The Edmonton Eskimos’ Derel Walker, left, eludes Calgary Stampeders’ Brandon McDonald during the West Division final on Nov. 22.DAN RIEDLHUBER/Reuters
As he readied for Sunday's West Division final, Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly didn't mind talking about last year's West final. In that game against the Calgary Stampeders, Reilly kept throwing passes while the Eskimos kept losing ground. It ended as a 43-18 Edmonton loss, a complete stinker.
Reilly figured rekindling that embarrassment would carry the Eskimos to a different outcome; one that would qualify them for the 103rd Grey Cup game set for Winnipeg. And sure enough, on a cool but sunny afternoon in Edmonton, the Eskimos cleared the air.
From their opening possession to the beat down that carried over through three quarters, the Eskimos played with passion and precision and won Sunday's West final at Commonwealth Stadium, 45-31. That result earned them a ticket to the Grey Cup against the Ottawa RedBlacks and their magic man, 40-year quarterback Henry Burris.
For Edmonton, it was the 30-year-old Reilly, who took control early and never let go. He had a hand in every touchdown the Eskimos scored. He marched his offence to the Calgary one-yard line where he scored on a sneak. (He followed that with a pass completion for a two-point conversion.)
In the second half, Reilly connected with receiver Adarius Bowman, whose successful lunge for the goal line put Edmonton ahead by nine, 21-12. Then, in the Eskimos' first possession of the second half, Reilly fashioned another drive, which found Kenny Stafford for a touchdown pass. And then there was another drive that ended with a long-bomb touchdown throw to Derel Walker. He finished with 11 catches for 125 yards.
Tired of throwing touchdowns, Reilly ran for his second major. It was underlying proof of Reilly's value to the Eskimos. He missed some time during the season with a shoulder injury.
Since regaining his starter's role, Reilly has won nine consecutive games. He has also thrown for more than 300 yards in four consecutive games.
"We think about that game a lot," Reilly said when asked how much last year's setback affected his teammates. "To be honest, we weren't ready to win that game. … We were ready to win this one."
Reilly was undeniably ready. He completed 31 of 39 passes for 370 yards and has supplied the leadership during bad times and good.
As strange as it sounds, the Eskimos needed to be back in the Grey Cup game. This is an organization that was called the class of the CFL. Edmonton won four consecutive CFL championships from 1954 to 1957, then won five in a row from the late 1970s into the early 1980s.
But there's been a drought in the Alberta capital. The last time the Eskimos were in the Grey Cup they won it. That was in 2005 – and since then, a decade of disappointment.
"I know there's a great tradition here," Reilly said in an interview two days before the West final. "You always want to get to the playoffs. That's the start. You get 18 games in 20 weeks to get there and that's when everything gets more intense. We need to play that way."
There were a few tense moments for Edmonton. After building their lead, the Eskimos began primping and posing for the sideline cameras. The Stampeders took full advantage of that, scoring two touchdowns with roughly five minutes left in the fourth quarter.
It was too little, too late for the Grey Cup defending champions. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was the star of last year's West final and the most outstanding player in the Grey Cup. But on Sunday, his receivers didn't make any plays until late in the fourth quarter. They'll have an off-season to address and figure how to proceed next.
As for the Eskimos, the changes that began with Ed Hervey being appointed the general manager have taken root.
Chris Jones, who was the Stampeders' defensive co-ordinator, was hired as head coach of an Eskimos team that won just four games. He turned that around and used his postgame interview to praise his players and assistant coaches.
"It's all about the players," Jones said. "We have such an outstanding group."
Edmonton played Ottawa twice in the regular season and won both times. Their last clash was in July. The Eskimos won 46-17. They previously met in the Grey Cup in 1981, when the Ottawa franchise was the Rough Riders.