The Canadian Press
Shaquille Cooper nearly matched his career totals in just one outing Thursday night against the Toronto Argonauts.
The Edmonton Eskimos blanked the Argos, improving to 4-2 with a 26-0 victory at home in Week 7.
The shutout would be the first time since 2009 that the Boatmen were kept off the scoreboard.
As for Cooper, he entered into the league in 2018 rushing for 102 yards in his first game against the Montreal Alouettes. He’d finished the year having just played in two games and rushing for 144 yards.
Fast forward to this season, making his first start of the year in place of an injured C.J. Gable, and Cooper ran all over the Argonauts defence with 128 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown. The touchdown, which he scored from four yards out in the third quarter, marked his first career touchdown.
RELATED
» Recap: Eskimos ice Argos in shutout at Commonwealth
» By the Numbers: View Boxscore
» Images: Argonauts at Eskimos
» Watch: Cooper shines in first start in 2019
“What a coincidence,” Cooper said when his first game comparisons were pointed out to him. “Thanks to the o-line, because without them it wouldn’t have been done.”
The Fort Hays State product was kept active in the passing game as well, posting four receptions and 48 yards through the air.
“You’ve got to get the feeling of being back out there, but other than that it was all the same,” the 26-year-old said. “I was able to slow the game down with my eyes and just play ball.”
Despite the big numbers, as well as the win, Cooper did have a rough start to Thursday’s game before he found his footing, coughing up a fumble in the red zone early in the game.
“I think anytime that you haven’t played football for any portion of the year, no pre-season games, it’s hard,” said Edmonton head coach Jason Maas. “We don’t wear pads in practice anymore so there’s no contact in practice, ever, so it’s very difficult to simulate game speed and hits. We just have to work on that stuff with him.”
Luckily, the fumble didn’t prove costly for the Eskimos as their defence was quickly able to force a turnover, but Maas did speak highly of Cooper’s ability to move on from the turnover and maintain his composure and confidence.
“He did bounce back and had some tremendous runs, tremendous plays throughout the game that helped us win.”
The win brings the Eskimos tied for second place with their Alberta-rival Calgary Stampeders, who they will be facing next Saturday at McMahon Stadium to wrap up Week 8 of the CFL schedule.
