Game Summary

It was a battle of division leaders this week at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton as the Eskimos hosted the visiting Alouettes. Special teams accounted for Edmonton’s early lead as kick return specialist Henry “Gizmo ” Williams returned K Terry Baker’s punt 86 yards for the major 1:44 into the game making the score 7-0 after K Sean Fleming’s convert. At 13:40 DB Malcolm Frank blocked Baker’s punt attempt. The ball was kicked along the ground 61 yards and a scramble ensued until FB Michael Soles smothered it in the Montreal end zone conceding the two-point safety and giving Edmonton a 9-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Baker got Montreal on the scoreboard when his 42-yard FG attempt sailed wide scoring a single point at 4:40. However, Edmonton padded their lead later in the half when Fleming was perfect on a 48-yard FG at 10:58. Then 4:28 later, Canadian SB Marc Tobert was on the receiving end of a 16-yard throw from QB Jimmy Kemp for the game’s first passing TD. Fleming’s convert made the score 19-1 for the green and gold heading into the locker room at halftime. In the second half, the tight defensive battle continued. Edmonton added to their lead when Fleming chipped a 9-yard FG through the uprights at 11:52 of the third period. With no time remaining in the quarter, Montreal responded when QB Tracy Ham hooked up with wide-out Millard Coleman for a 10-yard TD pass reception. Baker’s convert cut the lead to 14 points heading into the final stanza of play. In the fourth quarter, Montreal’s offence could not put any points on the board despite sustaining long drives. Instead it was the defence that rounded out the scoring, forcing Fleming to concede a safety at 14:33 and making the final score from Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton 22, Montreal 10. The win, coupled with Calgary’s loss, puts the Eskimos alone atop the West Division standings while Montreal slips to second place in the East.