Connect with us

Sports

Eskimos QB Mike Reilly Takes Attack to the Air, Throwing Form More Than 400 Yards

Published

on

WINNIPEG – They came in with the league’s highest-scoring offence and worst point-surrendering defence, but the Edmonton Eskimos bucked the trend at both ends Thursday.

A hard-fought 20-16 win over the hometown Blue Bombers in front of 24,007 at Investors Group Field pushed Edmonton to 2-1 for a share of first place in the West Division with the B.C. Lions, who face the winless Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.

The Bombers, meanwhile, missed out on a chance to win back-to-back games for the first time in nearly two full years, falling to 1-3 on the season.

And on the 22nd anniversary of Matt Dunigan throwing for a CFL-record 713 yards in a game featuring these same two teams, Mike Reilly racked up 465 of his own, completing 32 of 45 attempts with two touchdowns and an interception.

While they earned 501 yards of net offence, the Eskimos left plenty of points on the field, despite coming in having scored an average of 34.5 points a game.

“Points are sometimes hard to come by, but wins are as well, so we’re happy just to come out of here with a victory on the road,” said Eskimos head coach Jason Maas. “A tough opponent, in their place, I couldn’t be more happy for our guys.

“Saying that, yes, we left a lot of things out there on the field and a lot of it was attributed to ourselves.”

For the third straight game, the Eskimos committed 12 penalties for more than 100 yards and kept the scoreboard much closer than it should have been, considering they held Winnipeg to 328 yards of net offence.

“We have to stop the penalties, bottom line,” Maas said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to stop hurting ourselves and start faster.”

A missed 50-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter by Sean Whyte – who made his other two on the night that spelled an end to a streak of 18 in a row – leaves the Eskimos with just a single point to show in their three opening quarters this year.

Adarius Bowman had game highs of 10 catches for 185 yards, while Derel Walker caught seven passes for 154 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown past rookie corner C.J. Roberts. Cory Watson caught the other touchdown as part of his five receptions for 48 yards, as Reilly recorded his third career game of 400-plus yards – two of which have come against Winnipeg.

“We game-planned that specific play,” Reilly said of the Walker TD. “That’s the type of weapons we have on offence. They’re exciting to play with, they’re exciting to watch.”

But it was Edmonton’s defence getting back to their familiar dominant selves of the past two seasons that made the difference Thursday, bouncing back from averaging 40.5 points-against over their first two games.

In fact, it took an incredible 94-yard punt return by Kevin Fogg that was called back on an illegal block to set Winnipeg up 32 yards away from the end zone before Drew Willy scored their lone touchdown of the night on a 20-yard pass to Rory Kohlert to take a 10-0 lead.

The two sides traded field goals until Watson’s touchdown sent Edmonton into halftime trailing 13-10.

They traded field goals once more before Walker’s 74-yarder gave the Eskimos defence something to put their backs up against, with Almondo Sewell earning his team-leading second sack of the season as Odell Willis and rookie Reuben Frank pitched in as well, eclipsing their previous total of two on the year so far in a single game.

GModdejonge@postmedia.com

twitter.com/SunModdejonge

GAME REVIEW

Eskimos 20, Blue Bombers 16

GAME GRADES

Overall: B+

Offence: B

Didn’t score enough points for the pile of yards they put up.

Defence: A

Averaged 40.5 points-against per game coming into this one.

Special teams: C

Missed field goal, big return against, unsuccessful punt fake … can’t win ’em all.

Coaching: A

Jason Maas wins the head-to-head against good friend Mike O’Shea in a challenge-flag filled affair.

GAME BALL

Mike Reilly, Eskimos QB

Warren Moon holds the club record of 555 passing yards in a game, while Jason Maas sits second at 540 yards. Reilly gave it the ol’ college try with 465 yards to reach the Eskimos top-10 list for the second time. His career high is 511 yards.

BIG CATCH

Eskimos SB Adarius Bowman came up with a jump ball in double coverage for a 60-yard reception in the second quarter. Soon afterward, he bounced up from a hit that separated him from his helmet on an incompletion.

BIG RETURN

A stellar 94-yard punt return touchdown by Kevin Fogg was called back by an illegal block by Bombers teamate Shayon Green in the second quarter.

BIG FAKE

A direct snap to FB Calvin McCarty on a third-and-six punt fake ended up as a turnover on downs for the Bombers, who prior to, must have sniffed something peculiar and took a time out.

INJURIES

Bombers LG Jermarcus Hardrick came out to have his right leg looked at in the third quarter … Eskimos DT Almondo Sewell had to be helped to the sideline in the third quarter but would return. LB Kenny Ladler and RG Matt O’Donnell (lower leg) didn’t.

NEXT UP

The Eskimos return to Commonwealth Stadium to take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday, July 23. Kickoff is at 5 p.m.

Read More..

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Up and Coming Sports Stars to Look Out for in 2020

Published

on

Every year, a raft of exciting new players come onto the scene across all of the major US sports. With the MLS season getting underway and the NFL and MLB drafts not too far away, now is a great time to look at the young sports stars that could have a very bright future ahead of them, and the ones that are already proving they are destined for greatness.

Theo Bair (MLS)

This MLS season is looking like it could be one of the best yet, with David Beckham’s Inter Miami team adding some extra dazzle to the league. Whilst Beckham might be able to attract a lot of new players to his MLS team, there are a lot of young stars on their way through such as Theo Bair at Vancouver Whitecaps. Bair has already made an impact on the first team and after impressing at under-20 and under-23 level for the national team, he has made two appearances for the senior team, well before his 21st birthday. This year could see Bair make a real name for himself in the MLS.

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/11/29/07/06/bleachers-1867992_960_720.jpg

Source: Pixabay

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (MLB)

Montreal-born Vladimir Guerrero Jr has one MLB season under his belt but it looks like the best is still yet to come from him at the Blue Jays. He was heavily backed to take the league by storm but he failed to live up to the hype that surrounded him. Without the pressure of being the top-ranked prospect, this season could see Guerrero play with some weight lifted off his shoulders. He has been working very hard on his fitness over the offseason, something that his manager Montoyo has been quick to comment upon.

Baseball by andrewmalone, on Flickr


Baseball” (CC BY 2.0) by andrewmalone

Connor McDavid (NHL)

McDavid has already established him as a top hockey player but at 23, he has the potential to go on to do so much more. The player was born in Ontario and was the first overall draft pick, showing how much expectation was already on him at that stage but he has gone on to prove that he is one of the best players in the NHL. McDavid could go on to be one the NHL’s best-ever hockey players and this season could be the year that he shows the world, not just the NHL.

Chuba Hubbard (College Football)

The Oklahoma State Cowboys running back has been making the headlines for several years now. He continues to improve and grab more attention for his impressive stats and performances. He was close to being a sprinter and nearly made the Canadian Olympic team before switching over to football. He is passing up the 2020 NFL draft to play his senior season at Cowboys. He should give them a good chance of winning the College Football Championship, though they’re trailing at the seventh spot in the latest American football odds at +2400.00, with Clemson as the current betting favorites.

2020 will definitely be a very exciting time with some of these young stars looking to breakthrough in their respective sports and show the world what they are capable of.

Continue Reading

Sports

Bob Baffert is back at the Kentucky Derby – and looking to break the Curse of Apollo

Published

on

Bob Baffert is back at the Kentucky Derby with early favourite Justify after watching the race from his sofa in Southern California last year.

The Hall of Fame trainer’s ability to produce Derby contenders year after year is an enviable feat and why his absence a year ago stood out. It was just his second since 2009 and occurred because his lone candidate got hurt.

Baffert will saddle Justify and 30-to-1 shot Solomini in Saturday’s Derby.

Justify is one of the greenest colts Baffert has brought to Churchill Downs. He’s won all three of his starts by a combined 19 lengths. If Justify wins, he’d be the first to do so since Apollo in 1882 without racing as a two-year-old.

“The thing about the Kentucky Derby, you have to have the right horse. It just happens. You can’t force it,” Baffert said. “All of a sudden, you have good horses and you’re there. So I’ve been really fortunate to have some really good horses.”

Baffert’s four victories are tied for second-most in Derby history. He’s finished second three times, too, including in 2012 with Bodemeister, also the last time he had two starters in the same year.

Like Justify, Bodemeister didn’t race as a two-year-old. He set a blistering pace and led the Derby until the final 150 yards when I’ll Have Another overtook him to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Magnum Moon, the 6-to-1 third choice, also is unbeaten and didn’t run as a two-year-old.

“It’s going to happen,” Baffert said, referring to the curse being broken. “Whether it happens this year or whatever, but it will happen because Bodemeister almost got away with it. But I don’t really worry about that.”

Baffert almost had a third starter this year until McKinzie developed a hind-end issue that knocked him off the Derby trail.

“When McKinzie got hurt, I wanted to throw up,” he said. “I really think McKinzie would probably be second choice here. We’d really have a 1-2 here.”

Justify cleared the biggest pre-Derby hurdle by drawing the No. 7 post. Jockey Mike Smith can use the colt’s early speed to position him well for the long run to the chaotic first turn. Solomini ended up in the No. 17 post; no horse has ever won from there.

Baffert turned 65 in January, making him eligible for Medicare and retirement at most other jobs. However, he entertains no such thoughts.

“I work hard at it. I just don’t give up,” the white-haired trainer said. “I’m constantly meeting people. They’re sending me horses. If you don’t have success, you’re not going to get those opportunities.”

After a successful run in the quarter horse ranks, Baffert switched to thoroughbreds. He started with one horse.

“After 25 years, I’m finally getting horses that I don’t have to buy,” he said. “The big guys are sending me horses.”

None was bigger than American Pharoah in 2015. The colt swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont to become racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

Baffert has compared Justify to American Pharoah, citing the colt’s imposing physical presence and big stride. Still, Justify has yet to encounter the kind of traffic the Derby’s 20-horse stampede creates and the talent as he’ll run against on Saturday.

“I’d rather have a really talented horse than one who’s seasoned and just on par with the rest of them,” Baffert said.

Early on, Baffert knew Justify had the goods.

“The first time I worked him at Santa Anita, I knew he was a really good horse,” he said. “The track was really deep that morning, and he went around there effortlessly. His first race, he ran incredibly and showed how special he was.”

That kind of intuition is what separates Baffert from his rivals, fellow Hall of Famer trainer D. Wayne Lukas said.

“Bob’s got a great feel for it,” he said.

Read more…

Continue Reading

Sports

Matthews ready to return to Maple Leafs lineup after missing a month

Published

on

NASHVILLE — The hurtin’ tune that Auston Matthews has been singing for the past four weeks finally can be put in the remainder bin in Music City.

The Maple Leafs’ top centre on Wednesday declared himself set to return to the lineup after recovering from a right shoulder injury.

Wonderful timing, of course, considering the Leafs will take on the No. 1 club in the National Hockey League, the Nashville Predators, on Thursday night.

“In my mind, I think I’m ready to go and taking it as I’m getting ready to play (Thursday),” Matthews said after resuming his normal role, between William Nylander and Zach Hyman, during practice at Bridgestone Arena.

“It felt good, nice to get in all the reps and everything. (Wednesday) was a good step forward in that process, going through the line rushes.”

It seemed probable that the Leafs also will have defenceman Nikita Zaitsev, who missed the past five games as he recovered from an illness, against Nashville. Zaitsev was paired with Jake Gardiner, his regular partner, at practice.

For Matthews, it has been 10 games as a spectator with his latest injury, his third of the 2017-18 regular season after he missed four games in November with a back issue and then sat for six in December because of a concussion.

Thursday will mark four weeks since Matthews was hurt when he was sandwiched by the New York Islanders’ Cal Clutterbuck and Adam Pelech in a game at the Air Canada Centre.

A major bonus for Matthews in his recovery has been the fact he has been able to skate though much of his recuperation. That was not the case when he was out with his previous two injuries.

It’s worth noting that Matthews scored two goals versus the Montreal Canadiens upon returning on Nov. 18 from his back injury; in his first two games upon coming back from a concussion, he scored a goal in each.

Mike Babcock said a final decision on the participation of Matthews and Zaitsev against the Predators would be made on Thursday morning, but the Leafs coach was talking as though it would be a rubber stamp.

“This is going to be the best opportunity for (Matthews) because he has been able to skate and compete,” Babcock said. “The other times he was not able to do anything.

“To get him back … it’s still going to be going way faster than he has been practising, so there is going to be an adjustment period, but he’s a good player and he will figure it out.”

Defenceman Morgan Rielly didn’t think Matthews will take long to find his footing. Rielly missed six games in late January/early February with an arm injury, so knows what Matthews could be feeling.

“You’re nervous and you just want to get back into it,” Rielly said. “You play your first shift a bit hesitant, but after that it’s important you get back to yourself.

“It’s never easy, but Auston is one of those guys that I will imagine it won’t take long for him to get back into a rhythm.”

And there’s the trickle-down effect through the forward lines with Matthews in uniform.

“Guys are used to playing with certain players and when everyone is healthy, I think you get better chemistry throughout the entire lineup,” centre Nazem Kadri said. “Certain guys don’t have to play with different guys constantly and it’s just more of a set group, so I think it’s going to help us.”

Continue Reading

Trending