June 15, 2019

Harris, Stafford lead Eskimos to win over Alouettes

The Canadian Press

EDMONTON — In his Edmonton Eskimos debut, Trevor Harris led his team to a 32-25 victory over the Montreal Alouettes at Commonwealth Stadium on Friday night.

The Montreal Alouettes came alive in the fourth quarter with Vernon Adams Jr. at the helm, taking over for the injured Antonio Pipkin, and tied things up at 25 with two minutes left in the game. But Harris showed why the Eskimos were thrilled to sign him this off-season, effectively moving his team down the field and scoring the game-winning touchdown himself on a quarterback sneak.

Harris tossed 447 yards in his first win in green and gold and found receiver Kenny Stafford twice for touchdown strikes while also tossing a major score to running back C.J. Gable out of the backfield. Stafford hauled in seven catches for 98 yards to go along with his two majors while Gable rushed 20 times for 154 yards and caught three passes for 29 yards, one for a score.

Ricky Collins Jr. also had quite the night for the Eskimos, hauling in nine passes for 175 yards. While Greg Ellingson caught five passes for 66 yards.

Adams Jr. finished his night connecting on seven of 10 passes for 134 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also added three carries for 13 yards on the ground. Before his exit from the contest, Pipkin had completed seven of 17 passes for 57 yards and a touchdown and added five carries for 45 yards rushing.

B.J. Cunningham led all Alouettes receivers with seven catches and 96 yards and a touchdown. Running back William Stanback carried the rock nine times for 76 yards and a major score and added two catches for 17 yards through the air.

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The first points of the game were after the Alouettes conceded a safety on their opening offensive drive after the Eskimos stuffed Montreal on their own goal line, putting the home team up 2-0.

Harris made quick work of the team’s next possession, spreading the ball around to his receivers, Natey Adjei, Ricky Collins Jr., Kenny Stafford and Greg Ellingson, and moved the chains deep into Alouettes territory. But just when the Esks were eyeing the end zone, Collins Jr. fumbled the football on Montreal’s 14-yard line, stopping Edmonton in their tracks. It was defensive back Marcus Cromartie, in his first CFL game, that knocked the ball out of Collins Jr.’s hand and right back into the mitts of Antonio Pipkin.

The Alouettes weren’t able to take advantage of the turnover, however, and had to punt the ball away. But just when it looked like things were going the Eskimos way, Monshadrik Hunter fumbled the ball on the return and Montreal recovered once again, giving Pipkin and co. another chance to get their offence rolling.

A 20-yard catch by DeVier Posey and a roughing the passer penalty called on Vicker moved the Alouettes down into Edmonton territory. Pipkin tossed the Alouettes first touchdown of the 2019 season to Posey for the score, taking advantage of their second turnover of the night. Along with Boris Bede‘s convert, the Alouettes took a 7-2 lead with 2:46 left in the first quarter.

The Eskimos were moving the ball effectively through the first quarter and a half but were unable to finish their drives with points until six minutes left before the break. Harris tossed a strike to Stafford for the 26-yard major and along with Sean Whyte‘s convert, the Eskimos took the lead (9-7). The drive covered 84 yards in 12 plays as Harris threw his first touchdown as a member of the green and gold.

To end the Alouettes next offensive possession, Bede missed a 34-yard field goal attempt and tacked on a single point with under three minutes left in the quarter.

With the clock ticking down, Edmonton wasn’t done scoring yet.

Harris and Stafford continued the connection they had earlier in the half, as the Esks quarterback found an open Stafford for the 10-yard score. The drive was aided by three runs from running back C.J. Gable (two, 24 and nine yards, respectively) to put the home team in scoring position to set up their second major of the evening. Whyte connected on his convert and Edmonton increased their lead to 16-8 with 28 seconds left on the clock.

Both teams’ defences held strong in the third quarter. Six and a half minutes into the frame, the Alouettes conceded a safety, increasing the Eskimos lead to 18-3.

 

On Edmonton’s next drive, the team committed their fourth turnover on the night, this one was on downs, as the Alouettes stuffed Harris on a quarterback sneak on third and one. Esks head coach Jason Maas challenged the call but after review, the ruling on the field stood.

Just when it seemed like things started to tilt in Montreal’s favour, their starting quarterback was hurt. After taking a sack from Josh Johnson, Pipkin was visibly in pain on the field and was taken out of the game. Vernon Adams Jr. took over under centre for the Alouettes.

Harris and the Eskimos continued their success on their next drive. Starting on their own one-yard line, Harris shredded the Alouettes defence, moving the chains into Montreal territory. Then Gable showed why he’s one of the best, versatile running backs in the league with a highlight-reel catch for the Eskimos’ third touchdown of the night. The nine-play, 109-yard drive, and Whyte’s completed convert, increased Edmonton’s lead to 25-8 to start the final quarter.

The Alouettes weren’t going to give up easily, however.

On the visiting team’s next drive, they responded with a touchdown of their own. William Stanback and Adams Jr. did most of the work on the ground, with Stanback exploding for a 42-yard gain and his quarterback completing a QB sneak and a seven-yard run to get into Edmonton territory. Stanback then scored his first major of the 2019 campaign, a five-yarder, and along with Bede’s completed convert, the Alouettes cut the Esks lead to 25-15.

After the Alouettes defence stuffed Harris and co., they scored once again on the team’s next drive. This time Adams Jr. found B.J. Cunningham in tight coverage in the end zone, cutting Edmonton’s lead to just three with eight minutes left in the contest.

Adams Jr. continued to keep the momentum on the Alouettes side, moving his team into field goal range. Bede booted a 52-yarder with just over two minutes left in the game, tying things up at 25.

Harris and the Eskimos weren’t ready to let the momentum stay with the Alouettes, however. Collins Jr. caught a 45-yard pass to move the Eskimos into Als territory and Gable continued to rumble, moving the Esks to the Montreal two-yard line. Harris called his own number, scoring his fourth touchdown on the night. Along with Whyte’s completed convert, Edmonton took a 32-25 lead with just over a minute left.

The Eskimos defence made sure to seal the victory for their team, as defensive back Anthony Orange picked off Adams, giving the ball back to Harris with 52 seconds left in the game.

The Eskimos now set their sights on BC as the Lions will be in town next week while the Alouettes head out on a Week 2 bye.