just said, ‘Keep playing ball. Eventually, they’ll come back to me.’
“Once I saw Money (Monshadrik Hunter) get his pick (in the first quarter), I was so happy,” he continued. “And then Hoover turns around and got a pick! I’m like, ‘OK, it has to be my turn.’
“I had two opportunities, and I dropped both of them. God gave me one more opportunity.”
Even though Johnson wasn’t able to hang on to the ball for an interception, he took a guaranteed touchdown out of the waiting hands of former Eskimos wide receiver Derel Walker late in the first quarter.
“I went up for the ball,” he said. “When I tried to tuck it in, I hit my head on the ground, and that’s when the ball came out.”
Johnson, who previously played with the BC Lions, Ottawa RedBlacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, finished the game with two knockdowns and five defensive tackles. He also knocked down a third pass, but an Eskimos penalty cancelled that play.
Johnson was also excited about getting a tackle for a loss – a rare opportunity for a cornerback – when he caught running back Branden Burks three yards behind the line of scrimmage.
“I had a chance to come off the edge (on a blitz) and make a play for the defence,” he said.
Johnson, who played the 2016 and ’17 NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and 2013 with the San Diego Chargers, split last year between the RedBlacks (four games) and Ti-cats (nine contests).
He was considering returning to Hamilton until his Tiger-Cats Defensive Backs Coach William Fields – who had joined the Eskimos during the off-season – convinced Johnson that there was “a great opportunity” for him to compete for a starting job in Edmonton.
Fields ended up leaving the Eskimos in May for a coaching opportunity in the XFL.
Johnson started out as a defensive halfback during training camp, shifted to strong-side linebacker and got a quarterback sack in the season opener after Don Unamba was injured, and then moved over to cornerback to replace Anthony Orange after the first game. Both Unamba and Orange, prominent free-agent signings during the off-season, were placed on the six-game injured list.
“Honestly, I’ve played every position on the field, from safety, corner, nickle, SAM (strong-side linebacker),” Johnson said. “I can play it all. Just being able to be versatile, they know I can play it.”
The Eskimos, who have seven interceptions (tied for fourth most in the league), are getting ready for their first matchup of the season with the Calgary Stampeders at 5 p.m. Saturday at McMahon Stadium.